Chief Olusegun Joseph Areh, the Obaneae of Oweland, has been elected as the Obadofin of Oweland in Kabba, in Kogi State.
This was revealed in a letter dated January 30, 2024, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
His election followed the approval of the traditional selectors, empowered by the Eidit 12, 1995, ruling that empowered the Oweland selectors to ratify the selection of any traditional chiefs from their ruling house.
The name of Chief Segun Areh has since been forwarded to the Okun traditional council, who are empowered to forward the same to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Title for executive approval.
The letter read, “Sequel to the demise of the late Obadofin of Oweland, Oba Micheal Yusuf, the stool of Obadofin has become vacant, and in strict compliance with Edit No. 12 of 1995 and Owe tradition, on the 3rd day of May, 2023, the Obaro of Kabba, as the most senior selector, was sent to the Odolu ruling group to ascertain and screen nominees who had indicated interest in the vacant stool.
“It is worthy to mention that four names were forwarded, among which one is to be chosen to fill the vacant stool of Obadofin of Oweland.
“After a series of further screenings, investigations carried out, and consultations with the Ifa Oracle by the Ololus in accordance with Owe tradition, Chief Olusegun Joseph Areh was considered the most suitable among the nominees sent to the selectors.
“The under listed Olulus and Chief, who also doubled as the kingmakers in the appointment of all Chiefs and Obas in Oweland, did observe due process and fulfilled all traditions; thereupon, they selected Chief Olusegun Joseph Areh (the Obanase of Oweland) as the Obadofin of Oweland in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“We hereby urge Kabba/Bunu Local Government Traditional Council and Okun Traditional Council to forward the same to the Kogi State Council of Chiefs for necessary action.”
It was gathered that two of the three selectors, namely, HRM Oba Solomon Owoniyi (Obaro of Kabba) and Oba Micheal Obinaiye (Obajemu of Oweland), signed the nomination of the new Obadofin-Elect, while the third selector, Oba S. A. Toluhi (Obani of Oweland), abstained from voting.
However, the traditional law of selection agreed that a nominee for any of the Kabba traditional chieftaincy titles required the approval of two out of the three selectors.
Recall that the immediate past Obadofin of Oweland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Oladele Yusuf, joined his ancestors in January 2023, and his final burial rites were concluded on April 28, 2023, to pave the way for the emergence of the new Obadofin of Oweland in line with Edit 12 of 1995 and 2006 Chieftaincy Law of the Kogi State Government, which established a rotational arrangement for the Ololu’s among the three ruling groups in the Kabba community.
The new Obadofin-Elect was born on May 15, 1961, to the family of Chief Daniel Usman Jagbemi Areh (Obaneae Osabu-Ewo Suwaju) of the Obanakin family, Oke’lepa Odolu, Kabba.
He attended Saint Andrew’s Primary School, Kabba, from 1966 to 1972. She proceeded to Zaria for secondary education at Kufena College, Wusasa Zaria, and finished in 1979.
He attended Katsina College of Arts, Science, and Technology (KCADT) Zaria from 1979–1981, for IJMB, and thereafter to the University of Sokoto, where he graduated with a BSC in Economics in 1987.
He served the nation in 1988 at Elf Oil Marketing LTD, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and was retained after his service year. He later enrolled for a post-diploma in marketing at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, in 1997.
He worked at Elf Oil and Total Oil Nig PLC in various portfolios: sales representatives, lube marine officers, business development managers, district sales managers, special products managers, aviation operations managers, and finally, operations liaison managers.
Upon his meritorious exit from Total, he teamed up with two former Total staff colleagues to venture into human capital development and consultancy in oil and gas midstream, downstream, and maritime operations.
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