Detached from the festive and conviviality associated with Christmas and New Year period, December 29, 2015 will forever remain evergreen in the annals of history for the people of Rore, an agrarian community in the South-South end of Kwara State. It was the day the people marked the 10th coronation anniversary of the reigning monarch, Oba Ezekiel Olawale Oyewole Arojojoye I, the Onirore of Rore.

Right from the early hours of the morning, different posh and exotic cars defied the dusty main access road (under construction) to saunter into the community. That heralded a great day in the making. Rore rose in her rural sleepy ambience to host the high-heeled of the society. At various corners, one could sight men and women gaily dressed, wriggling to the tune of talking drums, bata and sekere of the indigenous music makers.

Array of royal fathers thronged the ceremony. In fact, they stole the show. They directed the course of the celebration and championed the fund raising segment. Oba Mufutau Mohammed Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, Olofa of Offa took the lead even as he beckoned on the people of the community not to relent. "A palace is the first contact of a visitor to a community, which is the reason why efforts must be made to make it exceedingly adorable and beautiful, a point of attraction for visiting guests and source of pride for the people of the community," he stated.

Oba Sikiru Atanda Sanni Woleola II, Olupo of Ajase-Ipo; Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, Olomu of Omu Aran; Oba Abdulrafiu Ajiboye Oyelaran I, Oloro of Oro; Oba Yakubu Babalola Egunjobi II, Elesie of Esie and a host of other kabiyesis from Igbomina/Ekiti axis of the state registered their presence and made donations.

Joel Adeniran, President of Rore Development Association, was full of praises for the Kabiyesi while addressing the gathering. He applauded the traditional ruler's vision for the community, as he described him as someone known to be charismatic, progressive, result-oriented and a motivational leader.

The top-flight civil servant and church leader revealed that the love for the person of the monarch knows no bounds because he had demonstrated love for his people in many ways. He said, the Kabiyesi is "dedicated to human and socio-economic development of the town and never cease promoting peaceful co-existence. He didn't choose to take advantage of the occasion to amass wealth for himself but to raise fund for building an ultra-modern palace in the town."

The gladness with which the sons and daughters of Rore responded to the celebration of the Kabiyesi's 10th year on the throne underscored the fact that the community had recorded unprecedented progress in the last decade. Professor Joseph Popoola Fabiyi, the Asiwaju of Rore, clearly expressed this in his cerebral message.

"There is no doubt that the first decade of his reign has been eventful, especially in the act of governance and facilitation of various development projects for the good of all his subjects," he remarked.

He acknowledged the network of graded roads within the community, proper and prompt maintenance of both secondary and primary school buildings, promotion of inter-religious harmony among others. Above all, he was said to have stopped at nothing in ensuring the state government began the construction of Ipetu-Rore-Arandun Road, which is now at advanced stage.

He charged the sons and daughters of the ancient town to embrace brotherhood love; describing it as the only element that could drive the patriotic zeal needed to make the town an enviable one. He enjoined his kinsmen to make further sacrifices towards creating a socially stable, economically rewarding and business-friendly Rore.

The event, chaired by Chief Lamidi Afolabi Dokun, a retired controller, Nigerian Custom Service, had Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, senator representing Kwara South at the National Assembly, represented by Chief Abdulrauf Akogun; while Hon Lukman Owolewa, chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area and Hon. Matthew Babaoye lawmaker representing Irepodun at the Kwara State House of Assembly on hand as chief hosts.

Oba Oyewole is of Agana/Egbe Ruling House, one of the three ruling houses of the ancient town. The monarch, who ascended the throne November 2005, was before then working at Nigerian Bottling Company PLC. He started as a laboratory technician a few years after his graduation at Esie/Iludun Grammar School in 1977; had diverse on-the-job trainings and rose through the rank to become plant maintenance superintendent before he quit as he heeded the clarion call by his people to ascend the throne of his forefathers.

Eight persons from within and outside the community were conferred with different chieftaincy titles, 12 personalities from within bagged award of excellence while four had posthumous award presented by Rore Development Association in appreciation of their selfless service to the community.

Chief Benjamin Ayansola Atolagbe, who was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Aare Sobaloju of Rore, in a chat with The Herald, expressed gratitude to the monarch for honouring him and promised to justify the title by not relenting in his efforts towards the community's development.

Atolagbe, a lawyer, real estate consultant and politician who was full of joy and gratitude to God for sparing his life to witness the day, thanked family, friends and well-wishers for their supports.

The praise worship rendered by First ECWA Choir, Omu-Aran added spiritual tone and exhilarating glamour to the event as it moved the celebrant and his delectable queen to stand up and join in dancing to the rendition. More so, the joint effort of ace presenters, Taiwo Akinmoladun, Toro-toro Ayanfe as compeers; Olarewaju Iyanda's exploits in ewi rendition ensured the occasion was not off-beat.