*Onise of Iseland Oba Ibrahim Adebolawle Saliu.
It was a moment of joy, reconciliation and renewed hope in Iseland as the people warmly received their newly installed monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebowale Saliu, the Onise of Iseland, at the maiden edition of the Ise Community General Meeting.
The gathering provided the monarch with his first major opportunity to formally interact with his subjects, appreciate them for their support and unveil a new vision anchored on unity, peace, reconciliation and sustainable development for Iseland.
Addressing the gathering, Oba Adebowale expressed profound appreciation to the people of Ise for their unwavering support, particularly throughout the period of the Obaship tussle that preceded his installation.
The monarch also acknowledged the various ruling houses in Iseland for their roles in the process that eventually culminated in his emergence as the Onise, noting that all those who contested for the traditional stool were driven by their desire to see the kingdom prosper.
According to him, the time had come for everyone to put the disagreements of the past behind them and redirect their energy towards the collective advancement of Iseland.
He said: “I appreciate the people of Ise for their support and understanding, especially during the period of the Obaship tussle. I also appreciate all the ruling houses and everyone who played a role in the process that brought me to the throne.”
The monarch added that those who contested for the stool should not be regarded as enemies, stressing that they were all people who had the interest of Ise at heart.
“Everyone who contested for the stool had the interest and development of Ise at heart. Now that the process is over, we must all come together and translate those good intentions into collective action for the development of our kingdom,” he said.
In a major gesture of reconciliation, Oba Adebowale declared that he had forgiven everyone who might have wronged him during the Obaship struggle, extending an olive branch to all sides and calling for a fresh beginning.
“I have forgiven everyone,” the monarch declared, urging the people to abandon bitterness and embrace peace in the interest of Iseland.
He stressed that there was no room for rancour in the new chapter of Iseland, calling on those who contested the stool, community leaders, traditional chiefs, youths, women and other stakeholders to join hands with his administration.
“There is no room for bitterness in this new chapter of Iseland. We must embrace peace, forgive one another and work together. The development of Ise should be our common concern,” he said.
The monarch also reaffirmed his commitment to running an open-door administration, assuring the people that the palace would remain accessible to all, irrespective of social status, background or position.
He explained that leadership required constant engagement with the people and a willingness to listen to their concerns, ideas and suggestions.
“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. Leadership is about listening to the people and working with them,” he said.
Oba Adebowale further pledged to pursue what he described as unprecedented development for Ise Kingdom, while calling for the cooperation and support of all stakeholders.
He noted that the responsibility for developing the kingdom could not be left to the traditional institution or government alone, stressing that sustainable development required the collective efforts of the entire community.
“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,” the monarch said.
He urged the people, particularly the younger generation, to see the new chapter as an opportunity to build a stronger and more prosperous Iseland.
The meeting also featured addresses by notable traditional chiefs who attended the gathering.
The chiefs, in their separate remarks, commended the people of Ise for their support and urged them to rally behind the newly installed monarch as he begins his reign.
They emphasized the importance of unity, peace and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the collective progress of Ise Kingdom must remain the priority of every son and daughter of the community.
The chiefs also called on the people to support the monarch’s development agenda and contribute positively to the growth of the kingdom.
The maiden Ise Community General Meeting consequently served as more than a traditional gathering; it became a platform for reconciliation, dialogue and the beginning of a new relationship between the palace and the people.
It also offered an opportunity for the monarch to communicate his vision and reassure his subjects that the palace would operate as a unifying institution committed to the welfare and development of the entire kingdom.
As Ise Kingdom begins a new chapter under the leadership of Oba Adebowale Saliu, the message emerging from the gathering was unmistakable: the era of division must give way to reconciliation, unity and collective action.
With the monarch extending an olive branch and declaring, “I have forgiven everyone,” the people of Ise are being called upon to close the chapter of the past and join hands in building a peaceful, united and prosperous Iseland.