Akirun’s Stool: Gboleru Ruling House Unveils Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru As Successor

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Following the demise of Akirun of Ikirun, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Late Oba Abdulrauf Adedeji II, the Gboleru Ruling House, whose turn is to produce the next Akinrun of Ikirun, on Friday, unveiled Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru to be the next monarch of the town.

The ruling house explained that it had taken necessary steps to ensure that a competent and experienced person is nominated or selected for a peaceful transition from Adedeji II to Gboleru.

CityMirror News reports that the Akirun stool became vacant following the demise of Oba Abdulrauf Adedeji ll, who recently joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

Addressing journalists at press conference , the representative of Gboleru ruling house, Gboyega Olatunji, the house elder and Mudasiru Olatunji,
Gboleru Ruling House Youth Leader, both said it was the turned of their ruling house to produce the next Akirun.

The Gboleru Ruling House believes that next Akinrun should be a man who is tested in all ramification and has structured plan vision to develop Ikirun as a dynamic, resilient, liveable and inclusive nodal city.

He must also have plan to transform the ancient city with strong social, economic, human, and infrastructural base that will significantly sustain the city as a state industrial hub that ensures employment generation especially among youths, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

“The Gboleru Ruling House, which unarguably is next in line to produce the next king, is blessed with many competent professionals of pedigree who are well exposed both locally and internationally to bring the needed development to the town.

“One of very prominent among them is Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Adejumo Gboleru, a business analyst, project coordinator and business owner who has spent the last 20 years solving Complex Business Problems and fuelling multimillion-dollar revenue growth,” they explained.

“According to the Ikirun District Chieftaincy Declaration and Gazette of 1959, approved in 1960, re-registered in 1970, which were done during the reign of Late Oba Lawani Adeyemi, and its subsequent versions, especially the Gazette of 1980 signed by late Chief Bola Ige, the former Governor of old Oyo State, during the reign of Late Oba Lawani Adeyemi, there are three ruling houses in Ikirun land.

“They are Obaara, Adedeji and Gboleru Ruling houses. Oba Lawani Adeyemi Oyejola, from the Obaara ruling house, ruled between 1945 – 1989 after which late Oba Olayiwola Adedeji II, came to the throne from 1991–2021.
It is therefore crystal clear that Gboleru Ruling House is the next in line to produce the next Akinrun of Ikirun.”

“The History of Gboleru and his Offspring
After successfully traversing the forests of Irele, the itinerant Gboleru settled down at Oke Agbon. But his residency in this new abode of his was embroiled in intrigues and conspiracy.

“Since the demise of Late Oba Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji II, Akinrun of Ikirun who joined his ancestors few months ago, all eyes have turned to Ikirun to see what becomes of the transition to a new king.

“The Gboleru ruling House is hereby stating unequivocally that Ikirun has always been known as a peaceful ancient town that has transited from one king to the other in the last 100 years without any crisis.

“Over the years, the peaceful coexistence among our people has greatly contributed to the more peaceful environment that now prevails.

The Ikirun people are looking forward to having a King who can exploit the peace among its people to turn around the fortunes of Ikirun land, and hence, any inferior candidate as the next Akinrun of Ikirun will be a calamity and will be strongly opposed and rejected by the traditional King makers in particular and Ikirun people in general.

“Although the next 20 years is fraught with uncertainty and unforeseen circumstances, changes are likely.

“The Gboleru Ruling House believes that next Akinrun should be a man who is tested in all ramification and has structured plan vision to develop Ikirun as a dynamic, resilient, liveable and inclusive nodal city with strong social, economic, human, and infrastructural base that will significantly sustain the city as a state industrial hub that ensures employment generation especially among youths, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

“For Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru, CEO, Managing Director SDA GBOLERU FARMS NIGERIA LTD, Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria; owner, managing director and CEO of GEORGIA ONE FINANCIAL MORTGAGE LLC 1994 – 2000, as well as Founder/The Mortgage Centre Canada Choice Financial Inc. Toronto, his decision to become the next Akinrun is basically to improve the overall environment of the city and its environs and providing new homes and infrastructure and an improved local environment that will provide support for local businesses; Improving the overall environment of Ikirun and environs by supporting businesses and enterprise, enhancing the public realm, and a more sustainable mix of new homes; regenerating Ikirun Core area to provide improved quality and quantity of commercial, residential and leisure uses in an attractive setting; supporting local community life through education and employment opportunities, cultural and sporting assets, community services, healthcare, recreational activities and other infrastructure that meets local needs.

“He has the passion of making Ikirun an easy place to get to and around by walking, cycling, public transport and road; reducing the impacts of flooding, waste disposal, travel congestion, energy costs and utilities infrastructure; to promote rehabilitation and preservation of buildings, and improvement of places of local, architectural, cultural or historical interest.

“ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN IKIRUN
Poverty and unemployment are the main economic challenges facing Ikirun, although in relative terms the level of poverty is not as high as in some other parts of the state. Our people face a number of constraints in securing jobs because there are few formal employment opportunities.

“Segun Gboleru, who has traversed major parts of the world has earned several promotions due to exemplary work performance. Currently oversee initiatives designed to advance continuous improvement, competitive advantage, and profitable growth; he leads business process and workflow mapping/analysis using data capture and modelling technologies, methods, and tools.

“He has simultaneously managed and implementing a new business process and acquiring a new or modified data system projects by defining project scope and deliverables that support business goals. He has assisted international organisations to prioritise action planning and completion of customer specific programs, requests, escalations, and solutions.

“Prince Segun Tajudeen Gboleru has been described as a dynamic choice to turn the town into a resilient, liveable and inclusive nodal city with a solid social, economic, human, and infrastructural base that will significantly sustain the city as a state industrial hub that ensures employment generation especially among youths, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

“Opportunities for Vulnerable Populations
The process of installing a new Akinrun which we believe will soon be commenced by the government of the State of Osun, has presented a new opportunities for all the sons and daughters of Ikirun to be part of programmes that will be set up to protect the vulnerable groups, notably the economically disadvantaged and the aged people in our town. One of the features which make the city competitive is its strategic location as a nodal city. Because it has good road network linkages and its nearness to the state capital, there are a number of potential business opportunities in Ikirun. Ikirun is also one of the zones in which the State Government has developed an industrial estate.

“We therefore call on all stakeholders including the kingmakers, Ikirun elders to call out those who are instigating unholy process of installing a new king to consider the overall benefits of installing a competent person over their own personal interest. We also call on the other two ruling houses to support a peaceful selection by cooperating with Gboleru Ruling House for the good of our land.

“The family also implores the Government of State of Osun to demand from the kingmakers to do the needful by ensuring peaceful ascension of the new monarch to put the town on the path of progress and development that the indigenes will benefit from having a world-class personality as their King
We, therefore, call on all stakeholders, including the kingmakers, Ikirun elders, to call out those who are instigating the unholy process of installing a new king to consider the overall benefits of installing a competent person over their own personal interest. We also call on the other two ruling houses to support a peaceful selection by cooperating with the Gboleru Ruling House for the good of our land.” they said