Kunle Adelabu
The Fidimolu of Elepe, Oba Abdul-Ganiu Adekoyejo Omotayo, is dead. He died one year and a month after he officially ascended the throne as the first traditional ruler of Elepe Kingdom in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
The monarch died on Friday, at the age of 85. His passage was confirmed to THE IMPACT by close family members.
Oba Omotayo, who hailed from the Olutemowo branch of Ijaolu Ruling House of Igbogbo, was Baale of Elepe for 47 years before his elevation as a monarch.
He received the staff of office and certificate of recognition from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Mr. Bolaji Kayode Robert, at the well attended installation ceremony held at the Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA Secretariat, on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
His brief profile:
Oba AbdulGaniu Adekoyejo Omotayo was born 3rd March, 1940.
He attended Anglican Primary School, Ijomu, Ikorodu. After his primary school, he went to Baruwa Architecture Institute, Ijoko, Sagamu in Ogun State.
After the completion of his training, he worked with an architectural firm in Sagamu between 1964 and 1967.
At the beginning of the civil war, Oba Omotayo returned to Lagos to live with his uncle, Mr Raheem Adeko who owned Raheem Adeko and Sons, a company that dealt in paint and also had an hotel. In Lagos, he worked as his uncle’s manager between 1968 and 1973 and from there, he moved to Osinowo Transport where he was also a manager between 1973 and 1975.
After working at Osinowo Transport, he left for Elias Transport and he was there between 1975 and 1976. After that, the late monarch returned to Ikorodu and engaged in business.
Oba Omotayo was installed as Baale of Elepe on November 3rd, 1978, from Olutemowo branch of the Ijaolu Ruling House of Igbogbo. He was the first Olutemowo, and was a member of the Igbogbo Customary Court between 1983 and 1987.
He was also the Chairman of the four ruling houses in Igbogbo, and a member of the Ikorodu Chieftaincy Committee
Other branches of the Ijaolu Ruling House are Ipawo Oba, Emugoriade, Oyetade and Memolu.
