Traditional rulers in Nigeria are the custodian of culture and traditions who should be revered at all times by all and sundry. In this exclusive interview with His Royal Majesty, Oba Quamarudeen Bello Adeyemi Adeyanju, Ilufemiloye 1, Alawode IV, the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, the highly respected royal father in Osun State shared his views with Bukola Aderibigbe and Moshood Suleiman on the sacred institution of kingship, its pride, challenges plus the many salient factors that will decide the forthcoming election in favour of the man whom the Council of Obas in Osun State has endorsed to remain in office till 2026. Excerpts:
Osun Newsroom:
The traditional institution, which you represent, is over the years enmeshed in one kind of controversy or the other such that some of the occupiers of that exalted throne have been found wanting in terms of conduct, candour and character. Kabiyesi, why is this so?
Olororuwo:
Thank you so much for starting the interview on this very important, though very disturbing premise. I must tell you that as an Oba, I am not happy about the development because It has given the age-old highly respected institution a near bad image
But majority of us who feel deeply concerned are not stopping at correcting the seeming negative image this has on us as royal fathers. One of the many factors responsible for this unfortunate development is the so-called Western Education via civilisation. In those good old days, there were many do’s and dont’s regarding the throne of an Oba. For instance, immediately one is appointed to the throne of his forebears as an Oba, the first thing is to be taken to ‘Ipebi’, which is a secluded place, where all rites, customs and traditions would be taught a new monarch. My question is how many of today’s Obas are made to follow all these traditional rites to a logical conclusion before, during and after leaving Ipebi, where as a matter of fact, they must be groomed with what to do or what not to do, what to say or not to say? Do you know that the teachings in the Ipebi also involves the way you relate with the larger public and even your family ? For instance, in those days, it was an Ifa Oracle that had the sole power through divination, of who should occupy the position of Obaship in a given community. When Ifa is consulted, whatever Ifa Olokun Asorodayo brings out as its choice is final. But in many communities today, there are a lot interferences which has nullified the relevance of the Ifa oracle. The power of Ifa to say it the way it should be is gradually being eroded if not completely eroded. The good omen that the selection process will be as defined and brought forward by Ifa should be the norm rather than an exception. Today what do we see? If you are picked by Ifa but per adventure you do not enjoy the support of either the government in power or somebody up there, your dream of becoming the traditional head of your village, town or city will automatically become a mirage. Relatedly, western culture, especially in the way we talk and dress, which has permeated our thinking and upbringing is doing a lot of havoc to the traditional institution. It is an awkward thing for a monarch to be seen giving preference to speaking of English language, which is a foreign language, at the expense of his own real cultural identity as a Yoruba monarch. This, again, tends to further bring the traditional institution in Yoruba land to a ridicule. It is like we are still under the yoke of our colonial masters. In fact, it is a second colonial journey. It is only in Yoruba land of today that you will see an Oba fraternizing with the people in the public freely through shaking of hands with them and even eating and drinking in public. This is an anathema. I am not saying that traditional rulers should be completely off the radar of relating with the public but for God’s sake, there should be a limit. It is high time we went back to those good and rigidly laid down customs and traditions of the days of yore where an Oba was truly given the respect and nomenclature of an Oba whom at that time was almost seen as next to God.
Osun Newsroom:
Let’s go a bit outside the traditional institution. The society at large is also currently enmeshed in many moral inadequacies. Kabiyesi, where did we get it wrong or who are those that should be held accountable?
Olororuwo:
Virtually everybody should be held responsible for the present moral degeneration in our society.
We are all guilty of this moral malady that currently permeates our society like the ease with which hot knife passes through what we call butter in those days. Yes, you and I contributed to the moral shortcomings. No one is excepted. For instance, it starts with parents who over-pamper their children. We are not saying we should not care for our children but there should be a modicum of civility in the way we go about it. How many parents are today prepared to let their recalcitrant children disciplined or corrected by an outsider? We have seen situations where parents have gone to chastise and even engage in a fighting spree with a teacher simply because the teacher administered corporal punishment on their children. Again, we are all church and mosque goers today with no corresponding fear of God. The sole essence of either going to church or mosque today is to generate money and not hearing or preaching the words of God to the congregation any more as was the case in those days when the fear of God was held sacrosanct by either an Imam or a pastor.
Osun Newsroom:
Please speak on the get- rich – quick syndrome that is ruinining our moral fabric.
Olororuwo:
Everyone now chases money with the speed of lightning. The only way you can be known or respected nowadays is by the huge amount of money you dole out either to a church or mosque. An Imam or a pastor doesn’t want to know the source of your wealth, whether clean or dirty . This is indeed very disturbing .
Osun Newsroom:
How are you coping with being a Muslim Oba sitting on a traditional stool?
