By Ola Ajayi
HIS Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo, who clocked 76 years few days ago is a traditional ruler with distinction.

Immediately he assumed 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’s cultural heritage . As a lover of culture, he said some years ago, 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, even the mere necessary trivialities  that mark Nigeria and the locality as a distinctive entity.”

Left Chairman of Correspondent Chapel of Oyo NUJ Mr Ola Ajayi presnting the 76th Birthday Card the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Tuesday. Pic by Dare Fasube

As you step into the ancient Oyo palace, you are greeted with carvings, cowry shell, drawings and images of deities. When you enter into his compound, as a mark of honour, you remove your shoes and caps. Inside the palace, you are ushered in by a large carving of an eagle which serves as the roof of the spacious palace.

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 over 70, when he 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.

His influence and power, though not as it used to be in the past, in the state and Yorubaland know no bounds. Any governor in the state who underrates his political influence will surely bite his finger in regret. When he turns his back against a governor, he uses all his arsenals including law courts to make him fall in line.

So, you can imagine what happens and the calibre of people that would rejoice with him when a monarch who possesses all these sterling qualities and more marks his 76 years. It was celebrated with pomp.

Weeklong programme

It was a week-long programme which attracted well-wishers both within and outside Oyo town.

Among them were the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ms. Monsurat Sunmonu; Mr. Farouk Alao, son of late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland who is the Commissioner for Sports in the state; Local Government Chairmen from the four councils in Oyo, traditional rulers and several others.

Also many pressure groups comprising members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, motorcyclists, artisans, motor mechanics, serving members of National Youth Service Corps attended the ceremony.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi who the monarch commended for his efforts in transforming the state, 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 was unquantifiable.

“Kabiyesi 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 Nigeria. We are also here to celebrate an ambassador of culture,” he said.

The governor restated his administration’s resolve to promote the traditional institution and welfare of traditional rulers in the state.

In his remarks, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Atiba Local Government, Prince Akeem Adeyemi commended the various achievements of the Ajimobi administration in the provision of adequate security to the lives and property as well as quality education and health services.

He emphasized the relevance of the Alaafin to the preservation of culture in Yorubaland

In his remarks, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Atiba Local Government, Prince Akeem Adeyemi commended the various achievements of the Ajimobi administration in the provision of adequate security to the lives and property, as well as quality education and health services.

The monarch, during the visit of members of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel to celebrate the revered king, used the occasion to call on President Gooddluck Jonathan to order total dislodgement of the dreaded Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram, instead of observing ceasefire.

To him, 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, he 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.

He said, “The Boko Haram phenomenon, you don’t know exactly what they want and the kind of war they are fighting is not well defined. You find it difficult to pacify people who are disgruntled. Until you go into full length total dislodgement, anything short of that, we are just wasting our time.

“If the US had not released atomic bomb on Nagasaki, the war would have dragged and dragged. As students of history, there is no way you can pacify them. I am not saying it is not good to negotiate. But, if you have opportunity of full bombardment, go ahead and finish the thing and let us rest.”

The monarch added that what the country needed was careful intelligence gathering and understanding of surrounding African countries.

However, the frontline paramount ruler in Yorubaland said the lackadaisical attitude of the United States of America was worrisome.

To him, if the US had acted promptly when Nigeria sought its military assistance, the sect would not have wrecked such havoc of unimaginable proportion to the country.

He also advised politicians across the country to ensure they play the game according to rules and dictates of the constitution that binds us together.