Human beings are born with a specific purpose and mission. They are like a target or a mandate that must be met.
The mission varies with individuals, but not without obstacles, which are seen as a necessary distraction.
Without doubt, it takes some people a lot of time before they realize essentially what their mission is, whilst very unfortunately, it takes some other individuals their lifetime before they understand what the essence of their birth implies.
The implication is that a situation could arise whereby the lack of realization of someone’s mission might lead others, or multitude astray, because like a chain, we are all connected imaginarily, one way or the other.
Therefore, celebration of birthdays should leave the stage of
being irregular to being purposeful, from the stage of vagueness to vast understanding, from the stage of ignorance to self-realization.
That explains why amongst other things individuals are expected to grow wiser with respect to increase in age. Perhaps, it is expected that an increase in age should bring about a lot of reasoning cum reflections that will bring about an advancement not just in the area of intellectual abilities but an all-round maturity in one’s self.
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a monarch with class.
To say he is an enigma by every standard is an understatement, as many who had an interaction with him testify that “a moment with him is like an exploratory adventure through the school of history”.
The Alaafin, no doubt, one of Africa’s most powerful and most influential kings, has lived two decades and over
half a century into decades of heeding the natural call of the gods and his people.
Oba Adeyemi was born on 15th October, 1938.
He was selected among other contestants to become king in 1968.
But the government of the day refused and he was not crowned until January 1971.
He was working as an insurance clerk then.
He contested with 10 other people for the position of the Alaafin.
The contest started in 1968 and did not end until 1970. That’s around the time of the Nigerian Civil War.
He was declared winner three times but the government initially rejected the ruling of the Oyomesi on all the three occasions.
The Oyomesi is a body of chiefs that advises the Alaafin on all issues.
Oba Adeyemi is also a boxer, who was a champion in those days (he still has his punching bag in the courtyard).
In terms of religion, he is a practising Muslim but describes himself as being liberal and a free mixer who was raised up in a strict Christian home and also went to a Catholic school.
His father, Adeniran Adeyemi II, was Alaafin for 10 years
(1945-1955) until he was forced into exile by the political party of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Action Group in 1956.
While his father was on exile, he was sent to live with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oladapo Ademola, the father of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Adetokunbo Ademola.
Oba Adeyemi who became royal father at a tender age of 32, was the first Yoruba monarch to become the Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.
One enviable highpoint in the life of this great monarch is his deep knowledge and high sense of recounting historic events with facts and figures; and with an accuracy that will beat the imagination of youthful intellectuals.
He is a prolific writer. In the area of Yoruba and world history, he is in a class of his own.
Alaafin is an energetic, diligent, courageous and irrepressible leader.
He has taken traditional leadership to another level, using his
exposure, wealth and power to benefit his people and mankind.
The Alaafin has displayed a great deal of ingenuity in bringing a touch of modernity to the ancient Oyo Palace without losing its traditional essence, a development that has turned the place to a tourist centre.
This touch is not only about the infrastructure and architectural
design of the Palace, but also about the individuals that have
statutory and traditional functions in the Palace.
He has made life more comfortable for his people both with the township and core villages.
In 1979, the Alhaji Shehu Shagari-led Federal Government gave Oba Adeyemi the Commander Federal Republic (CFR) award, and a year later, the same government appointed him the pioneer Chancellor of the former University of Sokoto, now known as the Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, a position he held for a record time of 12 years of three terms.
Alaafin not only uplifted the ivory tower to enviable heights, but
requested for a slot of ten candidates to be offered scholarship from
his personal purse annually.
All together, the paramount ruler sponsored about two hundred indigent
but brilliant students across the country to study courses of their
interests at the university before he completed his tenure as the
Chancellor.
To date, the number of students, none of who is his relations and
children, who are benefitting from his scholarships programme keep
soaring year by year..
Oba Adeyemi may not be a show man, but the paramount ruler shows the
stuff of a genius whenever he is invited to occasions.
Not only does he impresses the knowledgeable audience with his mastery
of colonial history, his captivating speeches usually attract rounds
of standing ovations that leave the audience wondering if he is indeed
a monarch or a visiting professor of African History.
A paramount ruler with deep compassion and unrivaled generosity, Alaafin uses what God has endowed him with to touch the lives of the people.
No fewer than 22 communities, including township and villages, have benefitted from Alaafin’s unusual gestures.
On the last count, over 300 communities from the four local
governments that constitute Oyo federal constituency have benefitted from the largesse of the paramount ruler through the erections of electric poles and transformers, provision of micro-finances free of charge to boost rural economy, construction of boreholes, constructions of blocks of classrooms for pupils to learn, as well as rural health and maternity centres.
His favourite meals are amala (yam flour), iyan (pounded yam), abula soup and ogi (pap).
Speaking with Freedom Online, Oba Adeyemi said: “A
traditional ruler should be seen as the perfect embodiment of the culture of the place, as well as the synthesis of the aspirations and
goals of the nation. This is not only in social values of veracity, egalitarianism, justice and democracy but in actions and deeds”.
It is to the credit of Oba Adeyemi that a great number of his colleague Obas across Yorubaland today are what they
are in status, having used his position as a highly revered monarch, his robust sense of history, powerful writing skills and consideration for fellow human beings, to advance their causes.
“Alaafin relies heavily on the will and wishes of his subjects. In politics also, he is concerned about the sanctity of his position and the welfare of his people. Thus, to secure his
support, local governments’ chairmanship and legislative aspirants from the constituency must convince him of offering his exalted position the highest degree of dignity, respect and honour it deserves
as well as the care of his people.
Alaafin further asserted that customs and all traditional practices of today in government, religion and economic life have had distance, and possibly age-long origins which were based on valid and accepted tenets that emerged from the synthesis and aggregated experience of
particular society.
“One of such societies is the ancient city of Oyo, reputed for
cultural resources that are of rich non-material and material
attributes and transmitted through generations. Among them are festivals, diet, building of historical and architectural interest and ancient city walls that have been declared monuments by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Others are ethnographic assets which include war dresses, traditional and royal crafts, leather works, calabash decorations, pottery, wood carving and production of
traditional drums (dundun and sekere).”
“Moreover, the precepts and concepts of Alaafin’s administration have continued to support and nurture the peoples’ ancient culture, and sophisticated civilization from time immemorial. The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to monolithic Oduduwa
dynasty and of the paternal line. The Alaafin, Iku Baba Yeye (Death, the almighty, Ruler and companion of the goods) is the title of the monarch. Even with the divine attributes, the Alaafin operated a government that was judged by its result. The prosperity, security and the well-being of the people dictated his popularity both in the palace and in the empire at large”.
On his birthday, the paramount ruler averred that, “if births are linked to the purpose of an existence, then I believe that birthdays should be thought of as a ‘period’ in which one is expected to reflect on his purpose or mission on earth. At that, I am compelled to say after deeper reflections, which this event has afforded me, that out of our very many individual missions, one mission is common to every mankind, and that is the ability to impact on each other’s life, positively”.
