They are best described as members of the inner caucus of Oba Saheed Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate land. They are also termed the traditional ministers to the first class monarch in Lagos.
This white cap Chiefs of Oba Saheed Elegushi are 7. They are not young men, and they are from the royal lineage in the Ikate Kingdom. They are mostly present at functions that the king attends and often times represent him when he is indisposed to attend some functions.
Though many know the king, King Gushi as he is fondly called by all but not many know his traditional white cap Chiefs. They are highly respected and many people accord them the respect they will give their king when they meet them because they are most times, the mouth piece of the king.
The Elegushi kingdom which is their domain nestles in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos. In some cases this white cap Chiefs can turn to be the king as in the case of the late father of the present king, Oba Yekini Elegushi who was the first crowned King of Ikate Elegushi Kingdom prior to his designation as one of the Idejo white cap class Chiefs before he was elevated to the class of Oba.This white cap Chiefs are popular in the palace and outside its environs because they are the real descendants of the Eti Osa Area where Ikate Kingdom falls within.
These 7 men rule the affairs of the kingdom with his Chiefs, they are always the first to be in the know of anything before anyone. Their function is very important to the king and they keep the stool sacred from any pollution.
These 7 men have their different designations and functions. They are Chief Kehinde Hassan Elegushi, The Chief Odofin of Ikateland, Chief Lamidi Atanda Elegushi, The Chief Eletu of Ikateland, Chief Morufu Adisa Sanni Elegushi, The Chief Olisa of Ikateland, Engineer Chief Kareem Olayiwola Bakare, The Chief Aro of Ikateland, Chief Abdulahi Olusegun Tijani Elegushi, The Chief Opemoluwa of Ikateland, Chief Sabitu Adekoya Elegushi, The Chief Olowa of Ikateland, Chief Muritala A. Elegushi, The Chief Alaawe of Ikateland.
Chief Kehinde Hassan Elegushi is the Chief Odofin of Ikateland, he was born in 1932 at Moloney Bridge Street, now Adeniji Adele Street, Lagos. His father was late Mr. Musiliu Oriyomi Onikoyi Elegushi, while his mother was late Madam Raliat Olaniwun (nee Mase of Idumagbo Area of Lagos).
He attended Primary School in Moba, after he engaged in fishing and farming before becoming a Chief of Ikateland. Chief Lamidi Atanda Elegushi is the Chief Eletu of Ikateland. He was born at Ikate Ancient City over seventy years ago. His father was late Tijani Gbamgala Elegushi. He is a herbalist and traditional health practitioner. He is also a member of the Chieftaincy Committee of Eti-Osa Local Government. He belongs to Kusenla Ruling House.
He is a member of Eti-Osa Chieftaincy Committee, and Chairman of Lagos Division, Fishermen Co-operative Association of Lagos State. He is married with many children. Chief Morufu Adisa Sanni Elegushi is the Chief Olisa of Ikateland, he was born at No. 80 Glover Street Lagos, On 2nd April 1944 to late Pa. Rahman Sanni Elegushi and late Madam Ashaita Elegushi from Ibeshe town in Awori Land.He attended Jamat -UI-Islamiyya School, Tokunbo Street, Lagos; and afterwards, he attended Oke Ibadan Boys High School in 1963.
He worked for U.T.C. Lagos (made to Measure Department) 1965. He afterwards worked for Shade Boutique, Broad Street, Lagos in 1996. He is a Fashion Designer By profession, and the Managing Director of M. A. S. Elegushi Fashions.
He is a patron of Lagos State Union of Tailoring Association, and a member of the chieftaincy Committee of Eti-Osa Local Government.He belongs to Odiyan Branch of Elegushi Royal Family.
Engineer Chief Kareem Olayiwola Bakare is the Chief Aro of Ikateland, (Dip-lng) was born at Alarun compound, Isale-Eko on the 10th of March, 1937.
His father was late Pa. Hassan Idowu Bakare, while his mother was late Madam Ayisat Ashake Bakare. He attended Talim-UI-Islam Ahmadiyya School, Elegbata Lagos, and afterwards Ansar-Ur -Deen College, Solo.He was trained as a Building Contruction Engineer in Germany, specialsing in HIGH-RISE Buildings.
