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 HOW PRINCE JIMMY ADETOKUNBO YEKINI-GOLOBA BECAME OSOLO-ELECT

The Snoop News Media can exclusively and authoritatively revealed how Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba beat 14 other Isolo royal princes to emerge as Osolo-elect.

For the British- trained optician, his quest to occupy the throne of his forefathers is perhaps a divine call to serve humanity through his selection as the next Osolo of Isolo after the demise of Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka who joined his ancestors almost six months ago.

Following the passage of the last Osolo of Isolo, the pendulum thus shifted to Alagbeji Royal Family to produce the next monarch for the ancient Awori town. This came almost 40 years after the royal family had produced it's last Osolo of Isolo in His Royal Majesty, Oba Disu Akanni Olayiwola

 Faronbi who died on June 30th 1984.

The race to produce the next Osolo thus began with the four branches of the family namely: Akinlagun, Ejoga Arowooye, Alabe and Apena being requested to forward names of eligibles princes from each of the branches. 

From Akinlagun branch were Prince Abeeb Adeshina Kolawole Faronbi, the first son of Late Oba Disu Akanni Faronbi and the front-runner for the Mende/Anthony throne; Prince Biodun Shekoni, the last born of Chief Amuda Ejalonibu Faronbi and Prince Raheem Faronbi, the son of the Head of Apakun Osuro Chieftaincy Family.

Ejoga Arowooye had Prince Yahya Abiodun Lawal-Arowooye, the current Agbaakin of Isolo Kingdom; Prince Wasiu Alani Bello-Arowooye, the current Isolo Regeant; Prince Adams Akolawole Goloba, a senior public servant with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and son of Late Akogun of Isolo; Prince Jabita Babajide Dada, an American based businessman from the lineage of the first Baale of Isolo, Baale Dada and Prince Shakirudeen Adeola Sadiq, the current Vice Chairman of Isolo LCDA and son of Late Osi of Isolo, Chief Ibrahim Sadiq.

Alabe branch of the Alagbeji Royal Family had Prince Saheed Ishola Aregbe (a.k.a SA 400), a businessman and the grandson of the Head of Akinbaiye Family, Chief Yahya Aregbe; Hon. Saheed Adekunle Aregbe (a.k.a SA 100), son of Chief Olushi of Isolo; Prince Kazeem Omotolani Faronbi (a.k.a E Don Tey), son of the Owobiyi Chieftaincy Family and Prince Ganiu Abegunde.

Apena branch produced Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba, son of former king Yekini Goloba; Prince Sulaimon Taiwo Apena, son of Late Chief Taiwo Apena and Prince Murphy Ajala, son of Alhaja Jarinatu Goloba.

At the end of an internal screening exercise, the names of all the 15 aspirants were forwarded by their respective branches to a 20-man screening committee headed by a former Member of House of Representatives (MHR) Hon. Hakeem Muniru.

The terms of reference of the committee among other things are to set selection criteria for the aspirants and rate them accordingly. The criteria include educational background, character attestation, lineage ancestry, community involvement and development project, health status and wellbeing as well as support and endorsement.

After an exhaustive screening session which lasted for about two weeks, the committee forwarded it's report on each of the 15 aspirants to the Kingmakers for consideration.

Isolo Kingdom has four statutory Kingmakers saddled with the task of appointing an Oba among the prince's from the ruling houses whenever the Osolo stool is declared vacant.

Having received the report of the screening committee, the Kingmakers nonetheless still subjected the aspirants to fresh rounds of scrutiny according to customs and traditions by inviting the Ifa Oracle priest for divine consultations and guidance.

Close sources revealed that in order to ensure credibility of the exercise, the priest reportedly requested for the involvement of more priests from within and around the community. A total of eight Ifa priests were in attendance in the presence of representatives of all aspirants and their branches.

After due consultation, five aspirants were reportedly dropped in the first stage of the screening exercise while another three were dropped from the second stage which left the scene open to only remaining seven aspirants from which the Kingmakers were expected to vote for their choice.

Those who made it through to the final stage of the exercise according to dependable sources include Prince Biodun Shekoni, Prince Raheem Faronbi, Prince Yahya Lawal Arowooye, Prince Shakirudeen Sadiq, Prince Saheed Ishola Aregbe and Prince Jimmy Yekini-Goloba.

At the end, it was reliably gathered that two out of the four Kingmakers voted for Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba. One voted for Prince Biodun Shekoni while the remaining Kingmaker reportedly abstained from voting.

However, all the four Kingmakers unanimously approved the selection of Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba as the Osolo-elect.

The Kingmakers who midwived the voting exercise  include: Chief Mukaila Adesegun Agbabiaka who represents Jagun Aluko arm of the Kingmakers; Chief Rahman Mustapha (aka Inufele) who represents Afobaje Ogodo; Chief Rasak Onikosi of Osuro Kingmaker family; and Chief Saka Omotoba from Omotoba Kingmaker family.

Expectedly, the Kingmakers will submit their report to the Executive Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Otunba Bayo Olasoju, who in turn would forward same to Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for due consideration to kick-start preparation for the installation ceremony of the new king.