25th June,2025
It is no more news that Ondo Court dethroned Oba Michael Adetunji Oluwole, from the throne of Olute of Ute in Ose LGA of Ondo State sometime last year after 29 years of the Obaship tussle. The case, which traversed all the existing courts in the country was sent back from the Supreme Court to the Ondo State High Court of Owo Division.
Delivering the judgement, the court nullified the selection process that brought Oluwole to the throne, and ordered a fresh selection process into the stool. Justice Ademola Enikuomehin of Owo High Court, ruled that Oluwole should stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of the town there by, ordered a fresh selection process from within the *Akensi* ruling house, the court said the dethroned monarch has no right to the throne being a member of the kingmakers of the town and should not make himself King.
In compliance with the ruling, the battle for the first class Obaship of Ute is already on as Princes from the *Akensi* dynasty are already showing interest and the focus of the indigenous people of the ancient town both home and in diaspora are beaming search lights on who becomes the next Olute of Ute from the arrays of these interested parties.
As of today, several Princes have shown interest to become the Ute people’s King and among them are: Prince Benjamin Olu Osebayowa, Hon. (Prince) Shehu Adedoyin Omoloja, Prince Abdul Adebayo Abimbola Omoloja, Prince Olubunmi Agbaminoja, Prince Idowu Adeusi, Prince Aderosoye Yahaya Omoloja and Prince Samuel Dokita Ajakaiye.
The above mentioned Princes are in the categories of different support blogs and influence of the community and beyond.
For instance, it was gathered that Prince Olu Osebayowa, 72years of age is old and his candidacy may not fly because he is advanced in age but he might be in the race to create awareness for his lineage in the near future.
The news going round about Prince Shehu Omoloja is not favourably disposed to because he is being backed and bankrolled by a PDP stalwart who happened to be the last Senatorial candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election. Mr. Tokunbo Modupe aka TPT. The most disturbing move or support of some of the other APC stalwarts for his candidacy such as Alh. Chief Jamiu Ekungba and Hon. Adeola Taoheed, a Special Assistance to the Ondo State Governor is putting the integrity of Chief Jamiu Ekungba and that of Adeola Taoheed Musa in the balance and actually doubtful of their loyalty to APC because of their affiliate with a PDP stalwart in the race of Olute. The Prince Aderosoye Yahaya Omoloja candidacy is having his backing from youths, elders and women of the town who sees him as a direct lineage of Oba Adedolapo Sulaimon Omoloja, he is articulate and well read, culturally and traditionally groomed for the tasks of Olute. Meanwhile, the move and frontier of Prince Abdul Abimbola Omoloja is also suspected to be a former Commissioner for Lands and Housing in the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration, Dr. Bade Omoloja who had been providing guidance for his ascendance to the reverer throne of Olute.
In recent and modern time that Kingdoms, Cities and Towns are being represented by knowledgeable and persons of proven integrity, how on earth will the highly and reverer Olute’s throne be bequeathed to persons of questionable character, one of the aspiring Princes was once arrested for gun running, kidnapping and drug peddling while serving as Counselor, a position he couldn’t complete it’s term in office then. Are we to rely on someone who could not uphold and manage his family to be the one promoting a king for us in Ute, ka mari ni Paul wi.
When you look at other contemporaries Towns around such as Idoani, you will see the status of the retired General Olutoye as Alani of Idoani, when you look at Olowo of Owo, you see the status of a retired Permanent Secretary and legal luminary as Olowo of Owo, when you look at Uso, you will see a young and dynamic Mechanical Engineer and a P.hd holder who is an academic don as the Oloba of Uso, look at the class of Oliyere of Iyere and Olupele of Ipele to mention but a few.
You will see that they are all young and dynamic Kabiyesis that is making their respective Communities great and proud.
So the Ute throne would not be allowed to slip into the hands of the political jobbers in the name of having a king, someone whose qualifications are not more than Secondary School leaving certificates.
The disturbing developments.
Ute people are also worried about the news that has eclipsed the community recently that the government is planning to select or compose some people as warrant Chiefs for the selection of the nominee for the stool hinging it’s intention on the judgement of the Supreme Court that nullified the last occupant of the stool. Whereas the judgement has nothing to do with the kingmakers.
It is obvious that constituting of warrant Chiefs would likely be a strategy to favour a particular Prince among the contestants which Ute people will vehemently reject because that action will be an intent to suspend/usurp the role of the kingmakers abinitio who are alive and active performing their traditional roles and they are; The Ojomo of Ute, Chief Adewakun Gabriel Adegbegi, the Osuma of Ute is Chief Bola Awodeyi, while the Apenuwa of Ute, Chief Olawale Lawrence Apenuwa and the Ogwabire of Ute, in person of Chief Ademola Michael Obabire are all in the community performing their responsibilities as custodian of traditions and culture of the people of Ute upholding moral compass in the ancient and historical town.
It is imperative to inform the public that the news of appointing warrant Chiefs should better remain a rumour.
Our prayers are that Ute will never be backward amongst the committee of towns in Ose Local Government Area, in Ondo North Senatorial District and in Ondo State.
May our elders lives long,
May our youths lives longer,
May Ute lives long!
Dada Arokoyun,
Ute Youths Progressive Forum,
Republic of Ireland
