The mandatory three months of mourning, prayers, rituals and seclusions to honour the transition of Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Dr . Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran 11, CFR, LL.D, came to a very successful end on the 10th of December, 2024.
I congratulate the Agba Ijesas, the Agbaagba Ijesas, the traditional or ceremonial Chiefs, Otookulus, and the Lametos, Christians, Muslims, Iseseians, all young and old Ijesa sons and daughters for this landmark traditional and cultural rites just concluded. The three months mourning period goes a long way to reaffirm the uniqueness and high definition culture and tradition of the Ijesa people since 11th century to date.
I want to recall pertinently and for the purpose of history that, the Throne of Owa Obokun Adimula and all its privileges were established by Owa Obokun Ajibogun, Orunaja Aganniyeye Ekun. He was the paramount leader and founder of Ijesa Obokun Adimula state within the Yoruba entity. Since then, the Ijesas have been the most unique people running pure, transparent and resilient tradition and culture that’s propagated through many generations with courage, hard work, humility and respect.
The Ijesas from Ajibogun till today are foremost “Omoluabis” who in all spheres of life have been identified as pragmatic , compassionate , well-behaved and virtuous people . They’re guided by moral and ethical concept in all their economic endeavors and socio-political relations.
It’s on this note that, whoever will be the next Owa Obokun Adimula of IJESALAND must be so unique, distinctive and as extraordinary as envisaged in the epoch of times by “Alale Obokun” ( ancestor-gods of Obokun). The Throne of Owa Obokun Adimula and the search for a unique person to occupy the dignified position is obviously not going to be easy , it’s not going to happen without issues and challenges.
In the past three months, several illustrious and responsible members of the BILARO OLUODO FAMILY have signified their intentions to take over from where Kabiyesi, Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Dr Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran 11, CFR, LL.D dropped the baton and mantle of the Royal Authority.
It’s important to state that, there are four legalized Royal Ruling Houses by Direct Descendants of Owa Obokun Ajibogun. These are, Biladu, Bilayiarere, Bilaro Oluodo and Bilagbayo. And, going by the rotational system of ascensions, the immediate past Owa Obokun Adimula was from the BILAYIARERE. Next in line therefore, is the BILARO OLUODO FAMILY of Ajimoko, Ofokutu and others.
A lot has been heard from different interest groups and members of the Bilaro Oluodo family. However, beyond emotional debates, cheesy legal actions or sentimental arguments, what is important and should be paramount is the essentially fundamental tradition and culture that should be strictly adhered and observed by the Afobajes, the government, the Agbaagba Ijesas and of course, the ruling house whose turn is next to produce a befitting Owa Obokun Adimula of IJESALAND.
There are eminent facts that Ijesas are endowed with preeminent, illustrious, renowned and influential people who are more powerful, respected and reckoned with than most of the Afobajes. These powerful, venerable and high-ranking Ijesas may keep silent in the public domains, they’re all over the places in their “siddon look” mode wielding stronger and unfettered influences.
Apart from the Agbaagba Ijesas, there are Chiefs and Traditional Priests, otherwise called the “AOROS” who have more significant traditional and cultural roles and rites which go beyond the duties of the Afobajes to perform before, during and after the selection of the new Owa Obokun Adimula.
It’s expected that the Afobajes must consult with Ifa Oracle in order to choose the next Owa Obokun Adimula. As important as this aspect is supposed to be, it’s my considered opinion a lot of myth is attached to this spiritual exercise.
Ifa or no Ifa, there will be tendencies, there will be swing, there will be discernable change in opinions, there will be drift, there will be inclination or prejudice for or against one person or family, especially in a way to satisfy peculiar interests. It will amount to self-deceit therefore for anyone to think Ifa will give what it does not have…, moreso as we all may agree, “ewi aye oun ni Egba orun n gba” or better still, “oun ta ba ki fun Awo, oun naa ni Awo fi n ki fun ni”. The best those who will consult with Ifa Oracle will do and can do is to appease and seek for the best among the contestants….” Ifa Olokun Asoro d’ayo, ma fi ire fo ibi, ma fi ibi fo ire, ma fi ololo f’oun”. Ifa o ni s’eke, opele o ni d’ale eni to da Ifa. Q.E.D. This simply means the deepest of the depths of the mindsets and interests of the Ifa Priests are crucial and important to what should be expected from Ifa. What I am saying in essence is, there are a lot of factors that will influence and determine Ifa’s decision. …”ti Obi ko ba yan, won a tun Ifa e da, ti ifa o ba f’ore , won a tun ifa da naa ni”.
