The Yoruba community in Enugu State has unanimously appointed Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo as their new traditional ruler.

Adebayo, who hails from Osun, is the first-ever Oba of the Yoruba community in Enugu.

Speaking at the community meeting on Tuesday in Enugu, Adebayo stated that the Yoruba community in the state comprises people from seven states: Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi, and Kwara.

He revealed that the Yoruba ethnic groups in the state include the Ibadan Progressive Union, Ede Descendants, and the Olateji, Ekiti, Ondo, and Ilorin Descendant Unions.

“Today, the Ibadan Progressive Union has chosen to join the Progressive Yoruba Community in Enugu State, fulfilling our long-standing desire to have an Oba,” Adebayo said.

Regarding his selection, Adebayo explained that the process involved finding someone with a good record, good behaviour, and the ability to care for his people.

The selected individual needed to be trustworthy and capable of providing quality representation for the Yoruba people in the state.

Adebayo described how the demand for a Yoruba Oba in Enugu began, noting that interest in the position was expressed as early as 2018.

After a thorough screening, a report on the candidates was submitted to the Yoruba community.

“We lost about three candidates during the selection process. The Yoruba elders then decided to appoint a neutral and trusted individual, and I was chosen for the role.

“I came to Enugu on 7 February 1979 and have lived peacefully in the state since then,” he said.

Adebayo called for support, love, and unity from the community and urged other Yorubas who were not yet involved to join.

In his remarks, one of the aspirants, Chief Valentine Adesina, acknowledged the leadership disputes among the candidates.

“After the general meeting, a committee was established to address these issues. We started with about seven candidates, which were later reduced to three.

“For that reason, I decided to step down and support him in advancing the community,” Adesina said.