As Kabiyesi ascend the Royal throne of his grandsires, we, at ComfortHez Books join numerous IJESA Obokun people to pay our obeisance and respect, As the Father for all Ijesa Obokun people, Custodian of culture, tradition, heritage, customs and Conventions, The ComfortHez Books family congratulate the New Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, who is my elder cousin and one of the successor of my father in Office.
We say “Long live the king”. We pray that every goodness, greatness and beauty that accompanies the symbol chosen “Oyin” – honey, that you have chosen shall manifest in form of prosperity, peace, tranquility, social, and economic transformation and industrial consolidation of the IJESA Obokun kingdom.
I would not have committed my pen on paper…but as an outsider to your royal court. I will be doing a great disservice to myself and my parents, who once held sway in IJESA Obokun Royalty. Especially my father, who your grandfather appointed Loja of Okebode in early 1950’s. The ALMIGHTY GOD bears me witness, that, I chose not communicate with you through your proteges,…but like every ordinary Yoruba/Nigerian to rejoice, felicitate and drop some tips of counsel, which may be usefully taken or otherwise.
Starting with my pains, as half IJESA, and a son of a former Owa Obokun Adimula, My offsprings and I have been denied access to the place my father and one your predecessors, His Imperial Majesty, OBA PETER ADENIRAN Olatunji Agunlejika II, the 39th (recorded) Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland was laid to rest for forty -three years and counting. Sometimes, I feel estranged by this wicked….My sibbings and I have been denied access to the place where he was buried at the Aafin Adimula Royal Palace by your immediate predecessor.. . During his fortieth memorial anniversary in September, 2022, we approached your immediate predecessor for an opportunity to renovate his tomb house but our request was turned down. Well meaning IJESA patriots appealed to my siblings and I for calm.. . I wonder if it is a crime for been chosen to serve his people as Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, I say this because, the pendulum now ticks on your reign the current and incumbent Owarisa to repair the broken edge.
Consequently, I ask, if this is all my father got in return for conscientiously serving the IJESA OBOKUN people. Is it hatred and by been despised by his successor , His Imperial Majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II to the extent of systematically eliminated the vestiges of his reign… This experience extends to our cousins in other royal ruling houses. In a bid to have an ultra modern Royal Palace.
The roofed house, where two of my fathers, His Imperial Majesty Owa Fredrick Adedeji Kumokun Haastup, Ajimoko I and His Imperial Majesty Owa Alexander Adejumola Haastup, Ajimoko II were buried was removed with no replacement. In IJESA Obokun tradition, culture and heritage, late Owas are not exposed to adverse of nature, even when they are no longer here, that is the reason why my fathers and mothers were interred at Iferu and Ile – nla court yards and are covered with roof over them. When I was growing up as child at the Afin Adimula Royal Palace, Ilesa, I witnessed several memorial rememberançe of my fathers, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, His Imperial Majesty, Owa J. Adelupo Ogunmokun, Biladu III, Alayeluwa His Imperial Majesty,Owa Fredrick Adedeji Kumokun Haastup, Ajimoko I and His Imperial Majesty Owa Alexander Adejumola Haastup, Ajimoko II.
It baffled me seeing Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Owa Adekunle Aromolaran II remained obstinate and unwilling to remember his predecessors, but displayed arrogance and hatred towards their memories. Till date non of my offstrings knew where their grand father or great grand father was buried…..that was why I have written in my will to be cremated … And the Princely title dropped in showing my displeasure and……Kabiyesi, Owa Clement Haastup, Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, a lot.of repair work awaits your attention sir.
It is my prayer that the ALMIGHTY GOD will give you long life, the wisdom, courage, good health and strength to take bold decisions to repair of the broken edge and appropriate reform done.
Secondly, as the Head of the four Royal Ruling houses in Ijesaland, the meeting of Egbe Ile Omo Owa – Meeting of Princes and Princesses have not been held in forty -three (43) years…. The need to strengthen and further consolidate IJESA Unity is paramount. The vibrant and healthy relationship of the three Traditional Councils: IJESA, Ijesa North and Ijesa South Traditional Councils must be enhanced. This is achievable only through humility, wisdom, tact, transparency and adherence strictly to the IJESA Obokun age long principle of ‘” OWA KAN, IJESA KAN”…..
The issue of the Chieftaincy kingmakers of Ilesa that was seen as vacant during your selection process should be examined and rectified and filled with responsible, persons of honour, integrity and value not not charlatans should please fill these vacant Chieftaincy positions, which are integral to peaceful co-existence of our people and day today management of human and material resources in Ijesaland.
