Alaafin at 80: I had no doubt I would be great in life

The life of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi from his Alowolodu royal family has been eventfully
characterised by different stories. The foremost traditional ruler who recently attained the age of 80 takes
TUNDE BUSARI through the trajectory of his life.

 

When you were growing up as a kid, did you see yourself attaining 80 years?

Attaining any age in life is not the making of any creature but that of his or her creator. Life makes no serious meaning to a kid because that state is what is called age of innocence. Your understanding of the world is restrictive and defined by fantasy and wishful thinking which would not be in tune with reality. Things change when you transit to adulthood. That is the time you are conscious of your action and your dream. This is the age which constitution of every society also recognizes in what is called universal adult suffrage. If you are 18 years, you can vote and be voted for. You can be held accountable for your actions and inactions. Attaining 80 years despite all the vicissitudes of life can only be attributed to the Supreme Being. You may dream to become the Methuselah who lived for 969 years. You may dream of this and that. It is the Supreme Being that has the final say on your duration in life. That is the best way to answer this question. But I must tell you that I was brought up with a strong sense of self-belief. And when you have such attribute, you live a life of confidence, a life of promise, a life of brightness. I had no doubt in my mind that I would be great in life. But to be modest is to admit the fact that I did not see which and what age I would attain.

 

You just said you were brought up to believe in yourself. Can you let us into the details?

I was brought up at different places in Oyo, Iseyin, Abeokuta, Osogbo and finally on Lagos where I was living with the late medical doctor, Dr Kofo Abayomi. Living under Abayomi taught me so many things about life. Till date, the medical training I learnt through doing domestic chores is still in my memory. I was taught on how to be organized; how to do things in the right way. The discipline through which I passed under him helped me later in life till today. I am familiar with medical tools. Whenever he wanted to perform surgical operation, I was around watching how he prepared for the surgery. I watched how he cleaned his hands. In fact, the exposure will live with me forever.

 

How do you feel clocking 80?

I feel happy that I am here celebrating my 80th on earth. I have celebrated with others and shared their moments. I think it is normal for me to have also looked forward to it, and here we are. Alaafin is 80 years.

 

At your age your sporting activities still make you look as a special breed. How special are you and where do you derive the strength to cope with the rigour of physical exercise?

What makes a man is what the man takes, in terms of foods. I discovered this while I was growing up that to keep healthy, which is one of the requirement of sporting activities, I would need to be strict and selective on the kind of food I eat. I have since been faithful to this regime, and I am better off. You can see what they just brought for me now. What did you think it is? What you have there is not food. It is fruit. Nutritionists would tell you that fruit is what body needs most. All organic foods are good and beneficial to human body than those junks. The earlier the better we realise this to live and stay healthy.

 

Now you are 80, won’t you slow down on your exercise regime?

Why would I slow down when nature does not slow me down? Look, as long as I enjoy good health, as long as my systems function well, nothing would stop me from my routine exercise. You can see that I enjoy doing it. You can then also imagine what happens when I don’t do it again. Don’t forget I didn’t start yesterday or last year or 20 years ago. Sporting activities are part of my growth, which means they are part of my being.

 

I watched one of your wives, Olori Folasade when you called her out to perform the panegyrics of Sango at Ajayi Crowder University. Why did you invite her to the podium meant for you alone?

Alaafin as custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage, you should know what you are talking about. You should know what it means. What I did was not new to Olori because the panegyric she did is in her. She is a graduate. She first studied Yoruba. After graduation I asked her to return to the University to study Law. She graduated with a Second Class Upper. This telling you how intellectual she is. How did you feel when she was singing it? Didn’t you feel proud as a son of Yoruba? That is what Alaafin symbolizes. Preservation of the totality of Yoruba culture—from language to greetings to ethics to dressing and food— is Alaafin’s business. What you saw in her should give you an idea on the role Alaafin’s wives play in the palace. The Oloris serve as complements in preservation of Yoruba culture.

 

Can we then say and possibly conclude that this is the justification for your taking younger wives?

Don’t forget that you are talking of Alaafin. Alaafin has responsibilities which go beyond what you see in the public. As I said earlier, each wife has a specific duty and obligation in the palace. Can you imagine what happens to this big palace if it is not adequately habited? Alaafin must live his status. It is not about social role, it is more than that. But it is not everything Alaafin must put on the pages of newspapers?

