State CID, Panti is a blessing to my domain —Oba Adeniyi

Going by your profile, especially your upscale life in the US, you were expected to have lost touch with Yoruba culture. But reverse is the case. What is responsible for this?

There is nothing more than my belief in preserving the value of our culture. My exposure to different cultures outside Nigeria has taught me that we are blessed with one of the best cultures which is respected by other people. More of this was seen during our trip to Brazil last year with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. One thing which I do which many have still not understood is my return to the way of commemorating anniversaries according to how it was done in the days of our forefathers. I celebrated my third year coronation anniversary. I will also celebrate the fifth year; then seven, 14 and 21. That is how Yoruba celebrate anniversary.

In other words, there is no celebration in November this year when you will clock four years.

Of course, I am going to mark it but celebration is 2020.

You were outside the country in August last year during Isese Day. How did you feel missing that important cultural day?

What took me out of the town should be considered first to know how exactly I felt. I must tell you, in all honesty, that I had my mind here. I was in London for the purpose of my medical check. And health is wealth. The festival was well conducted. When I returned, I still hosted people.

What is the update on your palace under construction?

The update is that we have reached advanced stage of construction. What is left basically now is the interior works, which, you would agree with me, are also a major work. But our target for completion is March or April.

How are you going to commission it?

Of course, it is going to be done openly; it is going to involve other activities like giving chieftaincy titles and other events.

What is the cost of not completing the palace?

There is no cost other than we are working round the clock to ensure it is completed as we have projected. And I have no doubt on my mind on the deadline.

Some traditional rulers in Lagos State, for instance, visited Ile-Ife to reconnect with their root. How do you see this development?

Once Yoruba History says we are all from Ile-Ife, there is nothing about such visit unless you smell politics or what looks like politics in the visit. Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yoruba race, meaning we are all entitled to go there. I can go there too any time I feel like visiting my root. As a matter of fact, our family compound is known as Ilare Quarters, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi knows. What I am saying is that there is no big deal in visiting Ile-Ife inasmuch as it is the root of all of us. Last year, the Ooni travelled to Brazil, and I was part of his entourage. The Ajero of Ijero delivered the message that the Ooni wanted me to be on that trip. I spoke with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu about it, and he offered prayer.

•  Ooni at 44: You’re a blessing to Yoruba race — Omisore 

You have the famous state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in your domain. What impact does this police unit have on security of your town?

Apart from the state CID at Panti Street, there are other two Divisional Headquarters at Adekunle and Sabo. What this presence means is security consciousness of the people. My domain can be rightly called a micro Nigeria, in terms of assemblage of cross section of ethnic groups from different parts of the country. One of the side effects of this is pressure on security. But I can say that the presence of the police units is serving deterrence purpose. A mention of ‘Panti’ alone would make a potential trouble maker to quickly think twice knowing the proximity of the state CID to him. I think, it is serving a good purpose.

You told me how you came to Nigeria purposely to look after your mother. How was your relationship with her during your adolescence age?

Your question is like you are asking me to write a big book. There is no way to capture my relationship with my mother as being cordial, very cordial. Let me just give you an instance to back my claim. When I was in elementary school, there was none of my teachers who did not know my mother or whom my mother did not know. She was always coming to the school during break time to see me. She would bring along fruits like pine apple. So there was no way I would misbehave in school without her knowing through my teachers. The relationship was such cordial, and we took it till I became adult.

Did that relationship have any impact in your later years as adult?

That relationship became part of my life such that when I was in the US, I was always in the schools of my children to the extent that their teachers also knew me very well. There is something that may interest you in this. One of my children’s teachers was always looking forward to receive my note. She confessed that she loved my handwriting. I was always in the school. In fact, at a point, I volunteered to help them out in their Information Technology issue. I was enjoying every bit of it as a father who must show love to the growing of his children. And I think my children also appreciated it and showed it to me too.

What advice do you have for parents who probably don’t live up to that standard expectation?

I always tell them that they are the role model to their children before any other person. But in a situation that father returns home late and mother is also busy in the market, the children will suffer normal parental care. What happens in this circumstance is that the poor children become vulnerable and get attracted to peer influence, which may not be of their interest. A lot of things are wrong with the way some parents handle matters concerning their children. If things are right with parental care, there won’t be many youths being used as political thugs. Their parents would have trained them to know the evil in being a thug for parents of other children. The situation in the country now means that if you have the resources to have six children, have four to be able to take a good care of them. I don’t compromise welfare of the innocent children we bring to the world.

Then you must be worried by the state of unemployment and its effect on the youth?

I am worried that our youths are not gainfully employed. This, on its own, is a security risk to the society. Honestly, I sympathise with those youths who are chasing just few jobs. It is no more news that many are produced by many universities we have on yearly basis. The question is: ‘Where are the works for them?’ We have to accept the fact that economic recession is a global thing, meaning that everyone is affected. But I have made it clear at different fora that the situation is not the end of the world. Our youths should even use it as opportunity to think out of the box to do something better for themselves. For instance, there is a form which I supervise on vocational training. It is a measure to teach our youths different vocations to do something elese for themselves instead of waiting for the employment that is not there.