By Dr Oke Aruleba
Can the choice of the blue-blooded Princess Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye(nee Adegboye) as the Deputy Governor of APC in Ekiti be a tragic slip in political calculation?
This pertinent question has left the lips of many political pundits dripping with words of political permutations on the rationale behind her choice of candidacy for the prestigious position of Ekiti deputy.
A groundswell of permutations abound and one such is hinged on the assumption that APC used her candidacy as a ploy to coast home to victory simply because Ikere enjoys the undisputable reputation for massive votes returns at polls.
Be that as it may, only the deep can comb the deep! The ruling party, APC could not have committed the costly error of drawing a bad card!But the million-dollar – question is: can victory come out of this Royal Amazon?
The blue-blooded Princess Monisade Christiana Afuye, nee Adegboye, first and foremost is not a persona-non-grata in Ikere Ekiti.
She is a scion of Akayejo, a direct descent of the Great Alowolodu Royal Dynasty of Ikere Ekiti. Her geneaological tree, from inception, shows an enviable roll call of successful and great life-changer leaders from Ikere Kingdom.
Prominent amongst these leaders from the Great Akayejo Royal Dynasty to which the blue-blooded princess Monisade Christiana Afuye owes her roots are : Chiefs Akapinsa, the elder son (Omoowa) and a Paramount Palace Chief, Chief Aremo, Chief Alamuoye, and Chief Okinlua of Ikere Ekiti.
It is worthy to note that the name “Okinlua”, is derivative of the two morphemes, “Okin”, and “Lua”. Denotatively, “okin, oba eye” means , Okin , the king of birds. Put simply, “Okin” represents the royal bird.
And “Ua” means” grandeur or majesty”. “Okinlua” , therefore, literally means” very majestic in royalty.” Okinlua is a paramount female Chief in Ikere.
It is not a position any Tom , Dick and Harry can aspire to attain in the history of Ikere kingdom. Some stringent conditions should be met before a female child from the royal lineage can assume the coveted position of Okinlua.
The candidate for this reputable position must have blue-blood running through her veins. She must be of impeccable character, and progressively minded. Her leadership qualities must be highly quintessential.
She must not be of questionable character. Okinlua must be good naturedly tolerant, passionate, honest, accountable and unassuming.
She must be as transparent as the lake, and essentially imbued with integrity and patriotism. Okinlua is a heroine-figure in the history of Ikere.
The position is traditionally victory personified. She perpetually occupies the chauvieur seat in the affairs of the royal female folks and women generally in Ikere Kingdom.
Little wonder, Chief Mrs Monisade Christiana Afuye has successfully pilotted the affairs of APC women wing in Ekiti State.
Growing up in an environment of royalty , Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye has enjoyed the luxury of being regally nurtured ahead for the services to Ekiti land.
Her wearing the totemic paraphernalia of the office of Okinlua which is an exclusive birth right of “omo ori ite”, a bonafide daughter of a King, dead or living lends credence to her suitability to lead Ekiti alongside our incoming Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to the land of economic and developmental Eldorado!
Princess Monisade Christiana Afuye, the Okinlua of Ikere is neither a royal misfit nor a historical accident in the annals of Ikere Kingdom.
Permit me to hackney the moving quote of Portia, the wife of Noble Decius Brutus of Shakespeare’s repute: ” I am nobly and royally fathered,… Cato’s daughter.”
By the same token, Chief Princess Monisade Christiana Afuye, nee Adegboye Afeni, is both nobly and royally fathered…..Great Akayejo’ s daughter” Given her background as a God-fearing female child, born and nurtured in the royal homestead of victors coupled with the impeccable leadership qualities genetically wired in Chief Princess Monisade Christiana Afuye, the Okinlua of Ikere Ekiti, victory is surest for the duo of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Princess Monisade Christiana Afuye of APC come June 18, 2022 in Ekiti State gubernatorial election.
Dr Oke ArulebaA University lecturerIndigene of Ikere Ekiti08027906799(leorexinitiatives@gmail.com)