Olororuwo:
This is a very good question which requires a very good answer. Let me start by saying that, yes I am an Oba who is very versed in Islamic knowledge, teachings and traditions, and that qualifies me to be addressed as somebody who has a thorough knowledge of his faith as a Muslim by whatever definition. This knowledge, I must equally say has given me a good advantage of carrying out my roles and responsibilities as an Oba fervently and clinically with the fear of God. The prophet of Allah, Mohammed (PBUH) was quoted to have said in one of the Hadits that all of us (leaders) are shepherds who on the day of judgement will be asked by Allah to come and account for how we directed our sheep (followers). Therefore, the day I was formally and traditionally installed as the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, that day, I became an Oba of not only the Muslims and Christians, but also of traditionalists. This is because it is the entire community that I am now duty-bound to serve diligently and collectively without fear or favour, ill-will or affection. It is God that appointed me to be a leader. In that case, I should be fair, just and godly to all my subjects.
Osun Newsroom:
Some years ago, traditional rulers all over Nigeria advocated constitutional roles to be given to them. How far have you all gone with the agitation or are you all tired?
Olororuwo:
(Laughs). No! We are not in anyway tired and we will not in anyway become tired of calling for our roles to be completely spelt out and entrenched in the national scheme of thing, in the Constitution. From time to time, if the opportunity presents itself in both private and public fora, we have always made our positions known to the government. However, it saddens us sometimes that the more we tend to bring it up the more some people somewhere bring it down to our chagrin and discomfort.
Osun Newsroom:
Of what importance would it be if eventually the quest to have constitutional roles and responsibilities assigned to monarchs sees the light of the day?
Olororuwo:
The benefits are as varied as one can think. In the first instance, it will give traditional rulers a sense of belonging in the governance of their subjects. In addition, it will bring more unity and cohesion between traditional rulers and their subjects as well as government on the other hand. The affairs of governance is a collective one. For instance, I am the overall leader and head of Ororuwo, today by the grace of God, as their king. By implication, no one is in a better place to know Ororuwo people more than the Olororuwo himself. If our request for constitutional role is speedily granted, as we pray, all monarchs will have good control of their subjects. The incessant cases of criminal acts here and there in some communities would become a thing of the past.
Osun Newsroom:
There’s this assertion that traditional rulers no longer perform their roles as kings. Majority are said to be politicians now, some are alleged to be busy chasing contracts here and there while others are accused of playing partisan politics. How true or otherwise are all these allegations sir?
Olororuwo:
Some of these allegations are not true. They are baseless and shrouded in mischief against the highly exalted traditional institution. I want to completely disagree by saying that as a matter of fact, we are fathers to all the politicians. We should not be seen to begrudge them in any manner. There’s a Yoruba adage that says ‘eni ti yio ba gbawin eko, gbodo ba omo iya eleko sere’. If for instance, I want to curry your favour for one assistance or the other for the overall development of my community, as a traditional ruler, I must be seen to be a friend of the government in power. That’s the reason some people think that we have become politicians. No, we are not politicians but fathers of all politicians. However, this view of mine as the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, does not vindicate some traditional rulers from being guilty of some of these accusations. Some are guilty as alleged. But on a serious note, it is not good for a traditional ruler to be openly displaying political interest or romancing politicians in order to win government’s contract. No. It may not augur well for such a monarch especially if he wants to command the expected love and respect of his subjects whom he is traditionally installed to to serve without any bias. Traditional rulers are friends and fathers to all political parties. Yes, we advise them. We admonish them. We encourage them because the position they are holding today is not forever. It is temporal.
Osun Newsroom:
Not much has been heard or seen from the traditional institution regarding how to bring a lasting end to the ceaseless acts of kidnapping and terrorism among other criminal acts pervading the land for many years now. Kabiyesi, what is your position on this?
Olororuwo:
Thank you. We have not been idle on this matter. On a daily basis it gives us great concern. In fact, we are as disturbed as an average person on the street because traditional rulers are not spared by kidnappers and bandits too. We have read and heard of how traditional rulers were and still being abducted either on the road or even in their palaces. It is a sad and worrisome development in our country. If I may suggest and this I am sure is going to be the position of my fellow Obas, more employment opportunities should be provided for our youths who are on a daily basis roaming the streets as a result of idleness. Poverty is on the increase due to unemployment and this is one of the reasons among others that we are having one form of criminality or the other. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Again, let there be justice and rule of law on the part of our governments because what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The resources in our land are not evenly distributed or allocated. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer and poorer everyday. I must confess that there’s abject poverty everywhere.There’s suffering in the land. Imagine a situation where somebody embezzled public funds to the tune of several billions but at the end of the usual political or judicial abracadabra, such a person is set free but a fellow Nigerian who is not well connected up there steals a cup of rice or garri but only for such a person to be remanded in prison custody for as many years as possible. Haba! Is there justice and fairness in that? The Boko Haram criminals are being granted amnesty by government with ease after sending many innocent souls to their untimely graves. What becomes of those killed and the family they left behind? It is a sad development in our country, honestly.