 

I learnt it on good authority that the late Murtala Muhammed Muhammed had a soft spot for you among other traditional rulers. Can you shed light on this?

I would not know what you really mean by the late head of state having a soft spot for me. What I think I should tell you on this is that General Murtala Muhammed showed some interests in me during our close contact.

 

What did you observe really informed that interest in you?

I may not like to disclose the whole details of the story because it is sensitive and key to security of the nation at that point it occurred.

• I thought I would end up a great professor —Oladiti

 

Can’t you for the benefit of readers who look up to special interview commemorative of your special birthday?

General Murtala Muhammed had a meeting with select traditional rulers across the country in 1975. Just before the meeting started the late Sultan of Sokoto was invited inside. We looked at one another on our seats and kept mum but within me I knew the Alaafin must not allow such to pass. We waited, and when General Murtala returned, I rose and challenged him on the matter. I said it would be unfair to keep other traditional rulers seated and hold private talk with one of us. I told him of the implication of the act to his new regime and unity of the country.

 

That must be a great risk given the belief that soldiers hate it when a civilian asks them question?

Certainly, you are less informed about what Ikubabayeye symbolizes. No Alaafin must be intimidated by anyone or any situation. Alaafin is above such. I want to give you an assignment to subject Alaafin’s panegyrics to contextual analysis. If you do and do it well, you would understand what I mean. Alaafin symbolizes confidence. Alaafin symbolizes strength to weather any storm. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Alaafin is above the law. Alaafin is a respecter of law. That is why you see me keeping relevant documents safely to serve as reference before the law. That is why you also see me reading and researching and quoting different authors. Alaafin must not be found wanting. He must be above board. Where and when Alaafin speaks, the audience must know that Alaafin is on the podium. This is not pride. It is not arrogance as it is said elsewhere. It is hard work and nothing but commitment to always be better than the best. It takes self-discipline and self-denial to do sustain this at this age. But as I always say it is part and parcel of me.

 

What was the response of the late head of state when you were through with your protest to him?

What happened would surprise you. Those who knew him would understand it better that he was a no-nonsense soldier. His profile in the military up till the time he became the head of state after the successful July 29, 1975 coup was that of a hero. He died a hero anyway in a failed coup carried out on Friday, February 13, 1976. That is why some important national monuments are named after him. I am talking of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. I am also talking of the naira note. Did you know that I am not happy that our children are not taught history again? History as a subject refreshes memory of the past and also serves as a compass to the future. I am afraid that future generations would struggle to see heroes produced by this country in right perspective.

 

Did General Murtala rebuke you or what did he say to your protest?

He listened to me patiently and said it right there that, ‘Alaafin, I like you.’ He said he liked the courage with which I expressed my mind. He said this and demonstrated his words in our subsequent relationship.

 

How did he demonstrate it?

I was included on the list of traditional rulers that were part of the federal government delegation to Saudi Arabia in 1975 holy pilgrimage. I was the only Yoruba Oba that accompanied General Murtala to Mecca and Medina. The late Otaru of Auchi, the late Emir of Gwandu was part of the traditional rulers on that journey. Many years later in 1990, the Federal Government again appointed me to lead the Muslim pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. I was the Amiru Hajj of that year. I came back and did a report which the regime of General Ibrahim Babngida commended.

 

To the public, the Alaafin and the late sage Obafemi Awolowo were not friends till Awolowo passed on in 1987. Can you use this opportunity to clarify on this issue?

Today at the lecture organized for my birthday by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, I told scholars, who presented papers on me, to always get in touch while collating their data. I appreciated their efforts in going that length in researching on the Alaafin. But coming to me to seek clarification on issues would further enrich their works. Academic works must be rich not only in content but in details and facts. Coming back to your question, let me repeat that I was in Chief Awolowo’s residence at Oke Bola, Ibadan sometime in 1983. I was there together with the late Ataoja of Osogbo, the late Orangun of Ila, the late Eleruwa of Eruwa, the late Timi of Ede. What did we discuss? Let me keep that under wrap for now. But I can tell you that there was no issue between me and Chief Awolowo till he transited. How many of his books have you read? If you have read his books, you would understand the state of political development in the country. He had written so much about Nigeria such that you would think he was a prophet. Till date, I have in my memory his speech when he was convicted by Justice George Sodehinde Sowemimo in 1962. I once recited the speech to him, and he was shocked.