I belong to a school of thought that believes in the wisdom of old age… “Agba lo t’oro lo, Oba lo to ori Erin fon”. I also accept the validity of Yoruba’s view, which says, “Agba kii se oro bi ewe” or “Omode kii se ojojo Agba”. In all, Yorubas adhere strictly to the fact that Old Age is a work of Art and a very high price to pay for maturity and wisdom. Evidences abound of many young Kings who have desecrated the thrones and bastardized the ancient traditional and cultural heritage they inherited. To know the road ahead, we must ask those who have passed the road before. The experience of many towns and cities in having wayward youths as Kings is that of regrets. We cannot afford to choose a King that will compromise the uniqueness and virtuous peculiarities of the Ijesa people. We therefore will prefer a standard bearer, the kind that can be referred to as “Atobatele” in terms of characters and influences drawn from the wisdom of old age. Yet, there are lot of young ones who have attained maturity, self-discipline, moral impetus and sense of integrity in their life endeavors and who can offer the kind of Unique Royalty and Worthy Kingship that we truly deserve. We should not therefore , reject any aspirant because he’s old or too young to rule.
In what appears to be a cowardly act or self-defeat, I have listened and read about some aspirants and their sponsors or supporters groaning and wailing over the importance of money in this all important exercise. Any naive person can accuse an aspirant of trying to buy the Afobajes, but I see any aspirant who fall for this as unserious, frivolous and insignificant. Have we forgotten that, “so mi ni han igbo laafin, han wi gberumi laafin”. The Ijesas goes further to say, “Ufan ni Omo Oba je laafin, ki Omo Oba ba ni Aso Igba, ke l’aso amuye, se lo fi owo Ufan jeun”.
I am not asking anyone to begin to spend frivolously or incredibly, but anyone who is not willing to take care of the Afobajes and the Agbaagba Ijesas should better step aside. Likewise, anyone who cannot afford the cost(s) of nomination form(s) should just bow and quit. Even the Bible says, “owo ni idaun oun gbogbo”, and the Yoruba says, “oro ti owo ba se ti, Ile l’oun gbe”. If the Afobajes and other Chiefs should tell us what they spent to become who they are today, we will be marvelled. Won o ki n je Oba leemeji, therefore every dues must be paid by whoever wants to be the next Owa Obokun Adimula.
However, anyone who wants to be Owa Obokun Adimula of IJESALAND must not just have money, he must have a wealth of wisdom and command robust honour and dignity in the true sense of it. This is not a political office, it’s the position of a paramount ruler on whose shoulders lie lots of responsibilities, socially, spiritually, economically, politically and traditionally.
The role of the state government, most especially, in the choice of who becomes the next Owa Obokun Adimula cannot be overemphasized or faulted by anybody who has been following history. As a matter of fact, apart from money, the other ‘Ifa’ that will determine the new Owa Obokun Adimula is the government. I will advise any aspirant who is not in the good book of the government to just take heart….”eremirin a daa”.
Now, coming to the Bilaro Oluodo Family, I think someone needs to tell them the home truth. As a well tutored Ijesaman, one of the things we cherished most is the position of “Olori Ebi” or “Baale Ule”. It appears to me with the number of aspirants being up to 32 as at the moment, that the Bilaro Oluodo Family are deliberately making the race looks chaotic or riotous. How can everyone in a family wants to be King…..”Agba o si, Ilu baje, baale Ile ku Ile d’aoro”. The Bilaro Oluodo sons and daughters should put themselves in the position of the Afobajes and ask themselves if they would have found it easy to choose a candidate from the Catholic list in circulations. I will humbly ask you members of the Bilaro Oluodo Family to respect their ancestors and allow common sense to prevail by carrying out internal screening to prune the number down to one or two from each lineage. Going to Ifa Olokun Asoro D’ayo with 32 or more names will be too confusing if not irrational.
I noted with disappointed that some of the aspirants have gone to court in what appears to me as preemptive tactics. This will fail woefully. In fact, I told a friend that whoever goes to court will not be Owa Obokun Adimula, no one has ever done that and succeeded. How can you be contesting to a King and at the same time dictating how much you want to pay as nomination fee. Or how is it possible for you to ask the Court to help you stop another aspirant from contesting. In so far as the amount set aside as nomination form is payable by every aspirant, not that someone is paying lesser amount or more than others, no one can successfully claim to have suffered any injury or injustice. Equity always aims to assist the law, not contradict it. And, as a matter of fact, Equity regards substance rather than form, such that it will not allow justice to be withheld due to a technicality. The Court will not stop the Afobajes or the government from taking appropriate action and decisions simply because someone is afraid or anticipating failure.
The Ijesas are taking notes and they’re saying, “Oba ke ti je ko mi gbe gbogbo Afobaje re kootu, ko ba je Owa ijokan gbogbo Ijesa laa ju s’ewon re ni”. Ijesas are peculiar people and can be easily offended, but they will pretend all is well. However, iyan ogun odun l’alede IJESA, e jo l’owo felifeli “. Whoever advised them to go to court is not a friend in need.
Finally, I pray for a King that will tower above pettiness and spoils of victory. A king that will stand tall among other paramount Kings. A unique Owa that will propagate the uniqueness and exemplary dignity of the Ijesa people. A King that is self sufficient, famous and industrious that will add values to the list of achievements recorded by eminent Ijesa sons and daughters. A King that will rejuvenate and reposition Ijesaland for Industrial Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Peace, Unity and Harmony, and for the rightful political leadership in Nigeria.So Help Us God.
Akinyele Akintola anfaani63@gmail.com Ilesa.
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