Alaafin: Aging with Grace at 80

His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo, who clocked 80 years a few days ago is 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 is popularly called.
Among the Obas in Yorubaland, he distinguishes himself as a custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage .
As a lover of culture, he 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.
When Alaafin speaks in Yoruba and English Language, you marvel at his
depth of knowledge. You just don’t want him to stop. He is a
repertoire of history and knowledge.
Despite the fact that he is an Octogenarian, when the Alaafin begins
to talk about historical events both local and international, with
statistics and date, then you wonder how he remembers all these
things.

He is a beauty to behold when he dances rhythmically to a traditional
music called Bata, his dance steps go in tandem with the tune of the
music.
Since ascending the throne of his forefathers, the population of the
metropolis has not only grown, but the monarch has been balancing
rapid development, modernization of traditional norms and institutions
with preservation of the positive aspects, as well as moderating
influence of traditional values.
These include 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, a Federal Medical Centre, 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.

Amidst praises and pomp from eminent personalities, including the Vice
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, State Governors, and
first class traditional rulers, well-wishers, admirers and ordinary
citizens on Saturday the 20th of October, 2018, trooped en-mass to the
International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, Oyo
State, to celebrate the 80th birthday of Iku Baba Yeye, Oba [Dr.]
Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo.
The sheer number of those who attended the events, their diverse
background, the caliber of the dignitaries, their personal testimonies
and candid opinions of the Alaafin [the birthday Boy] are all eloquent
testimonies to the fact that Oba Adeyemi 111 has truly succeeded in
building an enduring legacy on the trail of his forefathers and has
established a successful brand as a builder of strong bridges of
understanding and brotherhood across the country.
Another testimony to his legacy in the making is that the
quintessential monarch has consistently used his exalted position to
send show to Nigerians, irrespective of religious, or ethnic
backgrounds that with him, leadership of oneness and true friendship
with the other can go hand in hand.
The  hard earned reputation of 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, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi
111 is considered an ENIGMA and COMPENDIUM of our time.
In his address at the colourful event, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo
pointed out that, ‘’Alaafin is a royal and authority icon who
represents 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 Oba Adeyemi 111,’’ has been using his exulted
position to move the country back on the track of peace and also
maintained his honesty of purpose, no matter whose ox is goared’’.
Through divine leadership, Oba Adeyemi’s tenure as the Alaafin of Oyo,
has coincided with dramatic changes in the character of the Oyo
metropolis [Atiba, Afijio, Oyo-East and Oyo-West Local Governments].
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, in his comment described the
Alaafin as ‘’a quintessential traditional ruler and custodian of the
culture and tradition of the entire Yoruba race’’.
While acknowledging the efforts of the 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, the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori who
represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said  “Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye
deserves 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 antecents and precedents were worthy of emulation’’.
In his address, the celebrant, 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’’.
Alaafin who was unhappy about how traditional rulers have been grossly
under-utilized 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’.
Alaafin who lauded PresidentMuhammadu 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, 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.