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Just in: Ooni Appoints Erelu Abiola Dosunmu As Yeye Oodua

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2022

Editor

The Royal Court of Ife under the supreme leadership of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife has announced the appointment of
the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, as the new Yeye Oodua and Queen Mother of the House of Oduduwa.

Her appointment is sequel to the vacant state of the prestigious title since the demise of the wife to the late political sage; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mama H.I.D. Awolowo who was the immediate-past Yeye Oodua of the source according to a statement released by Moses Olafare, Ooni’s Director, Media & Public Affairs.

It took the Royal Court of Ife this long to announce a successor because of the numerous achievements of the immediate past Yeye Oodua, H.I.D Awolowo especially in the areas of human development and capacity building, preservation of the prestigious Yoruba culture as well as sustainance of peace and tranquility across Yoruba land among others.

The choice of Erelu Abiola Dosumu is indeed an unanimous decision of the Ife Traditional Council and major stakeholders of Oodua race, agreeing that her character, personality and her wealth of experience as an international business woman, a royal ambassador and a great icon of African culture perfectly qualify her to step into the big shoes earlier worn by late Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.

In almost half-a-Century of public life, Erelu Dosumu has proven herself to be an outstanding woman of stamina, integrity and far-reaching influence. In 1980 late Kabiyesi Adeyinka Oyekan, the Oba of Lagos, installed her as the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos. With that appointment, she became the right hand person of the Oba of Lagos.

Since then, she has executed her responsibilities with maturity, sagacity, courage and commitment. I

ndeed since then, the beautiful and ageless Queen mother, has become an enviable cultural Face of Lagos; its traditional allure and ageless charm.

By bringing Erelu Dosumu into the Court of Oduduwa, Ooni Ogunwusi is paying tribute to the age old tradition of the Oodua people that recognizes the power and position of significant matriarchs who had earlier dominated and still dominate the social, political and business landscape of the Yoruba nation and the lager race globally.

Erelu Dosumu would be adding value to the Court of Oduduwa as a well connected aristocrat who for many years has been part and parcel of the influential class of Nigerian royalty.

Even though Erelu Abiola Dosumu had during the days of the Ooni Ogunwusi’s illustrious predecessor, Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, been a welcomed and honoured presence at the Ooni’s Palace(Ile-Oodua) in Ile-Ife. Now she is going to become a more significant member of the most ancient royal court in the entire Oodua nation worldwide.

Since her accession in 1980 as Erelu Kuti IV, Abiola Dosumu has consistently followed the example of her illustrious forebear, building a business empire and creating a wide-ranging network of friends and influence in Nigeria and across the globe.

Though she had never held any political office, she has become well-known as a significant member of the power elite of Nigeria. She had been married twice.

Her first husband was Major Elegbede, a hero of the Nigerian Civil War who was involved in the decision of the General Yakubu Gowon government to create Lagos State. He died in a motor accident shortly after the war.

After his death, she later married the international business man, the late Chief Deinde Fernadez. Her social status was confirmed by Nigerian leading Juju music star, King Sunny Ade, who waxed a memorable record in her honour.

Dosumu was born in Kano on July 29, 1947, to OmoOba Adewunmi Dosumu, a Lagos prince and his wife, Adejoke.

She was educated in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. She went into business early and became the first Nigerian to open a shop on the highbrow Bond Street in London, United Kingdom.

She had made a fortune dealing in the lucrative oil business and promoting the Yoruba traditional wear, Aso Oke, which she has sold all over the world.

As a traditional aristocrat, she has found a conspicuous place in the traditional power structure of Lagos when her uncle, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan made her the Erelu Kuti IV.
With that title, she became the leader of the Lagos women and the official Queen Regent of Lagos when the oba passes on. She is a member of the Council of Kingmakers and an official principal adviser to the Oba. She is also the head of the various women groups in Lagos as well as the leader of the powerful women market guilds. She also holds royal titles In Egbaland and other places.

She has been honoured in many countries and also bagged honourary doctorate degree from the Crescent University, Abeokuta and Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State. She has a reputation as a shrewd businesswoman as well as a painstaking fashion pacesetter.

The new honour coming from Ile-Ife which is the source and traditional headquarters of the Oduduwa people worldwide is only a confirmation of the role she has been playing for many years as among African royalties. She is at home in many palaces across Nigeria.

Her new pedestal as the Yeye Oodua would afford her greater field of play but also impose on her wider responsibilities across Oodualand and the Diaspora. due course.

In line with the ancient tradition of Ile-Ife, a 3-day traditional rites to communicate with the ancestors will begin from Thursday 21st while the official installation ceremony will be held on Saturday 23rd July, 2022 at the courtyard of the Ooni’s Palace (Ile-Oodua) in Ile-Ife.

Related Topics:Erelu Abiola Dosunmu Ile Ife Ooni of Ife Yeye Oodua

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Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

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Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

4 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

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Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”