My husband saw me on the stool before I was chosen —Irun-Akoko Regent

Three months after her father, the late Onirun of Irun-Akoko Kingdom, Ondo State, Oba Williams Adewusi (Akanleokuta III) transited in 2011, her daughter, Mrs Oluremi Obideyi was named the regent as custom required but she initially fled to avoid the responsibility. After five years of heeding the call of her people, she shares her experience with TUNDE BUSARI in an interview.

How did you emerge as the regent, are you the only daughter of your late father?

I am not the only daughter. It just happened that I was destined to be the one.

How many are you?

I believe you know that in Yorubaland, we don’t count the number of children; it is not part of our culture. I am sorry that this tradition will be a constraint to giving you a figure. But my father was blessed with children.

Did it occur to you as a child that one day you would become the regent?

How would I have thought of that as a kid? Of course, I knew regency is our custom and tradition but it never occurred to me that I would be the one.

Does that mean there was no premonition to that effect?

I think there was prophesy by a pastor. I was in the palace with my late father when the pastor came and talked about it. He specifically said that he saw a crown on my head. I did not take him serious and my father too did not talk about it with me.

Why as a Christian did you refuse to give the pastor’s prophesy a thought?

To be honest with you, I should take it serious but I just did not consider it because I was not the only daughter my father had. I said to myself; ‘Why would it be me?’ But as a Christian the will of God will always come to pass. It is not a matter of giving it a thought or ignoring it. It shall manifest. That is how I can describe the whole thing when in the end I became the regent. I think my husband too saw it and said he saw me on the vacant stool. That was three months before the announcement of the transition of Kabiyesi.

Can you tell me what happened when you received the news that you were the choice to the throne?

To say the least is to say the news was shocking. It was so shocking that I had to flee to Afin, another town.

Why did you have to run when you knew it was your right like your other siblings?

I cannot just say how it happened. The news was sudden and unexpected.

How did you return home?

My family members later found out my location. They came and led me back to Irun.

What were you doing before you were chosen?

I was a civil servant; a nurse at the Ondo East Local government, Bolorunduro in Ondo town. I was resident in Ondo with my husband and children.

How did you build your career?

I attended the School of Health Technology, Daura, Katsina State. I later enrolled at the Open University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. I got my first job at Akoko North-West Local Government, Oke Agbe in March 1995.

What attracted you to nursing?

Nursing is life. It is a profession I cherished right from childhood. Honestly I could not have done something else. And I must also clarify that not everybody can do nursing because it requires genuine passion to care for others. It was my passion to take care of others that made the profession attractive to me and to God is the glory today. I am happy I am doing my best in the profession.

How do you balance your role as a regent, wife and mother to your children?

I must say that I am used to it now after five good years. A nurse is trained to be organized and I am not an exemption. I can categorically say that my profession is of huge assistance in that regard. I am okay in coping with the situation. My husband has always been supportive from day one. He stands as expected of a responsible husband who also understands and appreciates culture.

How did your children feel, especially when they first saw you in the full regalia of a king?

Of course, it looked strange to them but they grew to understand that it is our culture, their culture. They are okay. They visit me here regularly in the company with their father. They are also used to my absence from home.

What are the challenges?

I want to answer this question this way. I don’t consider my experience as challenges. They are experience based on the position I am holding. Going into details of the experiences is another thing. But I think I should restrict myself from revealing everything on the pages of newspaper. Don’t forget that we are talking of our culture here. Our culture does not allow an elderly person to say all he or she sees or hears or knows. The best he or she must do is to listen more than talk. Yoruba culture is very rich in wisdom. I want you to accept that wisdom as my answer to your question.

For the record, just tell us at least one of those experiences

I have told you how I fled to another town when the news of my selection came to town. I have told you how my family traced me and led me back home. I have also told you how I balance my roles. I don’t think there is something important I have not told you. So, let us move on.

Hasn’t there been something that scared you on the throne?

I know where you are going but I don’t think I should go into details of such experience.

Your people may be interested to know your pains and sacrifices to appreciate you better?

If you insist, I think the incident in which I was woken from sleep by a deafening noise. I was scheduled to travel down to see my family in Ondo. I had told my driver to give me three hours to rest before we travel. But the disturbing noise just came and it disrupted my plan. But everything was put under control because I have strong faith in Jesus Christ whom I serve.

How convenient has it been to adhere to your faith in the face of traditional roles?

I am very happy to tell you that my God has never failed me since I came here. I even have no reason not to serve my God because He is a living God. I am happy to also inform you that my father came to the throne in 1953 and passed on in 2011. He spent many years on the throne serving God. Whatever challenges that come, my God is always available to protect me. So, there is no problem in performing the roles effectively. I must also express my appreciation to the chiefs who stand by me day and night to ensure the last five years are eventful.

For how long will you be here?

The position of regency terminates in the palace as soon as an Oba is installed. But the regent holds the title till death. What I am saying is that when a new king comes in, the regent exits the palace never to see eye to eye with the new Oba. When the new Oba enters the palace through the entrance door, the regent leaves through the exit door.

How will it be easy for the king and regent to avoid each other forever?

It is easy now that we are living in different locations. It was not so in the olden days when both lived in the same town.

Have you a message for your subjects and government?

I want my people to continue our peaceful life. We cannot afford to sacrifice our unity. We are one and nothing should be allowed to separate us. I am happy that we are blessed with responsible sons and daughters. Let us all work together to make Irun greater. Government should come and engage our youths. We are also blessed with strong and hardworking youths who are waiting for available jobs to develop themselves. We have land. Government should come and explore these natural resources to make our youths better citizens.