A former deputy governor of Osun State, Loja Clement Adesuyi Haastrup from Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House has emerged as the 49th Owa Obokun, Ajimoko lll and paramount ruler of Ijesaland.
LEADERSHIP learnt that Haastrup emerged through an election by kingmakers which was conducted within the premises of Ilesa West local government secretariat in Ilesa and supervised by the head of local government administration of Ilesa East local government, Ilesa.
Haastrup was reportedly victorious among nine other eligible contenders to the throne in the selection process.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved his appointment as the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland with immediate effect.
The governor also named Prince Johnson Adekanmi Abikoye as the new Asaoni of Ora Igbomina.
A statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, to that effect on Friday, indicated that the approval of the two monarchs was ratified and approved during the sitting of the Osun State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor on Friday.
The emergence of Prince Haastrup as the new Owa-elect followed the demise of the immediate-past Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II on the September 11, 2024; while that of Prince Abikoye as the new Asaoni of Ora Igbomina followed the demise of Oba Tinuoye Atolagbe on November 19, 2023.
According to Alimi, Governor Adeleke while congratulating the two newly approved monarchs whom he said their choices followed due processes in line with the Chiefs’ law of Osun State 2002( cap 25), enjoined all sons and daughters of the two towns to cooperate with their new traditional rulers, particularly in allowing peace and unity to take the centre stage in both domains.
Recall that Prince Haastrup served as Deputy Governor of Osun alongside the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke from January 1992 to November 1993.
He was born on September 19, 1948, hails from the Ajimoko royal family in Ijesaland.
He had his early education at Eko Boys’ High School (1963-1967) and pursued further studies at the Federal School of Sciences, Lagos (1968-1969).
He later earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Howard University, United States of America.
