Developing one’s domain should be prioritised by every traditional ruler —Oba Popoola

The Oore is the paramount ruler of Mobaland in Ekiti State. The thought is that the ancient kingdom spanned three  local governments before the boundary adjustments when states were created in the country. Oba (Dr) James Adedapo Oladele Popoola (CON), Odundun I, the current Oore of Moba kingdom, speaks with Sam Nwaoko on his kingdom then and now, the Oore throne, uniqueness of the community and sundry issues.

The throne has given you another page of life. What was your life like before you ascended the throne as the Oore?

I was born to the royal family known as the Imoya. So, I’m from the Imoya ruling house of the Oore dynasty. Before I became a traditional ruler, I graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, in 1980. After that, I was a public servant. I worked with the Central Bank for 19 years, up till the year 2000 when I became the monarch. I was a man that could be described as a go-go guy, full of life, and I like to enjoy myself to the fullest. But the throne has really cut a lot of things because of the numerous responsibilities attached to the office. So, I can state with all sense of responsibility that the throne has taken away some of the freedom and actions and certain ways of life.

Did becoming the Oore come to you as a surprise; were you prepared for the throne?

I knew that as a prince, I could become the king. But I didn’t know that my selection would be as quick and as smooth as it came. It was unanimous and rather easy. I will say that I didn’t compete for the throne, but I was chosen by a unanimous decision of the royal family after due consultations with the Ifa oracle. So, I would say that the only surprise is that it was unanimous and there was no competition.

Since becoming the Oore, what would you say have been the challenge?

Like any royal father, your responsibility is to see to the development of your community. To maintain peace and see how harmony should always reign among your subjects. Prior to ascending the throne, the whole community was divided and polarised. I’d say that the town was ravaged by physical and psychological problems. There were camps and the people were in one camp or the other. So, my first challenge was to see how I could bring everybody together so that we could work as a team. This is because, when you’re divided, you cannot achieve anything but when we are together, we can all achieve a lot for ourselves and the community. Through God’s grace and consultations and perseverance, we were able to bring everybody together and under one umbrella. Court cases were voluntarily withdrawn and settled among our people and that gave us the leverage to start working for the physical development of the community.

And following that, how would you describe the challenge of bringing development to the community?

At every turn of events we are faced with different challenges. At every turn, new challenges surface and we thank God that we have been able to surmount them. The most of it are political challenges and this is mostly because you are presiding over a people of diverse interests and beliefs. So, you have to fashion a way of ensuring a balance while treating the issues, you have to be seen to be above board and show that you are not treating one fairer than the other. You cannot be marginalising one for the other and expect peace.

What are those things you would say stand Moba out in Yoruba land? What are Moba’s unique selling points?

The Moba kingdom is unique in the sense that it is made up of the present Moba Local Government in Ekiti State and two other local government areas in the present day Kwara State. That was the old Moba kingdom. But by the artificial boundary adjustment, those ones have been taken to Kwara State and we are currently left with Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Even at that, the Moba Local Government as of today is presently constituted by about 13 towns and other communities. So, we stand out in Ekiti because we speak a variant of the Yoruba language that is different from that of the rest of Ekiti State. Our dialect relates more to that of our people in Kwara.

Secondly, the Oore is occupying a position that is very sacred and very unique in Yoruba land because of the Oore’s relationship with Ile Ife. The relationship is that the Oore was living in Ile Ife and has a very close relationship with Oduduwa. In the days of old, whenever an Ooni passes on, it is the responsibility of the Oore to announce the demise of the Ooni and whenever a new Ooni is to be installed, there are rituals that involve the invocation of the spirit of Oore. These are the types of things that set us aside and place us in a unique relationship with Ile Ife. Ile Ife is the source of the Yorubas and that is our ancestral home. That’s the fact about Ife and we have a very unique relationship with them.

As a modern day Oore, and a man who has seen it all in terms of experiences in and outside of the traditional stool, what would you say you’ve been able to do as the monarch to bring about difference in the life of the people of Moba kingdom?

We have, by the grace of God, brought development. I am very happy that my people have been able to rally themselves behind me. Anytime we are pursuing any developmental goal, we are always speaking with one voice and we always make sure that these types of developmental goals are achieved. Like I said earlier, when we came the whole town was ravaged physically and psychologically. There was no road, there was no electricity and there was no water. There was virtually nothing and it was a divided community. But since we came, God has been able to help us and we now have accessible roads from all over the places. All roads that lead to Otun are accessible. Now we have improved electricity supply. We now also have improved water supply and there are several other developmental projects we’ve been able to attract and execute in terms of physical infrastructure. But above all, we have better human capital development in our kingdom. As I pointed out, before I ascended the throne, I was working with the Central Bank (CBN). For for the 19 years I worked with the Central Bank, I could not influence any meaningful appointment or employment for our people, even in the Central Bank. But since I became the traditional ruler, I cannot recall the number of people God has helped us to secure job for in many places, including the Central Bank. And this is on yearly basis. I thank God for this human capital development because these are the kind of things you can’t quantify. These are the areas I thanks God for in terms of modest achievements as the community continues to grow from strength to strength.

What are the areas left, those things you thought by now, you would have taken care of that are still outstanding?

The most important by my consideration is the siting of an institution of higher learning in Moba land. I strongly crave to see an institution of higher learning come to my domain, this is paramount to me. It could be a university. It could be a polytechnic. It could be a college of education. A tertiary institution in Moba land is what we want most now. I know that with that, other things would be added unto it.

In terms of traditional rites in your domain, including festivals and the like, which ones are you okay with, which ones are you going with and which ones are out of it for you, as a modern day man?

I go with all of them fully. I go with them fully because as the head of my people, I epitomise the culture, the tradition, the norms, the values, the aspirations of my people. I epitomise them all, and this also includes their religion. So, in terms of tradition, including rituals, I can tell you that I don’t shy away from that. I was born a Christian. I’m a Christian. I was born an Adventist and I still worship as an Adventist. When it is the time for the Muslim festivals, I participate fully in those too. I go to the prayer ground with my people who are Muslims. I also kill ram in the palace. So, when you talk of Christianity, I am the head. When you talk of Islam, I am the head. When you also talk about the traditional religion, I am the head. I don’t leave one for the other. They are all my people.