Alaafin Stool: Arinola, Iseyin-Based Retired Teacher Joins Race

*Alhaji Musbaudeen Rolayo Adebimpe Arinola*

A retired public school teacher, Alhaji Prince Arinola Musbaudeen Rolayo Adebimpe that is based in Iseyin has shown interest to vie for the much-coveted stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.

In his letter of interest, which has been submitted to the right quarters, Arinola promised to work for the growth of not only Oyo kingdom, but the entire Yoruba race if he becomes the next Alaafin.

The stool of Alaafin of Oyo became vacant at the demise of the last monarch, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 11 after long reign that spanned decades.

In his letter, a copy which was made available to The Chronicler Newspaper over the weekend, Alhaji Musbaudeen claimed to be a full-blooded son of Late Salau Oyelekan Adebimpe Oladigbolu, from the popular Oladigbolu royal family.

He said he is a direct descendant of Aremo Sanusi Adebimpe Siyanbola Oladigbolu and has spent most part of his life at Iseyin, in Iseyin local government, where he had his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Ago Ijio, Iseyin from 1960 to 1967.

”I am Prince Arinola Musbaudeen Rolayo, a full blooded son of Late Salau Oyelekan Adebimpe Oladigbolu while my mother is Mistura Omoladun Atoke, I am a true and direct descendant of Aremo Sanusi Adebimpe Siyanbola Oladigbolu. I was born in Iseyin on the 22nd February, 1956 at Eleyinju-Ege Compound, Ijemba, Iseyin, in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“I was enrolled at an informal Quranic School under the tutelage of my uncle, Alhaji Muyibi Mudasiru where I learnt the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
In 1960, I started primary education at Methodist Primary School, Ago-Ijio, Iseyin and passed out in 1967.

“I had a brief stint of further education at Muslim Secondary Modern School, Oremoje, Iseyin between 1969 to 1970, from where I proceeded to Ansar-ud-Deen High School, Saki in 1971 and passed out in 1975.

“I was engaged by the defunct Western State as an auxiliary teacher between 1975 to July 1976 after which I proceeded to the defunct Divisional Teachers’ Training College at Ile-Ife on a year professional teacher training, I took up teaching appointment in 1977 as a qualified and trained teacher and was posted to L. A. School, Alawusa, Ilora via Oyo.

“After three years of meritorious teaching service, I proceeded to the Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa where I obtained the National Certificate in Education with bias in Yoruba Language and Islamic Studies in 1985. I was re-absorbed into the Oyo State Teaching Service in 1985 as an NCE teacher and I undertook sandwich degree programme from of which I was awarded a degree certificate in 1998.”

Arionola has worked as a Class teacher at L. A. Primary School, Apenpe, Iseyin between 1975-1976, L. A. Primary School, Alawusa, Ilora, Oyo 1977, St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Okutapemo, Iseyin 1977-1979, Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin 1979-1981, Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin 1985-1997, Baptist Grammar School, Koso, Iseyin1997-2003 and Ansar-ud-Deen Grammar School, Iseyin 2003-2005.

He also taught at Muslim Grammar School, Iseyin 2005-2008, Okaka Community Comprehensive High School, Okaka 2008-2010 as the Vice-Principal and at Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin 2010-2012 also as the school’s Vice Principal.

He has held positions as the Secretary, Social Democratic Party (SDP) Care-Taker Committee member in Iseyin Local Government, Board Member (Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (Tescom) 2017-2019.

He is a devoted Muslim and former pioneering Vice Chairman, Nasrul-lahi-il-fathi Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, Iseyin Branch (2001-2008).

Alhaji Arinola hailed from Ile Joko in Oyo town and is married with children.