BY:OLADAPO SOFOWORA
The popular axiom; “Kings are born not made”, aptly captures the royal sojourn of the Olofa of Offa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Oloyede Gbadamosi, Okikiola Esuwoye II from Anilelerin Ruling House Offa, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Over a decade ago, since the demise of immediate past Olofa, Oba Mustapha Olawore Olanipekun, the ancient offa stool was thrown vacant. Anilelerin and Olugbense ruling houses presented candidates to contest the stool.
But as providence will have it, kingmakers choose the candidate from Anilelerin rulling house as the Olofa elect to be coronated as King. The then Prince Oloyede Gbadamosi now Olofa, was a Lagos business magnate with numerous business pies under his control. With pressure from his people; most expecially his late father, Alhaji Muhammed Gbadamosi Esuwoye, he returned back home to contest the stool and was coronated as king.
After his coronation in 2010, several typhoon were directed to sweep him off the stool of his fore-fathers. His enemies almost mocked him as he was almost disposed by the lower court during legal tussle. Olugbense rulling house in Offa, waged war against his selection by challenging it in court Inline with the provision of the law. The Olugbense rulling house alleged that there was a rotational policy between the two rulling houses. Despite every attempt to pull Olofa down, he returns like a cat with nine lives.
The curtain was finally drawn on the legal tussle on 1st of May 2016, when the supreme court ruled by upholding the selection of Oba Gbadamosi as the legal and rightful occupant of the offa throne. The news spread across Offa town like wild fire across. The whole town roared in wild jubilation as victory was ascertain in favour of the highly loved philanthropist monarch.
Before he became King, He attended Birni-Kebbi Polytechnic between 1982 and 1985 where he bagged a National Diploma in Building Technology. He later moved to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Technology in 1989. His passion for personal entrepreneurial skills, he ventured in the business of buying and selling of rice, sugar, salt and cement. He also founded MB Integrated Electrical and Data Services Limited; Zarm Poultry and Feed mill industry, Lagos and Yammfy Nigeria Limited.
Against all odds, on the 9th of May 2020, the Olofa celebrated his 10th coronation anniversary with no celebration. Several newspaper advertorials and wishes were strategically placed on national dailies in celebration of a milestone worth rolling the drum out for. Olofa opted for a lowkey celebration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and Ramadan fasting. He used the opportunity to offer prayers to his creator for continuous blissful years on the throne.
The anniversary was marked with a list-long of tramendious achievements under the leadership of Oba Gbadamosi with the building of an ultra-modern Olofa’s palace, Completion and rehabilitation of Offa Central Mosque, Completion and total rehabilitation of Offa Descendants Union’s Halls, The building of Moremi Hall of Fame, Reconstruction of the burnt Owode market, Mobilising community to build Mobile Police Barack in Offa, Reviving the Ijakadi Cultural festival taking to national consciousness, Making Offa one of the sought after investor’s, tourist’s and trader’s haven, Making the Ajegunle market an alternative market in Offa and Building free market stalls for market women in Offa night market (Oja Ale) among others.
