Erelu Olusola Obada: The audacity of a patriot

THE Owa Obokun Adimula of ijésåland, Oba (Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran, had been under pressure. A tremendously taxing one at that. Darts of disrespect were being discharged towards him by some politicians who were no longer able to count on his quiet and subtle support. A war of attrition was being waged against the Ijesa Kingdom and its people on account of the discomfort with the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. In addition, the peace of Ijésåland was being vitiated. Everyone was tensive and there was tension everywhere. Everyone was on edge. Ijéså people felt like being under siege. People of all political persuasions were perplexed about what to do. There was bitterness across the board. The anger was more than palpable. There was apprehension. There was exasperation. The indignation was permeating. The irritation across Ijéså land seemed to ricochet from the corridors of the cavities. Politics was contaminating the atmosphere. Inter party conflagration was agog. Intra-party displeasure within one of the parties was at its height.

She decided to grab the bull by the horns. She could no longer bear the pain of what was unfolding. She could no longer tolerate the kind, nature and degree of disrespect to which Owa Obokun Adimula, and by extension, all Ijesa were being subjected. Yes, she was a politician. But she was and still is Ijéså first and foremost. Her political party was in power in Osun State. She was the number two citizen in the State. But she was ready to risk all. Her people, and by extension, the symbol of their oneness as emblematic in Owa Obokun Adimula of ijésåland could and would not continue to be humiliated and disrespected. So, what did she do? She summoned the faithful of Ijesa origin within her party. She provided leadership that was needed at a crucial time. Her aim was to pull Ijesa land away from the precipice of destructive political conflagration. She made her feelings known about what was going on. She pointed the direction in which she expected them to go. Luckily, the majority of those who hearkened to her clarion call agreed with her. They had to call the political leadership in the state to order. It was decided there and then that if the hostile acts of disrespect to Ijesa and their symbol of unity was not stopped, if politics would not be played within the parameters of decency and tolerance, then all the Ijesa in the party would quit the party en masse.

But it did not have to get to that point. The party leadership at the state level hearkened to their complaints. A much-needed restraint was observed. A modicum of peace was brought back to Ijesaland. While politics continued, it was imbued with some decency, decorum and etiquette from all sides. We could still belong to different parties. But we could do so without destroying ourselves. We could do so without destroying the symbol of our oneness, of our unity as Ijesa. We could do so without undue bitterness. We could do so by remembering that we all are Ijesa, first and foremost, before any political pigmentation. We could do so by reminding ourselves that we are all children of the same parents.

She could easily have remained cowed. She could easily have been petrified, she could easily have remained anonymous to protect herself and preserve her position as the Deputy Governor of the State. She could easily have turned the other eye and pretended not to see. She could have allowed the insults to continue to be hauled at the Owa Obokun and the Ijesa by implication. She could easily have hidden away behind the appurtenances of power guaranteed by her position. But she chose not to be a coward. Erelu Olusola ldowu, Omo a sukun jeun ‘oro lbodi dun, found it difficult to forget the child of whom she was and still is. She decided to put everything on the line. Her office, her name, her political career, her comfort. Everything could go up in flames if she failed. But she cared more about her people than all those things. She showed the courage of Yeye lagagba (1588-1590) the first woman Owa Obokun Adimula of ljesa land. She showed the bravery of Yeye gunrogbo (1590 -1600) who succeeded Yeye lagagba in the same position. Olusola, Omo Eki ko k’Obinrin rogbodomo nu; k’Obinrin rogbodo baa nu, Obinrin pelenge apoira chose to be the Moremi of Ijesaland, ready to make herself a sacrificial lamb for the protection of the dignity of Ijesa land.

