The late Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo, whose posthumous birthday held recently, was
a traditional ruler with distinction.
Immediately he assumed the throne on November 18, 1970, after Oba
Gbadegesin Ladigbolu 11, he brought elegance into the traditional
institution, not only in Oyo but also in Yorubaland.
Of course, the story of Yoruba is not complete if you leave out the
Iku Baba Yeye, Alase Ekeji Orisa as he was popularly called.
Among the Obas in Yorubaland, he distinguished himself as the veritable Custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage .
As a lover of culture, he once told journalists that “traditional rulers
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 dress, utterances and comportment.
Whenever Alaafin Adeyemi spoke in Yoruba and English Languages, you marvel at his depth of knowledge. You just don’t want him to stop.
He was a repertoire of history and knowledge.
Despite the fact that he was an Octogenarian, when the late Alaafin begun
to talk about historical events both local and international, with statistics and date, then you wonder how he remembered all these things.
He was a beauty to behold. When he danced rhythmically to a traditional
music called Bata, his dance steps got in tandem with the tune of the
music.
Since ascending the throne of his forefathers, the population of the
metropolis had not only grown, but the late monarch balanced
rapid development, modernization of traditional norms and institutions
with preservation of the positive aspects, as well as moderating
influence of traditional values.
These included the transformation of the ancient town, with its major
adjoining satellite communities like Awe, Akinmoorin, Ilora,Jobele,
Fiditi,and Iware into a city with infrastructures.
For instance, there are four tertiary institutions, nine commercial
banks, two General Hospitals ( Oyo and Fiditi), , Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA) station, four local governments, and four
Local Councils’ Development Areas respectively..
The tertiary institutions include state-owned Emmanuel Alayande
College of Education, Federal College of Education (Special), Federal
School of Surveying, Ajayi Crowther University, Ladoke Akintola
University of Technology[LAUTECH] Teaching Hospital annexe, and the
Administrative Headquarters of the Old Oyo National Park.
What is more, there are about four five star hotels, in addition to
numerous social clubs and night shifts where residents and
non-residents can recreate themselves.
Another testimony to the late Paramount Ruler legacy was that the
quintessential Monarch had consistently used his exalted position to
send signal to Nigerians, irrespective of religious, or ethnic backgrounds that with him, leadership of oneness and true friendship with others can go hand in hand.
The hard earned reputation of the late Titan of Yorubaland as an
inspirational, strong and visionary leader; as a relentless bridge
builder and a missionary for hope and his constant message of peace,
love and harmony have endeared him to the hearts of all Nigerians and
won him many national and international awards and nominations.
Within the academic world, late Oba Adeyemi 111 was considered an ENIGMA and COMPENDIUM of our time.
In his address at the colourful 80th birthday event, former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo pointed out that, ‘’Alaafin was a royal and authority icon who represented an epitome of humility and wisdom. He had stayed at the
forefront protecting the unity and integrity of the nation as an accomplished COMPATRIOT’’.
Osinbajo noted that late Oba Adeyemi 111,’’ had been using his exalted
position to move the country back on the track of peace and also
maintained his honesty of purpose, no matter whose ox is gored’’.
Similarly, the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in his comment described the late
Alaafin as ‘’a quintessential traditional ruler and custodian of the
culture and tradition of the entire Yoruba race’’.
While acknowledging the efforts of the late Royal Father towards the unity
and progress of the Yoruba race, Governor Ajimobi said that the
contributions of the monarch to the preservation and promotion of
Yoruba culture both at home and in the diaspora were unquantifiable.
Also, former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori who
represented the then Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said “Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye
deserved our presence. We are here to celebrate an epitome of intelligence, culture and intellectualism in royalty. We are here to celebrate a quintessential traditional father of all, not only in Yorubaland, but the whole of Africa. We are also here to celebrate an Ambassador of culture’’.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi who was elated to be part of the
celebration described the Alaafin as ‘’father with a large heart and
whose antecedents and precedents were worthy of emulation’’.
In his address, the celebrant, late Oba Adeyemi noted that Obas ‘’must be
educated, literate, enlightened, civilized, dynamic, current, lively
and not only open to new ideas and suggestions, but must not be too
rigid, conservative, myopic and parochial if he must be a successful
Oba of the 21st Century’’.
He went further, ‘’while Obas must be above board in personal
conducts, they must be a respectable dung hill. Settlement of
inter-personal, inter-ethic and communal disputes or conflicts is
another critical area where the Oba could be very central in
democratic consolidation and sustainability. This is due to the fact
that conflict is part and parcel of human coexistence but peaceful
resolution of conflict is one of the hallmarks of democracy and
development’’.
The late Alaafin who was unhappy about how traditional rulers have been grossly
underutilized given the enormous potentials inherent in their offices, positions and influence, argued that, they should be accorded a pride of place in our development strategies so that they can fully tap their enormous natural potentials and powers.
‘’Obas must be seen as the symbols of the people’s past, custodian of
their history and past, upholder and preserver of their culture,
customs, an epitome of cultural norms and values of the society such
as truth, discipline, courage and responsibility””.
The late Alaafin who lauded former President Buhari-led administration and
the Armed Forces for evolving various strategies towards ensuring
total dislodgement of the dreaded Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram,
pointed out that it is meaningless negotiating with a group whose sole
aim is to disintegrate the country.
Oba Adeyemi said that “” negotiation is meaningless to disgruntled
people who have no respect for the sanctity of human life and whose
motive is not well-defined””.
He said, “”All over the world where you have rebellion or disgruntled
elements, negotiation is not achievable down the ages of history””.
Making allusion to heavy bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
by the American troops, late Oba Adeyemi Alaafin added that “”the only antidote to the daily killings of innocent Nigerians by the deadly sect was to engage
them in full fledged offensive that would silence them”.
