Ogun State Government has commenced plan to install a new *Akarigbo* of
Remo whose stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Michael Sonariwo,
the paramount ruler of Remo District who joined his ancestors a year ago.
Already, the Secretary of Sagamu Local Government, Otunba Wale Fakoya has
issued a public notice calling on the Torungbuwa ruling house whose turn is
to produce the next *Akarigbo* to start the process of selection of the
candidates.
Fakoya explained in a directive to the head of Torungbuwa ruling house that
in line with section 15 and 16 of the Chiefs Law of Ogun State of 2006, the
family should convene a meeting on or before August 28th, 2017 for the
purpose of nominating a candidate or candidates.
According to him, the candidates nominated will be presented to the
kingmakers by the head of the ruling house through the council’s secretary
“for the election of a suitable candidate as *Akarigbo* of Remoland-Elect”.
The name of the candidate elected by the kingmakers is expected to be sent
the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun for final approval as the substantive
*Akarigbo* of Remo.
Already, some princes including two university professors have indicated
their interest to contest the vacant stools from the two family lineages of
Torungbuwa ruling house, the Famolu and the Oluyomade.
One of the professors is Prince Adewale Roland Solarin hails from Famolu
lineage. He is a professor of mathematics and a former Deputy
Vice-Chancellor of University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) and former
Director-General of National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja.
Solarin is the President of African Mathematical Union (AMU) and is
presently serving as a member of the Scientific Board of UNESCO’s
International Basic Science Programme, Paris, France and in 2015 he was
appointed as the UNESCO-NMC Chair of Mathematics.
He bagged his first Ph. D. (Mathematics) at Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife and was one of the prime movers of the inauguration of the Quality
Control Society of Nigeria (QCSON) and consequently became the foundation
National President of the Society.
Professor Solarin has released what he called his vision for the 21st
century Remo Kingdom, saying his “vision is to create a world-class city
and region that is internationally recognized as a pacesetters in all its
activities”.
Another professor in the race who is also from Famolu family line is Prince
Gabriel Ogunmola. He is a professor of Chemistry and was Chancellor, Lead
University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Among others princes who had shown interest to contest for the vacant
Akarigbo’s stool Tunde Ajayi, an accountant, Mutiu Adebayo and Akeebu
Kazeem.
Meanwhile, based on the letter issued by Sagamu Local Government’s
Secretary on August 15, 2017 which gave a 14-day ultimatum to the ruling
house to present its candidates, the Torungbuwa family has fixed Thursday,
August 24, 2017 for the selection exercise which would be held at Sagamu
town.
