The town, the crown and the man at the centre

A review of Dr Wale Okediran’s book, Ten Years in the Service of His People: Oba AbdulGaniy Adekunle Salau Ajinese 1 by
Gbemisola Remi Adeoti.

I N official and informal circles, Oba Abdul Ganiy Adekunle Salau is called Ajinese, the first. And truly, many first things have been recorded in Iseyin land within the short period of ten years that he was installed as the 29th Aseyin of Iseyin.  The first township road in Oke-Ogun to be dualised is in Iseyin.  His reign opened up the economy of the town with increase in the number of financial institutions. Iseyin today occupies a significant place in the development of literature and other creative arts in Africa with the establishment of Ebedi International Writer’s Residency.  In a manner that was never witnessed before his ascension of the throne, the town is expanding in size and population, the latter co-existing; living together in peace and harmony.  With tolerance, the Oba is able to aggregate diverse political, social, cultural and religions interests.

Like other new developments in the last decade, therefore, the writing of this book – Ten years in the Service of His People… by Dr. Wale Okediran and its publication by Ebedi International Writers’ Residency founded by Okediran, is another first recorded by the town and its monarch.  I am not aware of the publication of a book of this import in celebration of any past monarch in the area before now.  The book is, therefore, a thoughtful project embarked upon by Okediran, which, in his own words, serves as “both a celebration and a primer to ten years glorious rule by a much revered and celebrated royal father” (p viii).

Okediran, a physician, politician, creative writer and biographer, is a professional soul mate of Oba Abdul Ganiy Adekunle Salau.    The writer (Okediran) and the subject (Aseyin) are united in their pursuit of health and well being of man and nature. While the former sees to the well-being of humans, the other seeks the health of other components of the earth, animals, without which the existence of humans is very much uncertain and perilous.

Divided into four parts with fourteen chapters, the book has as its central focus, the documentation of a decade of Oba Abdul Ganiy Salau’s reign with clear attention paid to his emergence as the choice of king markers among 21 Princes who vied for the throne. It also captures the achievements recorded by him and the town since his ascension and in a manner that was never witnessed before his ascension of the throne, the town is expanding in size and population. As evident in the book, the monarch is able to aggregate diverse political, socio-religious and cultural interests while he is always concerned with the challenges of modernity and development facing the town.

The above issues are put in clearer perspectives in the third chapter entitled “what the people say”.  The chapter presents the monarch in the court of people’s opinion. The judges are of different socio-cultural, professional, religious and ethnic background.  But they are much in agreement in their opinions of the monarch as a dynamic leader who loves the town and its people.  He is tolerant and accommodating.  He rises above partisan politics to attract development to his town, regardless of whichever party controls the government at various levels – central, regional or local.  He is a friend of the youth and a confidant of the old.  He preaches and practices religious tolerance as he accords all religions their respect. In another regard, the Monarchis shown as a courageous advocate of the interests of Oke-Ogun people which are constantly being assaulted and undermined by some political forces that are still glued to the ancient past. Also highlighted in this Section are the problems being faced at personal and communal levels as well as Aseyin’s vision and plans for the future of Iseyin community.

Expectedly, the comments of people drawn from traditional chiefs to community leaders, politicians, artisans, students, youths and non-indigenes  comprising Ibibio, Igbo, Ghanaians, and Yoruba from other  towns are frank, downright and encompassing in presenting the portrait of the monarch and the score-card of his reign.  All of the people interviewed attest to hisachievements in a short period of ten years.  He is compared in achievements with the late Oba Moshood Osuolale Adeyeri II.  Among the people interviewed   are Chief Oyegbemile Adelodun, the Basorun of Iseyin, who is the second in command to the Aseyin, Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, Chief Olufunmilayo Ogboye, Chief Mushood Adeyemi – the Ikolaba of Iseyin and Hon. Saheed Yusuf Alaran  among others.

One fascinating thing about the book is that the author provides sufficient background for the discourse of Iseyin through a revealing excursion into the origin of Iseyin town as encapsulated in myth, legend and history – ancient, colonial and postcolonial.  Thus, the reader has an enriched knowledge, not only about the birth, educational background and career progress of the Oba as a veterinary doctor before he was crowned, but also about the beginning of the town in a series of awe-inspiring events and legendary tales around Ebedi, the founder of the town, Ogbolu, the first Monarch, Aaba, Oluwo and so on.

The Foreward, written by Dele Layiwola, a Professor of Performance Studies, of the  Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, clears the path for the overall  attempt to draw out a plausible strand of Iseyin’s history. This is given a more detailed attention in the first part, entitled “Historical Perspectives”.  The content however, is not strictly historical.  A good deal of what is regarded as legend and history is steeped in myth.

It is, however, worthy of note that Okediran brings his experience to bear as a creative writer on the historical narratives, making events and situations around the heroes – Ebedi Ogbolu and Aaba so real and credible as he invests mysterious characters and setting with astonishing verisimilitude.

• Professor Adeoti is of the English Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.