Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, the traditional ruler of Eruwa, has made history as the first monarch in Yorubaland to be removed by a Supreme Court ruling and later return to the throne through a fresh selection process. In this interview with Yinka Oladoyinbo, he shares his journey back to the stool and efforts to restore unity in the ancient town.

How do you feel about your return to the throne after the Supreme Court ruling?
Let me clarify something — I’m not being reinstated; this is a fresh installation. I’m being appointed as the new Eleruwa of Eruwa through a new process, and I’m grateful to God for making it possible.

What was life like after your removal in 2019?
Not much changed for me. I simply stayed out of public functions as the Eleruwa. I lived quietly in Eruwa, focused on my small business, and moved around freely. Some people still called me "Kabiyesi," and I responded politely. I lived as a free citizen throughout those six years.

How did you cope with being on the throne while also battling a long court case?
My emergence as Eleruwa in 1998 was by divine will, despite ongoing legal disputes. The final court judgment in 2019 removed me, but I’m thankful that Eruwa remained peaceful during my 21-year reign. The legal tussle was mainly pushed by one individual, Alhaji Rasheed Olasunkanmi Oyedepo. He argued that only male-line descendants could ascend the throne, but that’s not what the chieftaincy declaration says. The kingmakers are the ones who decide who is qualified, not just whether the candidate is from the male or female line.

Were the issues pointed out by the court addressed in the new selection process?
Yes, this time I contested through my father’s family — the Olurin royal family of the Akalakoyi ruling house. In 1998, I came through my mother’s side. This time, there were 18 contestants, but just like in 1998, I won unanimously. All the kingmakers voted for me again, even though they were a completely new group.

Some people claim the selection process ignored the Supreme Court ruling. What do you say to that?
There are two ruling houses: Akalakoyi and Olaribikusi. The court ruled that the next Eleruwa must be picked from Olaribikusi, but I wasn’t allowed to contest from there again. The government initiated the process, but Olaribikusi couldn’t agree on their eldest representative — a step required by law. After over two months without progress, the government moved to Akalakoyi, my father's house. I didn’t plan to apply — my application letter was only three lines. The whole process was emotionally draining, but legitimate.

Are you worried about more legal challenges?
Anyone can go to court, but I believe it's time for unity. Eruwa has endured disputes since 1998 — 21 years of court battles and six years without a king. Continuing that path doesn’t help the town. We’ve been reaching out to aggrieved parties through community leaders and elders. Some of my former opponents are even contributing to my coronation. We’ll keep trying to reconcile with others.

Are you open to reconciling with former rivals?
Yes, I’ve already reached out to those who contested from both ruling houses. Interestingly, many from Akalakoyi also have ties to Olaribikusi — our families are interconnected. I'm a “double prince” myself, so reconciliation is very possible. As far as the Supreme Court judgment goes, the government has implemented it fully and correctly.

There are allegations that the government manipulated the process to favour you.
That’s not true. The judgment required that the next Eleruwa be chosen from Olaribikusi, and that I must not contest. I didn’t. The problem was within Olaribikusi — they couldn’t agree on their eldest member, which stalled the process. The government simply followed the law and moved on when the deadline passed. The same kind of issue delayed things in 1998 and led to the Abidogun Panel. So, this is not new.