In the past nine years, how will you describe your reign as the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko?
Many things have happened. That captures the experience since I became the Zaki. But I have every cause to give glory to God, the king of kings. God is the ultimate king who crowns earthly kings. I owe Him my being today and what Arigidi-Akoko has become, in terms of popularity and public attention. This town is an ancient town blessed with determined people who are doing well all over the places they reside. I am very proud to be their royal father and I am also wishing them more successes in their different endeavours. They must know that there is no place like home. I am not saying they should pack their belongings and return home now. What I am saying is that they should always remember the people they left behind. They should know that development of this town is our collective responsibility, which we must not run away from.
You were a successful businessman before you ascended the throne, aren’t you missing your former routine as a regular man?
To say the truth, you are talking of two different terrains. The business world is quite different from the four walls of the palace. But I must say it with every sense of sincerity that after the hustle and bustle in search of business transactions, coming home as the traditional ruler is the best thing any prince can wish for. Blood they say is thicker than water. A prince must prepare himself for the throne when the opportunity comes. This is my story. I cannot say I am seriously missing my past because my past has become history. The new life on the throne is what matters because it is the road to the future. So, it is not a matter of whether I am missing my life as a businessman or not.
Congratulations on yet another Okota festival.
Thank you for also coming to honour us. I think you journalists need events like this to take you away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos and Ibadan. I know since you came, your nerves have relaxed a bit. Here is a countryside where we enjoy our lives in our own way without much noise and other features of your life in Lagos.
You sound as if you have a phobia for Lagos life?
It is not really so. The truth of the matter is that one needs to take life easy when one attains a certain age in life. That is, there is time for everything. I have no problem with Lagos. Who will have problem with a mini-country where everybody wants to be because of opportunities that the environment offers everybody? What I am saying is that it is good to find time to travel out of Lagos in order to relax.
How can you describe the Okota Festival of this year?
There is no other way to describe it than to give glory to God for making it another successful one. There is a difference between planning and execution. We planned the festival and it was successfully executed. To God be the glory. Arigidi-Akoko is gradually entering tourists’ diaries both at home and abroad. The response of non-indigenes has been reassuring that Okota Festival will become bigger year in, year out. Every year, a new thing would always happen. For instance and with due respect to traditional rulers who came to honour us, the Elegushi witnessed the festival for the first time. This is heart-warming and an evidence that a brighter future lies ahead, in terms of attracting important personalities to the town. We are very happy for the turnout and the way all the activities were organised and carried out. There was no hitch anywhere. Everything went in order and according to how it was planned.
I saw no fewer than seven traditional rulers at the festival. Have you a word for them?
I cannot but thank all royal fathers who came to honour me at the festival. They have always come around to celebrate the festival with me here as a form of solidarity to their fellow traditional ruler. I am grateful to them. How would it have been if a festival like this does not have on seats traditional rulers from other towns? They have been supportive in this regard. So, once again I thank them. I am also looking forward to attend their events. That is the foundation of Yoruba. That is our culture, which is our heritage. We believe in communal life, doing things in common. It has always been source of strength of the Yoruba race in any part of the world.
Aren’t you worried about the state of our culture being submerged by foreign influences?
I should be worried as a custodian of culture and tradition, but I think efforts being made today to revive our culture are giving me assurance that all hope is not lost. The Olokun Festival Foundation, for example, has done, and is still doing greater jobs in our cultural revival. And this is known to even the people outside Yoruba land. I want to encourage other well-meaning children of Yoruba to emulate what Otunba Gani Adams is doing in this area. I am not saying this because he comes from my town. I am saying it because of the impacts of his efforts.
What can you say are the challenges traditional rulers face?
If I start to reel out what royal fathers go through on a daily basis, you would be shocked. The stool is not as easy as it appears, especially when you consider the contest that precedes final selection.
Can you be specific here, using your experience as a case study?
I don’t think there is need for being specific now. What I think I should do to help your report is a broader overview of the subject. One of the challenges of the throne is loss of privacy. Many of us were living our private lives before we became obas but we have to give it up as a sacrifice to the people.
Can you explain this?
What I mean is that the palace is an open place for all and sundry. The palace belongs to the people of the town. So they have unrestricted access to it when there is reason to visit. That is why they put you there. One of the qualities a traditional ruler must have is tolerance. You have to be extremely tolerant of different people, different ideas, and different voices on issues. You don’t discriminate against anyone or any group because doing so is like dividing your town and causing problem among the people. An oba must be seen as the unifying factor whose voice and judgment is respected by everyone. Of course, you cannot please everyone but as father to all, you must always live above board and leave the rest for posterity.
Marital status of traditional rulers is always a subject of debate. Do you think such debate is necessary?
The debate is okay. It is an academic exercise to explore different perspectives. But on the issue you asked about, I don’t think there is anything to debate. The marital status of an oba is subjected to his preference. If you choose to be a monogamist, it is okay. If you choose to have more than one wife, you are in order. What is more important in the matter is your preference, your choice. We should look back to what made polygamy the order of the day in the period in which our forefathers live. We should also look at today and see why many chose to depart from that practice. The truth is that on this issue, you can never tell.
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