Traditional rulers are expected to promote government policies —Oba Adigun

Oba Adeoye Gbenga Adigun, JP, the Aare of Ofiki land has been a peace and conflict expert and an educationist before ascending the throne of his forefathers. In this interview by YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, he speaks on the peculiarity of his community, expectations, challenges and vision among other issues.

 

What was your growing up like?

I was born about four decades ago to the Edu ruling house of Aare of Ofiki by Late Prince Oyetunji Joshua Adeoye Akanno and Princess Adeoye Rahmat who is a Batonu, an indigene of Taberu in Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara North Federal Constituency of Kwara state by tribe. My father was a farmer and an independent petroleum products marketer and my mother also a trader and a farmer. Just like that of any other person, just that though I came from a royal family; I had my education from primary, secondary to tertiary institution in Kwara state where I bagged National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Biology/Chemistry at the Kwara State College of Education Ilorin. After this, I acquired a Bachelor of Education in Human Kinetics & Health Education from the University of Ibadan and a Masters degree from the then Center for Peace and Conflict studies now known as the Institute of Peace and Strategic studies, University of Ibadan. I have traveled wide home and abroad and have many international friends. I am married to my beautiful Queen and blessed with children.

 

 What in your antecedents prepared you for the throne?

I have held several positions leading my colleagues both in secular and religious organizations; I was the President, Chemistry Education Students Association, Kwara State college of Education, Ilorin; President, Oke Ogun Indigenous Association, NNPC Ibadan; President, Humanitarian & Refugee Studies Students Association (CEPACS) University of Ibadan. Also, I was the pioneer Chief of Staff to the Atisbo Local Government chairman, a member of the Atisbo Local Government transition committee; I am at present the President of All Africa Baptist Youth fellowship comprising 34 countries and 67 convention/unions in Africa and Vice President Baptist World Alliance Youth department. I am a Rotarian and also a member of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, NNPC Ibadan Depot.

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How has the last one year on the throne been?

My experience in the last one year on the throne has been awesome. Though I was not expecting such a thing when it happened, I was in Sierra Leone for humanitarian mission during the mudslide in which some Baptist families were lost when I received the shocking news of the demise of my predecessor. My installation as King was barely five months after I was elected President of All Africa Baptist Youths. So combining the two has been an awesome experience but God has been wonderful. He has proved that He is the only one that gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He is in charge of all situations and I return all glory to Him. I enjoy great support from my chiefs, majority of the royal family members, the community and religious organizations including the traditional worshippers. I am loved and that’s just the reason for the peace in the community after my installation. I also enjoy the prayer support from my religious organization home and abroad. My executive team has been wonderful. Despite all tight schedules, I attend promptly all meetings of the traditional council and Baptist world Alliance both on the African continent and across the world.

 

What has changed since you became king?

Many things have changed since I was installed in January, this year. So many things; the health awareness in the community has increased, there is promotion of education especially when Professor Soji Aremu, the Director of the Distance Learning Centre of the University of Ibadan and his management team attended my first on the throne community general meeting to orientate parents and their wards. I inaugurated quarterly security meeting between the farmers, Fulani herdsmen and host communities. We have tried to draw the attention of government to the community needs on infrastructures and completion of abandoned projects.

Also, I have been promoting the community in the international community, calling investors to come and establish industries and farms in order to create employment opportunities in our community, there had been peaceful resolution of crises and counseling of youths while creating an atmosphere for promotion of unity among the three quarters that form the town. I have worked on deployment of strategies towards boundary protection thereby resolving current and future land boundary disputes and promoting religious harmony.

 

 What is peculiar about your community?

The peculiarity of my community is that it is a combination of three communities; the amalgamation of three set of people who came together to form a community right from the ancient Iluku city and staying together till date whilst maintaining their identities but are united. Of course, there must be grey areas, but by history and providence, Aare being a warlord with full royal blood from Elekole of Ikole Ekiti dynasty has been playing his unwavering leadership role. Hence, Ofiki shares peculiarity with Yoruba towns like Abeokuta in terms of administration; it is also a town blessed with arable lands, gemstones and big river named after the town.

 

What is your vision for the community?

My vision is to continue to work for the peace, unity and progress of my people. To ensure education of our children and youths are paramount to the parents; ensure government at all levels improve the infrastructure development of the town. To ensure improvement of socioeconomic development of the people through investors and entrepreneurial development programs, bring to the consciousness of my people, the need to move more close to God, ensure safety of life and properties of my people and to ensure more of health awareness programs to reduce infant mortality, child birth mortality and improved health facilities.

 

What would you say is the role of traditional rulers in today’s world?

The role of traditional rulers as the custodian of the culture is clearly defined. They are to protect the values and ethos of their race, to ensure protection of life and properties, to promote peace and unity of their subjects, to help the government at ensuring their subjects pay tax and are law abiding, promote government policies and rules. Traditional rulers are the mouthpiece of the people and are expected to lead an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

 

How developed is your community?

Ofiki as an ancient town has been deprived of infrastructural development such as good road network, water and stable power supply; what we have is epileptic electricity supply. Most government projects were abandoned, for example, abandoned 16km MDGs Agunrege- Owo- Ofiki to Irawo road project, abandoned Ofiki Referral General Hospital in Ajegunle area along Owo road, Ofiki- Ago Are 7km road, Ogun/River basin farm project, all abandoned. These abandoned projects draw the town back.

 

What are the challenges as a new king in such a community?

The challenges I face as a new king is to ensure I lobby appropriate government agencies and private companies to improve the infrastructure and socioeconomic development of my community and also to ensure the peace and unity of my community is not compromised.

 

What are your expectations from government?

My expectation from government is quite simple. I want the government and its agencies to please listen to our appeals and help us in the area of infrastructural development especially the roads projects that had been abandoned over time and more urgent, our recently collapsed bridge which is our link to other communities. I also want the government to help us with investors in the area of mining to improve the living standard of my people.

 

 Are there any natural resources in your community and what is your community known for?

We are blessed with arable lands, gemstones and forest suitable for agricultural investors and miners. The government and private investors are beckoned to come explore and establish industries. My community is a peaceful and accommodating one blessed with natural resources. It is the home of warlords and is protected from external aggression. My community has tourism centers like Obatala hill, Ancient Iluku hill which has a natural pond with healing power on the top of the hill and it never dries. Ofiki River is also a major part of Ofiki that empties her water in to the Ogun River. Budo Aare Ofiki mining site has the best gemstones in Nigeria. New sites have just been found at Onipako Ofiki too.