IJESA OBOKUN people are great people, highly courageous, intelligent, bold and dynamic. From the point of view of someone born in the Aafin Adimula Royal Palace, now scholar/ researcher in African Studies:Cultural and Media Studies, which I wittily call “ljesaology” (smiled), because of my works on Ijesaland. I find Ijesa Obokun people great, well informed, highly knowledgeable, very experienced and exposed. This may be as a result of their ” Osomaalo” entrepreneurial prowess and exploits. Ijesa Obokun people are highly opinionated, very loving and accommodating, but do not tolerate dominance or being too clever by half. An average IJESA man is very understanding and mature, but will not compromise common interest. They will give you honour higher honour than usual, but naturally will resist dictatorship, oppression or autocracy. No one can dominate the IJESA Obokun people. They will resist you. That is how it has been through out IJESA Obokun history …- Owari tradition and so on .
The experience of our most recent past points to this fact.
I personally think that GOD has not made mistake for the appointing you, ALAYELUWA OWA CLEMENT ADESUYI HAASTRUP AJIMOKO III, the 41st OWA OBOKUN ADIMULA AND PARAMOUNT RULER OF IJESALAND.
The intrigues and shenanigans of Royal contest is over, bring close to yourself all your cousins, you contest the throne with. You are now the father of all. There should be no place exclusivity but inclusiveness and accommodating all IJESA Obokun people in traditional governance.
An American trained Pharmacist, professional and consummate private sector player in the economy of Nigeria, I sure know you are well informed and equipped.
As a former Deputy Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, who is constituted and inaugurated the Dr Lawrence Omole Peace Committee in 1992 to look at Crisis between the immediate past Owa Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II and IJESA OBOKUN District OBAS (traditional rulers), whose recommendations, Owa Obokun Adimula Aromolaran II rejected and opted for court to challenge the Osun State Government in 1993….the rest is left to recorded history.
As someone with prior knowledge the administrative workings of the Osun State Government as former Deputy Governor, I think Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastup Ajimoko III will do excellently well. I first met him during the coronation of my father’s twin brother, Baba Kabiyesi Alayeluwa OBA William Adetona Kolawole Ayeni, the immediate past Orangun Ile Ila and few years later in our cousin’s home -Prince (Prof.) Steven Gbadebo Adeyemi Ofokutu, here in Lagos. Very calm, soft speaking, good listener and highly intelligent person.
As the second Owa Aladura (taking after my father Owa Agunlejika II), I rejoice with C&S Idasa, No 1 Headquarters, Ilesa, C&S Movement and all the C&S Unification Churches in Ijesaland.
I remembered my father’s greatest allies:Baba Most Senior Apostle Ojo Adelegan Omole a,k a Baba Adura Idasa, Most Senior Apostle Ojo at Isare, Ilesa, Baba Pastor Timothy Obadare, Baba Pastor Babajide, Bishop John Falope, Bishop Gideon Olajide and his nephew Pastor Olutola of the Apostolic church, Oke Ooye, Ilesa.
I know, as OBA Aladura, he is well informed of what to do about his intimate relationship with the ALMIGHTY GOD.
I have been well informed of the IJESA Development Roadmap handed over to Owa Obokun Adimula Ajimoko III recently by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi. Though I am not privy to what the document contain but sure know it will be bumper and wholesome development plan for the nooks and crannies of Ijesaland. I am aware of the new Owa ‘s Agricultural development plan. Let all IJESA people continue to pray for his success. I am aware of the infrastructural urban renewals ongoing at Ilesa, embarked on by the Ademola Adeleke led Osun State Government..
I wish to commend OWA CLEMENT ADESUYI HAASTRUP AJIMOKO III for the renovation of cultural sites renovated and refurbished around Ilesa metropolis ‘ the Bajimo’s court, Ogboni of Ilesa’s and so. As a student of History and Culture, I am very proud of these developments. On Ijesa Obokun Adimula Cultural and historical documentation, I have dedicated the rest of my life, as promised to my father, Owa Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika II, (39th recorded) Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.
By the grace of GOD, I am pursuing it to a logical point and will hand it over to a successor in due course , By the grace of GOD, I have just finished work on my next book, EXEGESIS OF IJESA CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. It will be published in due course, GOD willing.
I pray for a great transformation of Ijesaland during the reign of Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastup Ajimoko III.
His maturity, age, exposure and experience will be an added advantage within the ambits of Osun Council of Obas and Chiefs and the IJESA Obokun traditional institution.
Long live the king.
(c) Adeoye Agunlejika
2025
ComfortHez Books.
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