Igede Ekiti is a small town in Ekiti State. However, it holds the record of having the longest reigning traditional ruler in Nigeria. YOMI AYELESO writes about the celebration that followed the 90-year-old traditional ruler’s 64th anniversary on the throne.
THE ancient community of Igede-Ekiti, headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State last Saturday played host to people from all walks of lives, including the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji who visited the town to celebrate with a revered traditional ruler and the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, Oba James Adelusi, Aladesuru II, who marked his 90th birthday and more significantly his 64 years on the throne.
Regarded as the traditional ruler with most years on the stool in the country at the moment, the community rolled out the drums to celebrate the coronation and birthday anniversaries of their monarch whom they said during his reign, the community has witnessed tremendous progress and development in the last 64 years.
Oba Adelusi, from the Okiribiti Adeyibaka ruling house, the descendants of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1959 at the age of 26 as the 27th Onigede, after the demise of the former occupant, Oba Olubusi Atobatele of the Onaowuro dynasty of Igede-Ekiti.
Considering the milestone recorded by the traditional ruler and the years on the throne after the last two occupants of the stool spent just 18 years combined, the people of the community decided to mark the two anniversaries with pomp and pageantry for the lives and times of Oba Adelusi. A teacher, disciplinarian and devoted Christian of the Baptist convention, Oba Adelusi was upgraded to grade A+ by the state bureau of chieftaincy in September 2022.
The Balogun of Igede-Ekiti, Professor Anthony Kila congratulated the traditional ruler for the double celebrations, saying his reign has served as inspirations to him and the people in the society.
The renowned strategy and development expert said, “Oba Adelusi is a real father, man of peace and lover of knowledge, with over six decades of reign, the Onigede has seen a lot and has a lot to offer. His years on the throne are a personal and collective blessing and celebration that should be treasured and used as a source of education and inspiration for others in Ekiti and the rest of the world.”
The president of Igede Progressives Association (IPA), Dr Austin Ibikunle, described the traditional ruler as a peace-loving Oba who is interested in the progress and development of the community. Ibikunle explained that the community was using the celebrations to appreciate the commitment of Oba Adelusi and the grace God has given him to spend 64 years on the throne, making him the longest reigning monarch in the country.
Even though there are still more grounds to cover in terms of development in the community, the IPA president identified the contributions of the traditional ruler to the facelifts being experienced in business, education and other sectors with institutions and government presence across the community.
On his part, Governor Oyebanji, while congratulating Oba Adelusi on the feat achieved, said the traditional ruler over the years, demonstrated commitment and leadership qualities for the development of the community.
Oyebanji said, “Having spent 64 years on the throne, Oba Adelusi holds the record as the longest-serving Oba in Nigeria. The respected monarch exemplifies strong leadership and a deep commitment to the wellbeing of his community, our dear state and country. His enduring legacy of service, honour and integrity continue to inspire many, especially the younger generation.”
The visibly elated Onigede while thanking God for the grace to be alive after 64 years on the throne, commended sons and daughters of the community for their support and prayers since he ascended the throne.
Oba Adelusi explained that having become the traditional ruler at the age of 26 in 1959, the task of bringing people together and managing the peaceful co-existence among the dwellers looked daunting because of age, but he was able to overcome initial challenges to the admiration of the people.
On the secret of longevity on the throne, the traditional ruler said, “God has been the secret because if I should say it is by my powers, I would be lying. Longevity has no secret other than for one to wait on the Lord. One should take all fears and worries to the Lord.”
Recalling the immediate successes recorded by the community under him as traditional ruler, Oba Adelusi said, “It was immediately I ascended the throne that the then government of Western Region approved the construction of the road that passed through Igede-Ekiti from Aramoko to Ado-Ekiti.
“I met about five primary schools here and one secondary school, but we have over 20 Nursery and Primary Schools and seven secondary schools, and other private institutions. We were making contributions annually to assist those going to higher institutions. We lent money to them so that they would pay back later.”
He used the occasion to demand from government at all levels to establish a technical and vocational institutions to be established for the youths to learn relevant skills and vocations for economic development in the town.
Aside this, he pleaded with the federal and state governments to attend to the deplorable road networks especially those linking Igede to other communities in the state.
He said, “We already have a building for the specialised school and if this is done for us, our youths will have a place to go and learn vocations to improve their lives and the community. We need more road networks in the community because the majority of them are poor and dilapidated, thereby making it difficult for people across the country to visit us and see our potential. I am calling on President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to look into the state of our roads in Igede, especially the federal roads started over 20 years ago.”
On the tourism potential in the community, the traditional ruler said the government should dredge the Emerin river towards making it a tourist site like that of Osun River, “because ours is the source of the Osun River that people are visiting every now and then.”
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