Developing one’s domain as a traditional ruler should be prioritised —Olugbon

The Olugbon of Ile-Igbon, Oba Olusola Alao, a first class monarch in Oyo State, last weekend played host to friends, associates and his fellow traditional rulers in his domain on the occasion of his coronation anniversary. Oba Alao in this interview by TUNDE BUSARI declares that Ile-Igbon has entered a new era and calls for peace and unity among his subjects.

Your coronation anniversary last week has come and gone. What memory of it remains on your mind?

It was an occasion that further showed me that goodwill makes a man or woman. I could not believe the crowd that came to Ile-Igbon to honour me. Oyo State commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair was in attendance. The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki also sent representatives including the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. Traditional rulers also came. I learnt that a truck crossed the highway and caused traffic gridlock. Many guests were said to have been held in the traffic. I looked round and saw a forest of heads and gave thanks to God for giving us that day. There was no reported case of theft. Everything went peacefully. I committed the day unto the Lord and I am pleased that God answered my prayer. All the guests that made it there returned to their different stations safely. This is even a special grace given the state of that road.

It was my coronation ceremony. It was an occasion organized to bring my friends and associates together to celebrate my coronation. My presentation of Staff of Office held in July. The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi had given me certificate and staff of office on July 15, 2017. I should use this opportunity to say that Governor Abiola Ajimobi was the instrument of God and a child of destiny.

Can we then say your emergence as the Olugbon should be attributed to the influence of the governor?

I want to suggest you go and read my profile and see how I rose and achieved the little success God has given me. I am a strong believer in God, keeping faith in what God can do for his creatures. My emergence could only be done by divine connection. What did I have to influence the governor? Does this governor look like one that anyone can influence? If you think this way, it means that you don’t know who the governor is. That is why I always say that my installation was the manifestation of God’s works. But the way of God is by using His creature to carry out His wish. It is on record that Governor Ajimobi approved my selection by the kingmakers and presented me with the staff of office in July 15, 2017.

Your wife is said to have played an important role too. What was the role?

She is no longer my wife. She is my mother for standing by me. She is a pastor, a prayer warrior and a serious one for that matter. Having such a woman beside you is an asset which every man must pray to have. Before she became Olori, it should be said that she rose to the peak of her career in the banking sector. This is to say that we were never desperate. God has supported us to a large extent in our respective careers.

Contained in your coronation speech were three key words: peace, unity and development. Why the stress on them?

The three words are indeed my cardinal programmes for my town and my people. I mean each of the words because in them lies the future of Ile-Igbon. And God willing, I will not derail from pursuing those three words. Without dwelling much on them, a pupil can read and understand the three words. And that was one of the reasons I stressed them during my speech. Without any of the three, we cannot achieve anything. We need to give peace a chance in the town. A town where peace reigns is a town that witnesses development. As I said earlier, the three words work together. The development of Ile-Igbon should be paramount on the mind of all of us. I am calling on everybody, regardless of class, to come together and move the town forward from where my predecessor stopped in 2016. It is only God that enthrones kings. We should accept that fact. Cooperation is the needed instrument of the peace and development I talked about. To lead by example, within one year on the throne, I am building multi-million naira palace on eight acres of land. Soon, the first structure on the land will be completed. I have to walk the talk. I have to show my people the direction I am taking Orile-Igbon to. A total of 12 buildings will be erected on the land. It is going to be a 21st Century palace completed with seven chalets, staff quarters, hall and other state-of-the art facilities. I want Mr Governor to come to my town and pass the night inside my palace instead of rushing back to Ibadan.

Oyo is said to be connected with the history of your town. How true is this claim?

It is true. After Ogunlola, the hunter had killed the Ijesa, he was sent to the Alaafin of Oyo for appropriate punishment. The course of event changed when Ogunlola sought permission of the Alaafin to confront the dreaded Elemosho. IleIgbon, Oyo and Ogbomoso have a link in that history. It was after Ogunlola killed Elemosho that the Alaafin approved his request that led to the founding of Ogbomosho. I have the duty as the Olugbon to sustain the link among the three towns. Back to the main question, Baba Alaafin can better be described as fountain of knowledge whose place in Yoruba history is irreplaceable. He is my father and leader whom I hold in high esteem for what he symbolizes in Yorubaland. I will always accord him the respect he deserves as a strong pillar on which Yoruba nation stands. It is not an overstatement that Baba Alaafin is an embodiment of knowledge and cultural heritage of Yoruba. That is why he is always surrounded by intellectuals who seek his words of wisdom and drink from his wealth of experience. I am here to respect him with every sense of humility and join him in ensuring that Yoruba people are respected.

Have you a final word for your people?

I am expressing my appreciation to my people and my guests who honoured my special day in my town. May God be with them all. Together we shall develop Ile-Igbon to be a town of attraction to investors and tourists. I must thank my royal family, the Akinbola ruling house for standing by me. Led by our Mogaji, (the head) the ruling house believes in me and shows it. I shall continue to make the House proud. I must leave a lasting legacy which will become a reference point in the history of Ile-Igbon. I am appealing to the government to extend its transformation schemes to Ile-Igbon. I need a GRA here and I believe it will come to pass. We need a General Hospital to serve my people. Ile-Igbon is about 50 kilometres in landmass. Many perhaps did not know this. The time has come now to bring the town to the limelight. My predecessor did his best before his transition. We need vocational schools for our children. I have no doubt in my mind that the government would answer our prayers.