He is the C. E. O. of HOCHBAU CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED. A Politician by calling, he was the Supervisor for Works and Housing under Eti-Osa Local Government between 1991-1993.
He belongs to Eko foundation and other social clubs.A member of Eti-Osa Local Government Chieftaincy Committee, he belongs to Bakare branch of Elegushi Royal Family. Chief Abdulahi Olusegun Tijani Elegushi is the Chief Opemoluwa of Ikateland, was born in Ikate to late chief Tijani Elegushi.
He is an Hotelier and a businessman who has travelled to many foreign countries including United Kingdom, France, West Germany and Italy.He is the Chairman of the Executive Council of the Association of African Traditional Religion, Nigeria, Lagos Chapter.He is also a member of the Chieftaincy Committee of Eti-Osa Local Government.He belongs to Kusenla branch of Elegushi Royal Family.
Chief Sabitu Adekoya Elegushi is the Chief Olowa of Ikateland, he was born in 1945.
He is one of the sons of late Chief Tijani Elegushi. Presently, he is a businessman and the proprietor of Sabitex Hotels in Ajah.After his education, he joined the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos in December 1968 and served for 12 years. He was discharged as a Physical Instructor in 1980.
Thereafter, he dabbled into private business practice and was later made a white cap Chief in Ikateland. He is married with children. He belongs to Kusenla branch of the Elegushi royal family. Chief Muritala A. Elegushi is the Chief Alaawe of Ikateland, was born on January 15, 1946.His parents were late Muyibi Elegushi (father) and late Osenatu Elegushi (mother). After his education at the Local Government School, Moba (at the then old western region, Eti-Osa), he proceeded to Western College of Commerce, where he got acquainted and equipped with the rudiments of modern Business Administration.Subsequently, he had a stint at S. B. Bakare’s company (a foremost, indigeneous shipping firm), after when he was employed by the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Moloney, Lagos Island.
A veteran businessman, he currently sits on the board of a number of companies.He is happily married with children.He belongs to the Eru-Ifa branch of the Elegushi royal family. The king, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III born in1976 is the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom. Oba Elegushi is a descendant of Kusenla Ruling House of Ikateland in Lagos State. He succeeded his father, late Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, the 20th Oba Elegushi of Ikateland, who reigned from 1991 to 2009. Oba Elegushi was presented with the staff of office by the Government of Lagos State on 27 April 2010. Oba Elegushi served Lagos State as Personal Assistant and Senior Special Assistant to two former governors of the state, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola respectively, before becoming a king.
He shared the same birthday as his late father, late Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, who was the first crowned king of Ikateland. He had his primary school education at the St. Mathias Primary School, Lagos between 1981 and 1987. He had his secondary school education at the Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos between 1988 and 1994. He proceeded to the Lagos State University, where he studied economics between the year 1995 and 2000, and bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc.) with a Second Class Honorary Degree. He also had his master’s degree in economics in the same institution between 2002 and 2003. He proceeded to the University of Manchester, where he obtained a master’s degree in public administration.
Oba Elegushi worked as Administrator, Business Development and Strategy, at Elegushi Property Investment Company, from year 2000 to 2002. He was appointed as Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State from 2003 to 2007. When Fashola succeeded Tinubu as Governor of Lagos, Oba Elegushi was appointed again as Senior Special Assistant (Special Programmes/Duties) to the Governor of Lagos State. He was in that position until 2010 when he became the king of Ikateland. At the time of his ascending the throne, he was 34 years, making him the youngest king in Lagos State.
In October, 2018, he was appointed as one of the patrons of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, a body charged with the responsibilities “to advise and support the Olympic Movement as appropriate”. Other prominent Nigerians so appointed were Bola Tinubu and a former governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan In November 2019, Igbinedion University, Okada.
Edo State, honoured Oba Elegushi, alongside former Nigeria President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and foremost Nigerian actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, with Honoris Causa in Public Administration, for his “contributions as a Traditional and Cultural Icon, Outstanding and Visionary Leader, Developmentalist, Generational Role Model and a National Builder.” He was bestowed with Peace Achievers Awards in October 2019, by Peace Ambassadors.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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