In a solemn yet deeply symbolic gesture rooted in Yoruba tradition, Kakalistiq.com reports that the Olu-Epe-Elect, Chief Adeniyi Kadri Odedeogboro, earlier today visited the tomb of the late Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, Oba Dr. Shefiu Adewale Bamgbopa Eshilokun I, to offer prayers for the repose of his soul and seek divine guidance for the journey ahead.
The visit, which followed his installation by the kingdom’s kingmakers at the historic First Epe Central Mosque, Oke-Balogun, was marked by an emotional moment of communion between the living and the departed, a practice held sacred among the Yoruba people.
Standing quietly on in company of one of the Council Chiefs at the resting place of the revered monarch, Chief Odedeogboro bowed his head in prayer and reverence. In a moment akin to a heartfelt conversation, he expressed gratitude to the late king for considering him worthy of succession, a selection believed by many in the kingdom to have been spiritually sanctioned before the monarch’s passing.
“I am humbled by this divine privilege,” Chief Odedeogboro reportedly said during the visit. “Kabiyesi, thank you for trusting me. I promise not to depart from the path you have laid. I will carry forward your legacy with honour and wisdom.”
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The pact, though unspoken in formal terms, echoed with the weight of tradition and duty, a continuation of leadership from one reign to the next, bound not only by royal authority but by ancestral allegiance.
Earlier in the day, Chief Odedeogboro also paid a visit to the widow of the late monarch, Alhaja Aribike Adewale, where he offered his condolences and prayers. With a heart full of empathy, he praised her as a woman of grace who stood firmly by the king, not only as a wife but as a queen devoted to the peace and progress of Epe Kingdom.
“Your strength and devotion are written in the heart of this kingdom,” he told her. “May the Almighty grant you continued strength, good health, and the fortitude to uphold the royal family in this time of transition.”
Late Oba Dr. Shefiu Adewale Bamgbopa Eshilokun I, who was the 19th Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, passed on peacefully at the age of 87 on Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Lagos. His reign was marked by wisdom, dignity, and tireless commitment to the cultural and social development of the kingdom.
