By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde has assured the people of Eruwa that the ongoing Iddo-Eruwa road will be completed in the next 11 months.
This is as governor also disclosed that all documentation for the recently launch Eruwa Agribusiness hub has been completed, assuring that the contractors can now move to site. He however noted that the facility has also been renamed The Agricultural Transformation Centre by the African Development Bank, who is supporting the project.
Governor Makinde made the disclosures in a remark at the coronation and unveiling of Oba Samuel Adegbola as the new Eleruwa of Eruwa on Saturday.
The event which held at the Eleruwa Stadium, Sango, Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local government had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, among other top government functionaries, traditional rulers including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi among others.
The Nation reports that the new Eleruwa was initially installed on July 16th, 1998 but was deposed in 2019 following a Supreme Court ruling, after 21years on the throne.
He was however renominated by the king makers in 2024 and subsequently unanimously selected by the Eruwa Kingmakers among 18 candidates and appointed by the Oyo State government on March 6th, 2025.
Oba Adegbola was born in the Olurin compound, Oke Oba Quarters of Eruwa, on January 15th, 1952 into the royal family of Pa Bello Ayinla Adegbola and Mama Olalonpe Abeni Adegbola.
He is from an entirely male line in Olurin royal family of Akalako Royal house. However, Oba Adegbola’s mother was a princess from the Ajao Royal family of the Olaribikusi Ruling House.
He retired as a Superintendent of Customs of the Customs and Excise Department in 1998.
In his first coming, Oba Adegbola was installed the Eleruwa of Eruwa through Olaribikusi Ruling House on July 16th, 1998. He was a Deputy Chairman, of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Oba Adegbola was one of the candidates from the Olurin ruling family of Akalako Ruling House following the recommencement of another kingmakers among 18 candidates and appointed the new Eleruwa of Eruwa by the Oyo State government on 6th, March, 2025.
Apparently reacting to an earlier request by the monarch, Governor Makinde while addressing the audience at the event narrated how he was jolted by the news of the deposememt barely six month after he took over as the governor of the state in 2019.
He said after all effort to resolve the matter amicably proved abortive, he said he insisted that a new process must begin and the error of the past that led to the deposememt must be avoided.
He commended the monarch to not taking to vengeance and bitterness but for calling for healing, collaboration and support from every sone and daughter of Eruwaland.
Makinde said, “I picked a few things from the speech of Kabiyesi said, this is the time for healing and renewal. Those are very important and profound pronouncements. You all know the struggle to get to this point.
“Not quite four or five months after I became the Governor of Oyo State in 2019, we got the Supreme Court’s judgement deposing Kabiyesi Eleruwa. And I don’t have experience in government, I just got in as the governor. After 21 years on the same throne, so it was a first shocker for me. This was, I believe, around November 2019.
“So I called everybody, and the first person who gave judgement on the matter, Justice Mukta Abimbola, he was the chief judge who swore me in as the governor. I called him and ask about the judgement, I asked him if the deposed Eleruwa was not a prince that deserves to be on the throne, and he told me he is a Prince but that the way he got to the throne was what some people challenged.
“I called the lawyer who handled the case, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN to find out why the issue and after he explained everything to me, we went back to the Supreme Court for them to have another look at that judgement. We also did not succeed. After that point, there was a pressure from Asiwaju of Eruwa, Chief Olatunji Fadairo led some people to the government office in Ibadan, putting pressure on me, and I said, well, I know what got us to the point we were and that we will not walk that path again.
“I promised Chief Fadairo and the entourage, that Eruwa land will have a monarch, but that we will follow due process. We followed due process. They came back and went through the process and we got the same result.
“What is the lesson for us in all of this? Eruwaland from 2019 to 2025 was deprived of traditional headship. That is now behind us. And I’m glad that today, Kabiyesi is not saying he wants to fight back or seeking vengeance, he has called now for everybody to join hands for the development of Eruwa and also by extension, Oyo state.
“And I also took note of what Kabiyesi said about harnessing the energy of the youth. He said he will work with them and the government will work with Kabiyesi to ensure that our youths are gainfully employed.
“Kabiyesi, I heard what you said about the Eleyele- Iddo- Eruwa road. I took the road on my way here. I spent two hours on a road that is just 48kilometres, I should not have spent more than 20 to 30 minutes if that road is good.”
He seized the opportunity of the event apologise to the people of Eruwa and Ibarapa as a zone on the state of the road, noting that the report they gave him was different from what he saw himself. He assures he will make amend where necessary to ensure that the same quality of road his administration is noted for is replicated on the project.
“Let me, on behalf of myself, the government of Oyo State, apologise to Ibarapa land. And I give this apology because reports that I have on my table is not what I met there. So, we will double our efforts. And for the last time, if your road from Eleyele to Eruwa doesn’t match that of Oyo to Iseyin or Iseyin to Ogbomoso, within the next 10 to 11 months, don’t allow me to come to Eruwa again.
“So, it’s a promise that I’m making again. If we’ve made any mistakes in the past regarding this critical infrastructure, because along that line and in the Eruwa land is also the food basket for Oyo State. We just want value for our farmers that are toiling day and night for their produce and we will achieve that.
“Kabiyesi, I also heard what you said about Eruwa Farm Estate, that we launched not too long ago. Well, African Development Bank has even renamed that place as the Agricultural Transformation Centre, the second of its kind in Nigeria. After the first one is Fashola, that is the second one.
“Well, you know, this administration, our projects can be delayed, but definitely not abandoned. This administration has completed all abandoned projects from previous administrations. And even during our first tenure, we completed most of our projects in record time.
“You will see efforts at the Agricultural Transformation Centre Eruwa. The documentation, because African Development Bank is the one supporting us, we flagged it off, but I can give you the report now that we’ve completed all documentation and the contractor should move to site”, the governor noted.
Speaking in his acceptance speech, Oba Adegbola promised to spend every waking hour of his reign to work for the peace, unity, progress and development of all Eruwa people irrespective of age, social status, creed, section or royal preferences.
Additionally, he said in the course of his reign, he will work to harness the energy of the youths while listening to the wisdom of the elders, even as he will try very hard to achieve kinder, more civil, more tolerant, more generous and more compassionate community.
This is as he promised to squarely address divisions, mend fences in truth and in honesty, just as he solicits for decorum, civility and decency as he engages all stakeholders so that peace and progress can return to the land, saying “our locust years are over for good.”
He appeal for peace, cooperation and friendship not vendetta or vindictiveness while also thanking Governor Makinde for his fairness, steadfastness and courage in upholding the royal tradition, legal and all legitimate administrative processes that culminated in his appointment as the new Eleruwa.
In his vote of thanks, the Speaker, Oyo State Hosue of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin called on all indigenes of the ancient town to unite and rally behind the newly crowned Eleruwa describing the occasion as a monumental milestone and a restoration of dignity, peace, and tradition to the land after many years of chieftaincy tussle.
He noted that the annulment of Oba Adegbola’s earlier appointment in 2011 cast a long shadow on the community, but with his return, the people of Eruwa have regained their cultural identity and leadership structure.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademola Ojo thanked the governor for his unwavering support and continued respect for traditional institutions and community development, noting that the day marked a significant chapter in the rich history and cultural heritage of Eruwa.
In his goodwill message, the Asiwaju of Eruwaland, Chief Tunji Fadairo thanked Governor Makinde for accepting the choice of the people and called on aggrieved ruling houses to come together for the progress and development of the town.
