The Onigbeti stool became vacant in November 2021, after HRH Oba Emmanuel Oyekan Oyebisi. Afasegbejo lll joined his ancestors. But, it seems efforts to appoint a new monarch for the town have been unsuccessful.
As it is normal when a king dies in Yoruba land, there is always bitter struggle among princes of various ruling houses in a bid to occupy the throne.
In truth, the absence of Onigbeti of Igbeti has put Igbeti at a great disadvantage, because a town without a king is said to be a ghost town.
Everyone is bored over the delay. The decision on who will become Onigbeti of Igbeti lies so much in the hands of the kingmakers and the government.
However, as a youthful youth of the community, we’re urging the kingmaker and the government to please put the progress and development of Igbeti at heart first before choosing would to be King.
Anyone who professes love for our community (Igbeti) must not only do so in words, he/she must also do so in deeds; should be seen to love Igbeti.
When questioned about the things the community should do differently moving forward, an elder stateman said “I hope that we will have a royal father who genuinely has the capacity to turn the community’s fortunes around. While, I agree with him. Igbeti needs someone who has the understanding and personal quality and mental and physical capacity, integrity to inspire Igbeti youth and the aged.
We need a Royal Father who is hungry for name and history, the one that will throw arm and leg towards the greatness of the town and emancipation of the Igbeti people.
A king that will set example in leadership, justice and moral rectitude. We need one who can exploit our economic resources and build our values of honesty, hard work and tolerance.
We need to rediscover our values as a community, but we can only do that when we have the right set of royal father, chief’s and leaders in that direction. We need royal father who can reunite Igbeti community. We really need to reunite.
We don’t need a king with the pedigree of a peasant or those who will see palace as a platform to drives land grabbing enterprise.
Igbeti continues to crawl towards development and it’s the reason well meaning sons and daughters of the community should be an advocate of an enduringly prosperous Igbeti.
Adesina Julius Prestige write for Igbeti Youth
