By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

Just a visit to the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, is enough to convince even the blind that the foremost Yoruba monarch is a real custodian of culture.

Right at the entrance of the ancient palace, drawings, paintings, sculptures

of gods, deities and birds remind one of the ancient days.

But, unfortunately, some of these artifacts were destroyed not by the gods but by a strange fire outbreak last Wednesday. When one considers the extent of damage that the fire caused, it would not be an overstatement to say the gods are angry.

How else can one explain the situation where about 21 rooms belonging to the three of the wives of the monarch were razed before any help could come. The fire, according to the Media Assistant to the monarch, Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, started around 6a.m. on the fateful day and raged for four hours before it was finally put out by fire fighters.

the scene of the fire accident at Alaafin Palace,
Oyo PHOTO BY SHOLA OYELESE, IBADAN

He said, “Immediately, I got here and saw the extent of the damage done to the palace by this early morning fire, I could not but break down  in tears. The fire, triggered by  electrical surge, started around 6 a.m and was contained after about three hours.

”The fire-fighters came at some minutes past seven and battled it till it was finally put out. The affected apartments were  razed. It was a really sad day for the ayabas(wives of the kings) because many of their property were destroyed”. He explained that the queens keep their money in the palace.

Apart from artifacts, many other valuables were consumed by the fire. The valuables  include Plasma television, jewellery, clothe,  and bags. The flats of Princess Folasade (Iyaa Meta), Princess Rukayat, and Princess Abibat were reduced to ashes.  Besides, some rooms known as Ile Ori, Ile Ifa where artifacts are stored were destroyed by the inferno.

Though  sympathizers have been trooping in droves to sympathise with the monarch  over the incident, the effects will linger.  Fehintola, the Alaafin media aide  said President Goodluck Jonathan has sent his message sympathising with him.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi was the first to visit the monarch. He said, “It is in our own definition a disaster, moreso, having gone round the whole palace on inspection of the damage. The fire touched virtually everywhere and it was very devastating. It consumed virtually everything, including traditional attires, ornaments.”

According to him, the effect could have been minimized if urgent attention had been given.

“The lesson here is that, one, our fire support services should be more efficient. Second, the reactions of the Kabiyesi and the entire family were very commendable and immediate. That they were able to put out the fire is commendable,” the governor said.

He noted  that from the assessment he had carried out on the burnt palace, the damage was irreparable and colossal. Ajimobi however promised to assist the monarch in the reconstruction of the palace, stating that, as a foremost traditional ruler and a great friend of the administration, government could not but support the Kabiyesi because, in doing so, government was supporting Yorubaland.

“As a government, we are going to support the Kabiyesi and the Kabiyesi, as you know, has been at the forefront of support for the present administration,” the governor said.  Others who have visited the ruler are members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers from Osun, Oyo and Ekiti States.

Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, a  former governor of Oyo State; Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, a  member of the House of Representatives; and the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company, Mr. Sarafadeen Alli have also visited. According to Fehintola, this would be the third time the palace would be gutted by fire. The first fire incident, he noted, he could not remember. He said there was a similar fire between 2004 and 2005, adding that 14 rooms were affected then and many archival materials also got burnt.

When asked if there could have been a foul play on the fire incidents, he said they were caused by electric surge. To him, fire outbreak is a natural disaster and it could happen to anybody irrespective of  influence and status in society.

The damage caused by the latest fire, he said could not be quantified.