Prince Adewale Ajayi becomes Nigeria's newest monarch after being named the Akarigbo or Remo

KINGMAKERS in the ancient Remo kingdom have appointed lawyer Prince Adewale Ajayi as the new Akarigbo of Remoland after a lengthy selection process that involved screening 19 candidates for the vacant stool.

Prince Ajayi is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a chartered accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He was elected earlier today through an open ballot held among the seven kingmakers at the Akarigbo’s palace in Sagamu in Ogun State.

Like all the other 19 candidate, Prince Ajayi is from the Torungunwa Ruling House, whose turn it is to produce the next king. Over the last week, the two major contenders to the ancient crown were 86 year old Gabriel Ogunmola, a professor Emeritus and Prince Ajayi, 55.

Niyi Adedokun, the convener of the Remo Youth Progress, said: “What Remoland deserves now is Prince Babatunde Ajayi, a seasoned administrator, young and articulate. He is very much in tune with the reality of the modern age and how to merge it with our culture and traditional heritage.

“Why do you think the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Oba Elegushi and co, are selected in their towns? It is because they are vibrant with proven track records of success in their personal and professional life.”

Among other things, Prince Ajayi, is the managing partner of law firm Babington Ashaye & Co and has over 20 years’ experience in insolvency and restructuring. He handled the liquidation of Nigeria Airways as the assistant liquidator and the privatisation of three steel rolling mills.

He was also involved in the privatisation of Skypower Aviation Handling Company and his clients include the federal government of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Prince Ajayi has a bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences from the University of Ibadan. and Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees in law from the University of Lagos. He is also the vice president of Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners of Nigeria.