Official installation of Abese Ogbomoso – ‘effizy,’ memorable with horse riding, unveiling of palace (PHOTOS)
Yinka ADETUNJI
The presentation of instrument of office to Abese of Ogbomosoland, High Chief Kasali Oladipupo Yusuf, a retired Assistant Controller General (ACG) of the Nigerian Correctional (Prison) Service, NCS, will remain memorable. He stylishly and remarkably rode a horse and unveiled a palace for the ruling house dubbed “Aafin Abese.”
It’s not out of place, the Abese Ogbomoso is an important chieftaincy title. The holder is a member of the ‘Ilu chiefs,” the all powerful Soun cabinet that rules Ogbomoso. He is number five in the hierarchy of the seven Ilu chiefs and one of the six kingmakers. By virtue of its significance he is a part two recognized chief. So, any flamboyance and glamour displayed is deserved.
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High Chief Yusuf installed four years ago precisely on November 15, 2019, by the late Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR, had to wait for the presentation of staff ceremony, because one, he had to wait till 2021 for his retirement from the NCS and incidentally, by the time he pulled out of service the Soun was no more. That put the ceremony on hold until the coronation of a new Soun – HIM Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III. Thus, traditionally, he was Abese but officially, not recognized. So, the ceremony accompanying crossing of that hurdle was a cause for fanfare.
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High Chief Abese arrived the Ogunlola venue of the ceremony in a motorcade with siren blaring harmoniously and disharmoniously from colourful “rides” of his NCS comrades who thronged the venue in their numbers. The Controller General of the NCS was represented.
But after his coronation he returned to his domain in another surprising blaze of glory – he was high on a horse to popular admiration! He returned to the Oke-Agbede family house of his Abese section on the horse, greeted all through the journey with cheers and applause.
To cap the day the magnificent Abese Palace was unveiled amid jubilation.
In an interview High Chief Kasali assured he would not fail in his duties as an adviser to the Soun, working for the economic advancement of Ogbomoso and ensuring enthronement of peace.
Earlier, the Oyo state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters Hon Olusegun Olayiwola, who performed the ceremony on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde and who revealed his forebears hailed from Alasoko compound Ogbomoso, charged the Abese and other recipients – Aare Alaasa, High Chief Joseph Oyelola Oyedele and Baale Yaku, Chief Ojewumi Sunday Oyeniyi – to cooperate with the Soun for the development of Ogbomoso and Oyo state as a whole.
The commissioner also urged them on the imperative of peace in their respective domains by embracing their co-contestants and fostering unity.
