History was made today in Ilesa, the cultural and political heartland of Ijesaland, as His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, was officially crowned the 49th Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.
The colourful coronation ceremony was the highlight of a week-long series of royal, cultural, sporting, and humanitarian activities that began on May 16, 2025.
Owa Haastrup, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State and billionaire business magnate, succeeds the late Oba Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, bringing to the revered throne a blend of regal tradition and modern leadership experience.
The grand coronation ceremony, held at the Owa’s Palace in Ilesa, commenced amid tight security and jubilant crowds. Dressed in resplendent traditional regalia befitting his new status, the Owa was adorned with the sacred paraphernalia of royalty in a ritual steeped in age-old customs and symbolism, formally assuming his role as the spiritual and political leader of Ijesaland.
The event attracted a distinguished roll call of national leaders, royal fathers, and eminent personalities. Among those in attendance were Nigeria’s former Vice Presidents, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Architect Namadi Sambo; former Osun State Governors, Rauf Aregbesola (also a former Minister of Interior) and Adegboyega Oyetola (current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy); business magnate and philanthropist Dr. Deji Adeleke; the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; the revered Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; and the Soun of Ogbomoso and other notable others.
Also present were royal fathers, diplomats, captains of industry, academics, traditionalists, cultural groups, and thousands of jubilant Ijesa indigenes and well-wishers who converged on Ilesa for the historic occasion.
The celebration moved to Ilesa Grammar School grounds, where a lavish coronation reception was hosted. The venue, adorned in the colours and emblems of Ijesa royalty, came alive with carnival-like fanfare, musical performances, dance troupes, and cultural displays showcasing the rich heritage of the Ijesa people.
Guests were treated to a feast of traditional cuisine, while the atmosphere echoed with goodwill messages, speeches, and tributes to the legacy of the Owa throne and the leadership promise of the new monarch.
The coronation ceremony capped a meticulously planned 10-day programme that included a Jumat prayer, cultural displays, Isese Night, royal visits, sporting events, charity outreach to orphanages, a symposium and scholarship presentation, and interdenominational thanksgiving services—each event drawing participation from across the Ijesa zones and beyond.
The new monarch, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, in his coronation remarks, pledged to prioritize the unity, development, and cultural renaissance of Ijesaland. “Today is not only a personal milestone but a historic moment for our people. I am deeply humbled and ready to serve with wisdom, fairness, and vision,” he stated.
As the sun set over Ilesa, the echoes of royal drums and the joy of thousands signalled not just the end of a coronation, but the dawn of a new chapter in Ijesaland's storied history. The ascension of Owa Ajimoko III, a monarch rooted in tradition yet attuned to modern realities, promises renewed hope and transformative leadership for the people of Ijesa.
The coronation week will be officially concluded with an interdenominational thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 25, at Methodist Church, Otapete, Ilesa.
Ijesaland stands poised—proud of its past, confident in its present, and hopeful for a future under the reign of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III.