Culled from The GuardianÂ
By Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan
Following the demise of the immediate past Olupo, Oba Emmanuel Onaolapo Oyebamiji, Fadare II, who passed on Monday, January 3, 2022 at age 72, the kingmakers of the town, selected Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje, the Bamigboye II, Ilufemiloye, Ariwajoye I, the new Olupo. In November 2022, the Osun State Government presented Staff of Office to Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje, the Bamigboye II, Ilufemiloye, Ariwajoye I, as the 16th Olupo of Oluponna, Ayedire Council of Osun State.
Just like yesterday, the revered monarch has spent one year on the throne of his forebears. Celebrating the faithfulness of God in his life, peace and tranquility of his community and developmental strides recorded within a year was worthwhile.
To mark the first anniversary, a raft of events and activities was lined up. The programme began on November 7, 2023 with free medical mission which took at the palace premises. This was followed by an interdenominational service which also took place at the palace on Wednesday November 8. The same day, there was a public interactive lecture tagged : ‘Apero’, ‘ Oluponna Industrial –business and Economic Development Plan in the Next 20 Years’. It took place at Oluponna Town Hall. Scholars like Prof. Dele Adigun, Prof. Kayode Alao and Prof. Wasiu Akanbi did justice to the topic. The lecture was moderated by Alhaji {Dr.}Kabir Garba Ajidawura. On Thursday, November 9,2023, notable personalities were conferred with chieftaincy titles and honorary awards. On Friday, November 10, 2023, there were a Jumat service at Oluponna Central Mosque and a football match which took place at St. Peters’ Anglican Primary School, where Oluponna High School traded tackles with Owland National School.
Climaxing on November 11, 2023, it was a spectacle to beyond as thousands of sons and daughters of the town trooped out to celebrate the first anniversary. Music was not in short supply as there was music band dishing out melodious songs. It was not just about celebration, there was a launch of the one billion naira multipurpose entrepreneurial skill centre.
The  coronation anniversary, conferment of chieftaincy titles/ awards and the launching of one billion naira Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje Bamgboye 11  Multiple entrepreneurial skill centre for the town at D.C. Primary School, Oluponna, Osun State.
Among the personalities were the Ooni of Ife and co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria {NCTRN}, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi , Ojaja 11; a prominent politician and insurance magnate, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Alhaji Liad Tella, Hon. Lukman Kayode Mudashiru, Hon. Akinyemi Oderinwale, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun {rtd} and others.
The top officials of Osun State government were on hand to honour the royal father. Among them were the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde and others.
In his remarks, the Olupo of Oluponna  land in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje Bamgboye 11, urged sons and daughters of the town to remember their home town and replicate the kind of development strides they carried out in foreign lands at home.
The royal father said the town is at the verge of rapid development, emphasizing that it is imperative for the natives to be part of his development vision in taking the town to Eldorado.
The monarch said: ‘’There is no point journeying in strange land without planning a place of rest at the time of our individual retirement. I want to also enjoin every son and daughter in the diasporas to remember their source and replicate the kind of mansions built in foreign lands here in our town, as Oluponna is on the verge of becoming a city in no distant future. Believe it or not, I have seen it coming. I know this is the beginning of good things to come.
‘’Also, to as many that have bought landed properties and are yet to develop it in the town, I implore you to do something good on the land on time because the land because the economic and industrial uplift is about to begin in Oluponna land’’.
He also urged parents to give their children quality education, saying such would help in building a virile community.
The monarch added: ‘’I would want parents to work towards giving their children quality education for this will help in no small measure in building a virile community that can compete favourably with other neighbouring communities. They should instill good morals into their children for them to detest hooliganism, and other social vices in all its entirely’’.
On his part, the President of Oluponna Development Association {ODA}, Chief Otunba Julius Akinlabi, said the one billion naira multipurpose entrepreneurial skill and centre would help empower the teaming youths in various vocational skills in order to make them productive
Akinlabi said: ‘’I want to appeal to everyone present here to donate generously towards the launching of the one billion naira multipurpose entrepreneurial skill and centre. The centre when it is established will be used to empower our teaming youths in various vocational skills in order to make them productive. It will undoubtedly reduce unemployment in our community.
‘’This address will not be fully concluded without calling the attention of the state government to the deplorable condition of the major roads in Oluponna’’.
In his remarks, the chairman of the first coronation anniversary, Bisi Ogunkale, urged all sons and daughters of the town to use their expertise , network, ideas and resources to reposition  Oluponna.
‘’We enjoin you all to come with your expertise, your network, ideas and resources to let us come together in repositioning our dear Oluponna. We also invite our well wishers and admirers who count it all joy to be identified and associated with us either in marriage, business ties or residents and most especially our dear friends from all neighbouring towns and cities’’, he said.
The royal father  was born in 1960 to the family of Yekini Akanji Mosobalaje and Aweni Mosobalaje of Bamigboye ruling house of Ayelabowo dynasty. He was qualified as a nurse at the Obafemi Awolowo University School of Nursing, Ile-Ife.
His primary education started in Oluponna and moved on to Ibadan and Ile-Ife where he had his secondary education. After his nursing qualification, he worked in Ibadan and Ibarapa area. He later established his own private hospital. He moved to London in 1996. His Royal Majesty then attended South Bank University where he was qualified to practice as a nurse in the United Kingdom and rose to the level of Senior Nurse Manager.
He further attended the City University for a programme in Nursing Administration, Management and Training. He also later proceeded for special training in Complex and Critical care as an intensive care nurse. H
He is founder/ director of his Nursing Agency called Mosoby UK Limited. He is also a Co-Director in another agency that was established by a group of investors called Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Services , London.
He was the general secretary of Oluponna Development Association, ODA, UK Branch until his appointment as the 16th Olupo of Oluponna land, on August 30, 2022 by 13 kingmakers of the town in a keenly contested position.
He is financially supporting Oluponna Home and Diaspora Forum’s Economic Empowerment Initiative and an active member of G-30 Club. He is a peace-loving man who engages in an open-door policy for the advancement of humanity and the community specifically.
The final phase was the thanksgiving service which took place at First Baptist Church, Oluponna.
Pic: Olupo and Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi