The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammad Oloyede Gbadamosi Esuwoye ll Ajagungbade l, clocks 60 today. In this interview with Tribune’s ADEWUYI ONIGBINDE, the traditional ruler speaks about his life and other sundry issues.
How do you feel attaining the age of 60?
I thank Almighty Allah for His grace because a lot of people did not live long enough to attain this age. So, I feel lucky and grateful to be 60.
You were with the Federal Housing Authority before venturing into private business. Now you are a prominent traditional ruler. How would you relate these three experiences?
They are all related, because my father was a business tycoon. In fact, I was his General Manager after I finished from the university. I joined the Federal Housing Authority to practise what I studied at the university, which is Building Technology. I worked there for a few years before I came back to the business of sugar, cement, rice, salt and many others.
Do you miss being a businessman?
No, I don’t, because whatever position you find yourself, that’s Almighty Allah’s wish. as our religious leaders say, everybody has their destiny. So, the position I am holding now, I believe, is what Allah wants. So, I don’t miss anything whatsoever being here on the throne or leaving business.
At the age of 60, what challenge is still there before you?
Like I told you earlier, whatever challenge I may have,l have faith in Almighty Allah.Whatever I face, it is an act of God. I thank Him. He has been good to me.
Did you ever think that you would become the Olofa?
No, I didn’t. Although I was a prince, I never thought of it. However, when the time came, Allah made me the Olofa of Offa.
What advice do you have for the younger generation, especially youths within ordinate pursuit of wealth acquisition and those who have taken to crimes like internet fraud?
My advice for them is that they should have patience. They should have belief in God as the Disposer of human affairs. Whatever Allah says will not happen will not happen and whatever He says will happen will definitely happen. Doing Yahoo yahoo, engaging in kidnapping and other vices will never take them anywhere.
It is better for youths and indeed everybody to be patient and have the fear of God. They should look for legitimate things to do and pray for Allah’s blessings and mercies. When it is the appointed time, they will become something in life. Crime will not help them; it will only shorten their lives.
People refer to you as the architect of modern Offa, having spent almost 14 years on the throne, what was Offa like before you ascended to the throne and how would you describe it now?
Offa was not developed up to this level when I became the Olofa. I believe that God has a reason for putting me on the throne about 14 years ago. My predecessor tried his best, but if there were 100 houses in Offa when I came on board, now there are more than 1000, and it is not my making but Almighty Allah’s. Allah has surrounded me with people who respect who support me.
They work with me for the progress and development of the town. They are transparent, accountable and God-fearing people. Whenever we want to embark on any project for the progress of the Offa, they all donate generously. Here in Offa. We initiate projects before the government steps in. The government is helping us but we carry our own burden first, because we are very proactive in Offa. We embark on projects that are useful to us. We start and the government supports us.
When we had security challenges some time ago, some of my people went to meet then Inspector General of Police and complained to him that we didn’t have enough police personnel in Offa. We sought his approval to build a police barracks. The IGP said building a barracks was not a small project. He spoke with me on phone and I assured him that by the grace of God, within three months, the barracks would be ready for use.
We didn’t seek any contributions from either the government or the police authorities. we only needed their approval. To the glory of Almighty Allah, we did it within three months, and today, we have Mopol 68 Unit here in Offa.
There are lots of other projects like that. If a leader is good, his followers will follow suit. Whenever we want to embark on any project, I see to it that I am the first person to make contribution and then others follow.
Where do you hope to see Offa in the nearest future?
I expect Offa to be much greater than it is presently, because we will not stop developing the town. We have been doing this for the past 14 years and we will continue doing it. I advise all my sons and daughters across the country and beyond to always come home and they are coming and contributing to Offa’s development. We are united and so we undertake everything together.
What are the activities lined up to mark your 60th birthday?
There are no other activities other than to beseech Almighty Allah to grant me many more years in good health, prosperity, joy and happiness. So it is going to be prayers throughout.
What is your advice for all sons and daughters of Offaland?
My advice for them is to continue the good things they have been doing. I thank all of them deeply for always listening to my advice and for making me and the entire town proud all the time. The sky is the limit for them.
Tell us about your early life.
I was born and brought up in Sokoto, Sokoto State. I attended Muhammad Bankano Primary School. I proceeded to Maru Teachers College and then to Birnin-Kebbi Polytechnic. I later attended the Ahmadu Bello University to study Building Technology. I did my national youth service at the Katsina State Housing Authority in Kastina before moving to Lagos to start life afresh.
What do you want the government to do for Offa?
Honestly, they have been trying, but we want them to do more. They should improve on out infrastructures. We are very hardworking here and we will work even harder with better infrastructures. We need improved electricity supply and better road network.
How is the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government affecting you and your subjects?
It affects everybody but for any action like that, there is bound to be pain in the beginning, because we are not used to a situation like this. I believe the pain is a temporary one. After some time, we will have relief and everything will be okay. We should continue to pray for the government.
We need to be patient. When they first announced the removal, everybody was happy because it was just a few people that were enjoying the money. But when we began to feel the effects of the removal, we started complaining. But I believe that with patience, we will get to the Promised Land. I have been advising my people to bear with the government, because we will laugh at last.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then