Exactly a year after Barrister Kayode Ajulo was installed as Mayegun of Yoruba Land by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams; Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has also been installed as “the first” Mayegun of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, today Monday, January 13, 2020.
Today’s event has since set many tongues wagging about which of these Mayegun is authentic and superior. It will be recalled that Aare Adams went on installation spree about this same time last year when he appointed 21 chiefs-in-council which included Barrister Ajulo as the Mayegun.
These two separate installations of the same chieftaincy title have thrown up heated debates in many circles of interests. While some believe these events have brought to the fore the sharp division in the traditional institution in Yorubaland; many have pitched their tents in different camps. Some believe that K1 installation is the authentic since it is the same Alaafin that installed him is the same king that did Adams as Aare Ona Kakanfo.
Aare Adams has been under severe criticisms because of his action, as many believed he was overreaching and usurping the powers and privileges of the Yoruba traditional rulers by installing chiefs. In response to his critics who had maintained that he had no such power and privileges, he pointed out that he was not the first Aare Ona Kakanfo to have appointed chief.
“In fact, I am the 13th Aare to have done that. The only two who did not appoint chiefs were Aare Abiola and Akintola and that was because they were seriously engaged in politics and had limited time,” he said.
According to the Aare Adams, Yorubaland was so vast that he needed to delegate responsibilities to people across all the Yoruba speaking states since he could not be everywhere at all times.
Supporters of Aare Adams claimed that it was customary for Alaafin to install Aare Ona Kakanfo and that should not diminish the fact that Aare Adams has territorial influence across all Yoruba, which include appointing people for chieftaincy titles, like he did in January 2019.
Meanwhile, the King of Fuji, K1 De Ultimate has come out to say that he was given the title by Oba Adeyemi as far back as 2009 but the installation ceremony had to be delayed because he had been too busy in the last ten years to perform the rites for installation. Buttressing this position, Oba Adeyemi said that K1 De Ultimate had reached out to him for the title eleven years ago but he refused to honour his request. He said he later agreed after he had made spiritual consultations.
The ancient town of Oyo went agog as the event assumed a carnival-like dimension with the array of dignitaries that stormed the town. According to reports, the convoy of K1 De Ultimate that left Ibadan for Oyo town numbered up to 200 exotic cars. K1 led the convoy in his latest acquisition, a Rolls Royce Ghost, followed by his Bentley and other cars trailing behind in a long stretch hitherto seen in Oyo.
Right in the presence of eminent and illustrious Yoruba sons & daughters like the former governor of Osun state, and now Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Culture & Tourism, HRM Oba Saheed Elegushi, the Olubadan of Ibadan land just to mention a few, Alaafin pronounced K1 as the first Maiyegun of Yorubaland.
Other dignitaries who witnessed the event include top players in the business sector, arts and culture, including the Nollywood and music industry where K1 plays big. Fuji artistes in attendance include Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Sefiu Alao, Sule Malaika, Sule Adio Atawewe and several others.
The grand finale of the epoch-making event comes up on K1’s birth date, March 3, 2020.
