We have lost so much as a result of neglect —Oba Aluko

The Oloni of Eti-Oni Asalu, Oba Rasaki Aluko, in this interview by KEHINDE OYETIMI, speaks on the difficulties faced by the community as regards cocoa production.

 

What is the history of Eti-Oni?

Our forefathers used to be at Ife. Afterwards, they moved to Benin. Then they moved to Idanre and moved to Ipetu-Ijesha. When we settled at Ipetu-Ijesha, each chief settled in various communities. One of my grandfathers, who was a hunter, was the one who settled here. I became Oba of this community in 1981 and had my coronation in 2009.

 

Why did your coronation take so long?

There were some challenges with regards to allowing the community to stand on its own. However, when God said it was time, we had the coronation.

 

What are some challenges you have faced as an Oba since 1981?

If I start to mention them, it will take a whole day. There have been many challenges. I built a school, maternity centre for the community. At the time, Bola Ige said if we could build the maternity centre, he would give us people who would work there as staff and so, we built the health centre. It was a few years ago that the local government built a new maternity centre. It was in 2014 that a car was able to enter this town. Before then, it was motorcycles we used to transport ourselves in and out of the town. When it rains, then, almost the entire community would be flooded and even the media who came to observe the situation would be cut off from us. They would only wave to us from the other side of the community. It is the other road that leads to Ilesa that we sometimes took and that is like another journey to get to Ipetu-Ijesha. This was the situation for many years. Even now, there are still many people who have refused to come here with their cars.

 

How did the town get its name?

The town got its name from the river, Oni. The river has been here since the beginning of time. The river flows through Ilesa, Kwara, Ondo, and other places.

 

Do you offer sacrifices to the river?

We offer sacrifices to the river as our fathers did. We don’t play with the river. We are looking at making the festival of the river a big event in which we will invite people from all over the world.

 

How do you want government to develop the community?

Although the present administration is trying and it has expressed interest in seeing the state develop, we appeal to government to help us complete the road so that we can improve in our businesses. We are major producers of cocoa, plantain, banana, yams, palm oil. However, cocoa is what we produce more. There are people from all over Nigeria who come here to cultivate cocoa. After the cocoa is harvested and dried, the cocoa is transported through the longer route through Ilesa. There are so many cocoa plantations here, even extending to the farmlands at the hill tops. It is our number one major farm produce. However, the proceeds from the business, people would prefer to use such to establish themselves outside the community. We have lost so much as a result of neglect. Our farm produce get destroyed because of many challenges.

 

Does the worship of the river not clash with other religions which have their presence here?

I practice the three religions. I am an Alhaji. On the 9th of December, I will be at the RCCG camp for the programme. On January 1, we celebrate the new year in church together. When it’s time for the festival of the Oni river, I also participate actively. There is no clash at all. We eat together. However, the other religions don’t participate during the festival. We live in peace and harmony.