Like Queen Hangbe of Dahomey (1716-1718) who created one of the fiercest women infantry soldiers in history, known as the Mino or Minon which means “our mothers” or ahosi meaning “king’s wives” in Fon Language, Erelu Olusola Obada has always been an amazing Lady. Yes, a Lady, not a woman. There is a gulf between being a woman and a Lady. Unto every female, it is given to be a woman. But not unto every woman is it given to become a Lady. Unto very many is given such an invaluable opportunity to become a Lady, but only very few have the ability, yes, the ability akin to that of the phoenix in the Greek mythology, to rise from the ashes to scale the arduous hurdle to purl in ladyship. As a Lady, Erelu Obada is an exemplar of sophistication, education, intelligence and urbaneness. She personifies a combination of shrewdness, calmness and clairvoyance. She epitomizes beauty, boldness and brilliance. She is an apotheosis of gut, gallantry and geniality. Her fortitude fosters her familial nature. Accommodating. Tolerating. Patient. Persevering. She is tenaciously tough, relentlessly fierce and firm but very friendly and understanding. Usually very regal and motherly, to many of her admirers, she is very nurturing, tending, caring and considerate.

A Lady of honor, Erelu Obada’s word is her bond. She is not in any way flippant. Frivolity is an anathema. She despises superficiality. Her depth and seriousness are permeated with a vivacity that vitalizes. Highly organized and methodical. She is a believer in destiny, who never leaves anything to chance. Her zealotry in the concept of destiny is that, if and when you are on the right track, you have to keep moving, moving with determination and purposeful focus that is inebriated with briskness and swiftness. She is reliable and dependable. This explains her huge following within and outside her political party despite being a disciplinarian. A disciplined leader herself, she is a pragmatic connoisseur of dogmas. Many people have counted on her without any iota of regret. Many have put their faith in her without being disappointed. Her promises are like cashier cheques. They never bounce. This is an attribute which many politicians wished they had, but it is second nature to her. To her followers, Erelu Obada is like Imo Rock of Ilesa – solid, sturdy, staunch and stout.

Born in Ibodi, as Olusola Idowu Agbeja into the Agbejanlabofa Family, Agbejanlabofa, Obi Ijoka, keebanii sire oja fifun, Omo Otapete, Omo Otagogoro, o ko Ajimoko l ‘ori Otapete, o ko Owa l ‘ori Otagogoro, lari sunun selele yina re; she completed her primary education at UMC Demonstration School, Ibadan and attended Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State for her secondary education. She attended Watford College of Technology, Watford, United Kingdom and the University of Buckingham, Buckingham, also in the United Kingdom where she studied Law before she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986. Her career started with the Nigeria Airways as an Advertising Officer from where she proceeded to work as the Managing Partner in the law firm of Olusola Agbeja & Co. In 1990, she established Iron Gate Finance and Trust Company Limited, a privately owned finance and investment company where she served as the Managing Director.

In 1996, she became the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of Materials Management Services Limited and later rose to become the company’s Managing Director.

She was the Deputy Governor of Osun State from 2003 to 2010, Director of

Protocol to President Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011 and later that year became the Minister of State for Defence and eventually ended up as de facto Minister till 2013. She was appointed as an Elder Statesman to the 2014 National Conference, and in September of that year President Jonathan conferred on her the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) national award. After serving as a Director in the Presidential ReElection Campaign Organisation of President Goodluck Jonathan, she was appointed as a pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the Federal University, Dustin-Ma in Katsina State. Earlier she had received an Honoris Causa Degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.

Erelu Olusola Obada is a patriot of Ijesa land. She is proud of being Ijesa.

It means a great deal to her. She would do anything to protect anything Ijesa. She would do anything to promote anything Ijesa. The Emma Harte of Ijesa land, the indefatigable character in Barbara Taylor Bradford’s “A Woman of Substance” – Adventurous, determined, daring, audacious, valiant and gallant – yes, she could never be deterred by danger or pain. As she celebrates her 72nd year on mother earth, we should all rejoice with her and toast this gift to Ijesa land.

We wish her an incredibly happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.

• Omirin, a former RMAFC Federal Commissioner, is a member of the House of representatives

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