By Ishola Balogun
The newly installed Onise of Ise Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebowale Saliu, has extended an olive branch to all parties involved in the recent Obaship tussle, declaring that he has forgiven everyone and urging the people of the kingdom to unite for its development.
The monarch spoke at the maiden edition of the Ise Community General Meeting, where he formally interacted with his subjects and outlined his vision for a new era of peace, reconciliation, unity and development in the kingdom.
Oba Adebowale expressed appreciation to the people of Ise for their support during the Obaship contest and urged all parties to put the past behind them and work together in the collective interest of the community.
He also acknowledged the various ruling houses for their roles in the process that culminated in his installation, noting that those who contested the traditional stool were motivated by their desire to see Ise progress.
“I appreciate the people of Ise for their support, particularly during the period of the Obaship tussle. I also appreciate all the ruling houses and everyone who played a role in the process that culminated in my installation,” he said.
According to the monarch, the conclusion of the contest should mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Ise Kingdom rather than a continuation of old disagreements.
“Everyone who contested for the stool had the interest and development of Ise at heart. Now that the process is over, we must put the past behind us and translate our good intentions into collective action for the advancement of our kingdom,” he said.
In what was a strong message of reconciliation, Oba Adebowale declared: “I have forgiven everyone.”
He urged anyone who might have offended him during the Obaship struggle to regard the matter as settled, stressing that there was no room for bitterness in the new chapter of the kingdom.
“There is no room for bitterness in this new chapter of Ise Kingdom. We must embrace peace, forgive one another and work together in the interest of our community,” the monarch said.
He specifically appealed to those who contested the stool, traditional chiefs, community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders to support his administration and contribute to the development of Ise.
Oba Adebowale said the success of his reign would depend largely on the willingness of the people to work together and place the collective interest of the kingdom above individual differences.
The monarch also pledged to run an open-door administration, assuring the people that the palace would remain accessible to all, irrespective of status or background.
“My administration will be an open-door administration. The palace door will always be open to our people. Anyone who has a concern, an idea or a suggestion should feel free to come forward,” he said.
He said effective traditional leadership required constant engagement with the people, adding that the palace must be willing to listen to the concerns, aspirations and suggestions of its subjects.
Oba Adebowale also pledged to pursue what he described as unprecedented development in Ise Kingdom, but stressed that transforming the community could not be achieved by the traditional institution alone.
“Government alone cannot develop our community. The traditional institution, government, the private sector, community leaders and our people all have roles to play. We must work together if we want to achieve the transformation we desire for Ise,” he said.
He therefore called for greater cooperation among stakeholders and urged residents to contribute their expertise, resources and ideas towards the growth of the kingdom.
The monarch also encouraged youths to embrace the new phase and play active roles in building a stronger and more prosperous Ise.
The meeting featured addresses by notable traditional chiefs, who commended the people of Ise for their support and urged them to rally behind the newly installed monarch.
The chiefs stressed the need for unity and peaceful coexistence, noting that the development and progress of Ise should remain the overriding concern of every son and daughter of the kingdom.
They also called on residents to support the monarch’s development agenda and avoid actions capable of reopening old wounds or deepening divisions within the community.
The maiden community general meeting provided a platform for reconciliation and dialogue between the new monarch and his subjects, while setting the tone for the administration of Oba Adebowale Saliu.
The gathering effectively marked the beginning of a new phase for Ise Kingdom, with the palace seeking to turn the end of the Obaship contest into an opportunity for unity and collective development.
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