From dumpsite to mini-stadium

The Alowolodu and the Agunloyes’ are the two ruling houses in Oyo town and are descendants of the first Alaafin. In recent times, some members of the Agunloye however think that their tradition is about to be desecrated based on an upcoming project to be sited on the location of the Aremo Quarters and are asking that the Alaafin intervenes to retain tradition and history. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

In Yoruba history, especially in the narrative of the acclaimed historian of the Yoruba race, Rev. Samuel Johnson, the first official act of the first Alaafin after his coronation was to create an Aremo and a princess royal. The Aremo simply denotes the heir apparent and it is the title of the Crown Prince of Oyo.

And since time immemorial, the institution of the Aremo of Oyo has remained a distinct and very important chieftaincy institution; the Aremo is the heir apparent being the first male child of the Alaafin of Oyo. The importance of the Aremo’s position is further symbolized in the location of his official residence; it is not only adjacent to the palace of the Alaafin but all quarters inside the Alaafin’s palace are replicated in a miniature form in the official residence of the Aremo

Indeed, the position of the Aremo is not subject to change based on the whims and caprice of anyone as it is not only entrenched in the tradition of Oyo town but is also recognized by the laws of Oyo state with specific provisions in Chiefs Law Cap 28 Laws of Oyo state.

Indeed, it has been so for long and just as the kings’ change over time, same way the Aremo changes and the rights of the Aremo and his office cannot be usurped by any ruling house as established by law and tradition. During Alaafin Atiba’s reign, the Aremo was Adelu while during Adelu’s reign as Alaafin, the Aremo was Lawani Agogoja.

During the reign of Alaafin Adeyemi I, the Aremo was Adelakun who was the father of Alaafin Adeyemi II and it continued like that till date with the present Aremo in the person of Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi. So while the kingship rotates between the two ruling houses in Oyo; the Alowolodu and the Agunloye Ruling Houses, the Aremo also rotates based on who is ruling at a particular time and the Aremo at that time is in charge of the revered Aremo quarters.

This arrangement that had existed for ages may be the reason why the Agunloye Ruling House are feeling uncomfortable with the news that the member representing Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi who is a prince of the Alowolodu Ruling House of Oyo had concluded plans to convert the Aremo Quarters to a mini-stadium.

Hon. Adeyemi had announced in February during an empowerment programme he organized that he had concluded plans to convert the Aremo of Oyo quarters to a mini-stadium that will be named the Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi III Arcade. He had added that the sum of seventy five million naira had been approved for the project.

However, the Agunloye Ruling House thinks this development is beyond the mandate given to Hon. Adeyemi by the people of his constituency as they believe that he may be oblivious to the historical significance of the Aremo quarters which indicates that the quarters belongs to all ruling houses. It is their belief that land for such a project which they described as laudable should be found elsewhere and not on a historical site that had belongs to so many people.

The head of the Ladigbolu family, Prince Lasisi Ladigbolu told Nigerian Tribune that the two ruling houses belong to the same family and can therefore have no dissention among them, adding that the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, their father is an historian and knows the significance of the Aremo quarters.

He explained that indeed, the quarters may be in a derelict condition but expressed the belief that it could be renovated and its lost glory restored. According to him, it is true that the quarters was in a terrible situation before and was cleaned by Hon. Adeyemi.

“As the chairman of the local government, he had done a lot for that place.  At a point, it was filled with refuse because the market people used to dump waste there and it was an eyesore but he cleared it; he packed the rubbles and made the place clean for use for anyone that has events; religious, political or socials. We have all used the space for one thing or the other. This we appreciate and we have no issue with that but we do not want ant development that will tamper with the historical relevance and tradition of that place, it is part of our heritage and a stadium will desecrate that tradition,” the family head explained.

Prince Moshood Ladigbolu also stated that there is no crisis and they do not want to cause trouble for anyone especially among families because the two ruling are peaceful and have been living as family since time immemorial, adding that the matter is a family issue that would not be allowed to cause unnecessary tension.

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He appealed to the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as their father to protect the cultural institution as it is a collective heritage of both ruling houses and should be maintained, asking that he should help stop the perversion of history.

In his reaction, Hon Adeyemi however found it funny that some people want to make an issue out of something aimed at bringing development to the town and is of benefit to every resident. He wondered why the Agunloye family suddenly felt developing the site a sacrilege when they had shown no concern when their heritage was used as a dumpsite for over five decades.

He further stated that his decision to develop the site was not taken unilaterally as the elders of both ruling houses gave him the approval, asking why some people suddenly stood up to politicize the matter.

“The Alaafin of Oyo and Arch Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, my uncle and elder of the Agunloye Ruling House approved the location for the arcade which for over 55 years had been used as a dump site before I cleared it for use. Did anybody associate with it when it was an eyesore? They should not allow people to use them to play politics. They did not find it necessary to clear it when it was being used as a dumpsite nor did they find it sacrilegious that their heritage was being used as a dumpsite for community waste and when it was cleared for people to use, nobody raised any objection.

“The Agunloye family was comfortable with that situation, now that we want to put permanent structure so that people do not need to bring canopies or chairs for their events, there is suddenly complains. What we are planning to do is still to use the site for what it is being used for now, the only difference is that we want to make it befitting for its status,

“I find it funny that people that didn’t fight when their heritage was turned to a waste ground now suddenly arose when it is to be given a facelift. Some members of the family are being used by politicians to cause unnecessary issues. The last Aremo to use that quarters was Aremo Adebayo Adeyemi before it was abandoned to its fate and it became a waste ground, no one was concerned until I decided that it shouldn’t be like that,” Prince Adeyemi stated.

He concluded that what will be put on ground is in no way a desecration of tradition but a consolidation that will be useful to future generations, citing the example of the site for the popular Ojude Oba festival. He added that there is no reason for development to be seen as sacrilegious as no prince will tamper with his heritage.

Both parties are however in agreement that the issue is a family matter that should not be allowed to degenerate as it is against the family tradition to truncate peace. And as they look forward to resolving the issues, many await to see where the matter will end.