Ode Aremo: Residents back conversion of open space to arcade in Alaafin’s name

His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, is a visionary ruler who follows an inner sense of direction, and lead from the inside out.
Rather than being corrupted by power and position, Alaafin is elevated by power and exercise moral leadership with deep commitment to well being of others. 
A close study of the Paramount ruler revealed that he is demonstrating the power of living his values, through manifestation of his vision base and leadership on inspirational, positive picture of the future, as well as a clear sense of direction as to how to get there.
It is indeed marvellous.
With his unrivalled style of administration, the vintage, large-hearted and progressive monaech transmits energy to his people, including the royal families without discrimination or vendetta, by giving them a new sense of hope and confidence not only in achieving the vision, but often enunciates a vision based on principles that become guideposts for humanity. 
  Forty seven years after ascended the throne of his forefathers, Alaafin brought elegance into the traditional institution, not only in Oyo but also in Yorubaland, as he distinguishes himself as custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage not only in social values of veracity, egalitarianism, justice and democracy, but in dress, utterances and comportment, even the mere necessary trivialities that mark Nigeria and the locality as a distinctive entity.
 The contributions of Oba Adeyemi to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture, his efforts toward the unity, progress and unprecedented development of Oyo town from ancientness to modernisation were unquantifiable.
He  evolved a youth friendly policy that is not as costly as direct investments, but involves a lot of political trade-off to actually implement the policy, so that it benefit each and every young person living in Oyo metropolis. Consequently, the Titan of Yoruba Empire judiciously utilized his revered institution at both the Federal and State levels, in conjunction with his son, who is a member of the House of Representatives representing Oyo Federal Constituency [Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West]. Honourable Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, a.k.a Skimeh, for actualizing his human capacity development drive for the wellbeing of his people.
 To date, over sixty indigenes of Oyo town are occupying administrative cadre levels in the State Civil Service.
Another twenty people have been recruited into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police Force, including some agencies of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
All these were in addition to over two hundred indigenes and non-indigenes who benefitted from Alaafin’s scholarship programme, when he was the Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, now the University of Sokoto for three consecutive terms of twelve years, which was the first of its kind in the country.
The programme was funded from the monarch’s personal purse. This singular gesture is still on going.
 It is incontrovertible Oba Adeyemi 111 is the only literate, visionary,  and enigmatic Alaafin of Oyo, who has transformed the metropolis from ancientness to a metropolis of splendor with modern infrastructures.
  He is indeed a symbol of intellectualism in royalty.
However, a right thinking person should be worried about barbaric and uncouth acts that have become the daily diet among some misguided so-called elites in the ancient town of Oyo.
These few set of indigenes not only portray themselves as agents of retrogression, but have become irritants and hindrances to pragmatic representation and development.
Otherwise, how can a sane person, because of acrimony and persecution, be unhappy about development of his or her town?
In 1990, two princes, Totoola and Ake, who were teachers and top officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers [NUT] met with Prince Kabiru Gbadegesin, who was then Vice Chairman of the former Oyo Local Government in his office at Kosobo, with an appeal for the clearing of heaps of refuse mounted at Ode Aremo, which almost caused an outbreak of epidemics in the town.
Prince Kabiru was said to have ignored the appeal, saying that clearing of the refuse was not in their agenda and that there was nothing he could do.
True to his word, nothing was done till their tenure ended.
Prince Totoola is now the Principal Private Secretary to the Alaafin.
Close to Ode Aremo where heaps of refuse was mounting are the ancient Akesan market and the central mosque.
During the time of worship, muslims worshippers must cover their noses to prevent emission of offensive odour oozing out of the refuse.
The same was applicable to traders and residents within the vicinity.
But on  assumption of office as elected Chairman of the Atiba Local Government, Alaafin’s son, prince Adeniyi, in 2008, engaged the service of commercial tippers’ operators and some staffers in the health department of the local government to clear the heaps of refuse at ODE Aremo, to the admiration of residents who lauded the concerted effort.
Thereafter, Ode Aremo became avenue where all sorts of activities, be it social, religious and political are being held till today.
Younger ones are also not left out, as open space serves as their football pitch and other recreations.
However, during an empowerment programme held at ode Aremo open space, where equipments and cash were donated by prince Adeniyi, now a federal lawmaker, to cross section of indigenes from the four local governments that constitute Oyo Federal Constituency, the Alaafin’s son disclosed that an ultra modern complex to be known as OBA ADEYEMI ARCADE would be constructed on the open space.
This, according to him would not only beautify the ancient town, enhance the development, but serve as a source of employment and income generations.
With this laudable initiative, the agents of retrogression threw caution to the wind, went wild and defecated the media with their nuisance values.
Findings revealed that these spent forces engaged in their grandstanding antics out of enviousness, hatredness and ill-feelings.
Investigations further showed during the reign of late Alaafin Gbadegesin, parts of the palace were deliberately ceded to the then government for use without due consideration to their implications.
One was the residence of Ayabas which was converted to secretariat of the former Oyo Local Government. The other is where the maternity centre is located presently.
What is more, land where the burnt Atiba Divisional Police Command was constructed, it was learnt was allocated to the Police by the late Alaafin Gbadegesin.
This land, finding informed, is part of Aremo’s landed property. He allocated the land without consultation with the owner.
In spite of the fact that the late Alaafin , sources said knew that what he did was a misnomer, ‘’Oba Gbadegesin went ahead with his decision without anyone raising an eyebrow then.’’
Some of the residents interviewed described as ‘’ulterior and sheer hatred’’, the media release issued by a section of the royal families.
According to them, ‘’it is time we tell these agents of retrogression and their cohorts to borrow a new leaf now, and stop polluting the peaceful serene of the town with disgusting, reckless, unguarded and illogical write ups. Where were they when the heaps of refuse almost led to cholera outbreak in the town?  Where were they when the refuse were cleared by Kabiyesi’s son? We need to ask them again, after the clearing, can they tell the world that their families and relations are not among those who use the ode Aremo open space  for social gatherings, parties and other events? Why had there been conspiracy of silence among these enemies of progress before now? Enough is enough. There can never be two kings in a town at a time. Our dynamic ruler is Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 112. So what, if Skimeh named the proposed Arcade after his father? Is that what should preoccupied minds of responsible indigenes, or the development inherent?