Osun Newsroom:
Is there any hope on when an end would come to all the crisis plaguing our nation?
Olororuwo:
Of course, I am an incurable optimist and I believe that Nigeria and Nigerians will soon get over all the unfavourable happenings bedeviling the country. The onus lies on you and I to do the needful by embarking on ceaseless prayers with persistent fear of God who knows the beginning and the end of all situations under the sun.
Osun Newsroom:
Let’s come back home to our dear state, Osun. Recently, the entire council of Oba under the leadership of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, rolled out a unanimous endorsement for the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola. How do you view this?
Olororuwo:
Yes, with all sense of sincerity of purpose, we all collectively endorsed Oyetola. It was without any doubt. It was without any let or hinderance. Why? Because we are convinced beyond every reasonable doubt that he has already opened the gateway for development in Osun. We are only waiting to grab it with both hands. He has been found to be up to the task in his barely less than four years of being in governance.
‘Ti Omo eni ba dara, e je ka wi’. ‘ A ti wipe omo eni o le se di bebere, ka fi ileke si idi omo elomiran’. Oyetola dara gege bi asaaju rere fun wa ni ipinle Osun. Let me illustrate this position with a small parable: the present situation in Osun is like the parable of a family that cooks amala with okro soup and fish, but all of a sudden, another family promises a sumptuous meal of pounded yam with vegetable soup that is well garnished with all delicacies of monumental proportions. Mind you, the pounded yam meal is also served with assorted drinks and wines. Who do you think will command more respect, gain attention and followership among these two contending families? It is the family with pounded yam. This is what Oyetola represents today before an average Osun resident. He has started cooking the delicacies of pounded yam for about four years now. The best thing therefore for any right thinking person is to sit down and partake in the sumptuous meal of pounded yam. It is advisable that we allow him to complete the course of the meal he has started preparing beautifully for the over four million people of the state.
Osun Newsroom:
Are you saying Oyetola has been tested and trusted by the people of Osun?
Olororuwo:
Yes. That is very correct. Governor Oyetola, for now, remains the best option. He is the only living Chief Executive Officer of the State who is eminently prepared and qualified to take our dear state to greater heights. Going by the way he is gently but systematically going about his leadership of the State, in his second term, I forsee Osun becoming a mini Dubai. This is a certainty and not a possibility. A known angel is far better than an unknown angel. Governor Oyetola is a living angel that we know for now in Osun. We all forsee greater and better days in Osun under Oyetola. I want to, however, quickly remind him not to deviate from the good records he has and still recording. We have known him as a pace setter and we pray that God will back him up to keep the flag flying. He should please not disappoint his teeming followers and admirers in his second coming. Osun is better under Oyetola in four years. Osun will then become greater and the best under Adegboyega Oyetola in another four years after completing a two-term tenure of eight years .
Osun Newsroom:
Amen
Olororuwo:
Yes, I am very confident and convinced about this. I am not a politician and I will never be one because I am a traditional ruler, a father figure to all politicians. But Governor Oyetola’s outstanding performance has been quite impressive and far beyond our imagination.
Osun Newsroom:
Come 16th of July, Osun will be in the news for the gubernatorial election. What is your advice to all the stakeholders in the coming election?
Olororuwo:
They should play the game according to its rules and regulations. All aspirants and their followers should see one another as belonging to one big house which is Osun State. The peace of the state must not be mortgaged on the altar of political brigandage. Osun is greater than any individual. Election will come and go, but Osun remains as constant as the Northern star. It is our state. It is our heritage . Politics should not be a -do- or- die affair. Like the late Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the defunct GNPP, we should play politics without bitterness. This is the best way to go. You don’t need to destroy anybody’s poster. People have already made up their mind on the person they are going to vote for. Our approach to the coming election in Osun should be with a great sense of civility before, during and after it. “Osun o ni baje oooo. O ba je ti.”
Osun Newsroom:
The news of the demise of one of the foremost traditional rulers in Nigeria and beyond, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi was a shock to us. How would you describe the development?
Olororuwo:
It was indeed very shocking but we take consolation in the fact that Baba Alaafin, as we fondly called him, was a super great monarch of national and international reckoning, who did a lot towards the growth and development of his kingdom in Oyo and Nigeria as a whole. Oba Adeyemi, “Iku baba yeye”, was an enigma in and outside the traditional institution while alive. His reign was peaceful and exemplary. I commiserate with his immediate and extended families. Most importantly, I commiserate with both Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state, because on many occasions, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi was in Osun to identify with the government and people of Osun. His recent visit to Osun was during the 30th anniversary of the creation of our dear state. No doubt, the people of Osun will miss baba greatly. He was a beloved king. May Allah grant his soul peaceful rest in Aljanna fidaus.
Osun Newsroom:
Amen
