The Olu Itori, Egbaland, Oba AbduFatai Akamo, is the chairman, Progressive Obas Forum of Ogun Central. Before he ascended to the throne of his forefathers on February 26, 2003, he was chief executive officer of a travel agency in Lagos. In this interview by TUNDE BUSARI, the traditional ruler describes his reign as a mixture of pain and pleasure.
As a young boy, did it occur to you that you would one day become the Olu Itori?
The answer is ‘no’, and that is the truth. Other Obas may say they dreamt of seeing themselves on the throne with beaded crown on their heads. Others may say their parents had the dream. In my case, I had no inkling of it.
Does that suggest you were not interested?
Which interest are you talking about when, in the truth sense of it, I was engrossed in how to build myself to become a successful man in life? My energy was concentrated on my focus on how to run the race of life and make it to a safe destination.
What can you say about the race?
There is nothing more to say about the result of the race than praising God for answering my prayer by blessing my little efforts during that period of uncertainty. It was a period of uncertainty in the sense that I was not too sure of what laid ahead even though my eyes were fixed on success. But I must be an ingrate if I say the road was not rough. It was but I thank God for all he has done, resulting in my being the Olu Itori for 14 years and six months. It is only God that could make such possible despite the rigour of life which I passed through.
Your selection must have been dogged with some undercurrents which you might want to share with me. Can you share your experience on the road to the palace?
There is no need to return to flog a dead horse. You are talking of almost 15 years now. What Itori has transformed to in almost 15 years should concern you more than my experience. As a son of Yoruba, I want to believe you understand the difference between selection process and election process, in terms of what and who are involved. This should summarise my experience.
I want you to be specific on the moment your name was announced as the new Olu Itori.
It may interest you that I was abroad. I think I was in Denmark when my wife called and told me on the phone that she had been ‘kidnapped’ to Ikoyi by uncle. Mind you, I used kidnap in loose sense. She said they were looking for me. Then I returned home, and the rest, they say, is history.
How did you take off as the Olu of Itori?
I like this question. The Itori I met on ground was not what we have today. Getting to this state is not a bed of roses. It was a journey which God helped me to take with the support of those who believed and still believe in me. I am talking of people like Nathaniel Sodipo, Babatunde Salawu, former Ogun State Accountant General, Ayodeji Bello popularly known as Cowrie and others. To God is the glory. You are talking of Itori of less than 100 people. You are talking of Itori which was not attractive to outsiders. But as I said, to God be the glory. God says whoever he wants he chooses, the one he chooses he blesses. I called on him, asking for what I wanted for the town. Happily, he answered my prayers.
Can you explain further?
I realized that there was no love among the people when I came to the throne. I found that unacceptable and called on God to send love to my people because in the absence of love, there is no peace, there is no progress, there is no development. But I can tell you with every sense of appreciation that the Itori people are peace-loving.
Can one link this to the Ode Oba festival which you hold annually and an edition which held on August 26?
You have got it right. Ode Oba is our own way of demonstrating to the world that Itori people love one another. Without love, you cannot stage such an event which drew many important personalities from different places beyond Lagos and Ogun State. A group of about 20 youths one day came to my palace and said ‘Kabiyesi, we are here to register our support for you.’ That was the defining moment that translated to what we call Ode Oba. I can assure you that this convergence of Itori sons and daughters has flagged off a bright future for this town.
In specific terms, what are the transformations you earlier talked about?
I have a higher institution now, an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) polytechnic of which I am appealing to government to upgrade to university. As I speak, 10 HND (Higher National Diploma) Courses have been approved for the school. We have the land and all other thing required to site a university. We have some hospitality business concerns which are doing well in their own respect. There is Larfarge Cement; there is Dolphin Steel. By the time the new railway to Ibadan is completed, Itori will be new terminus. You can just imagine the human traffic that will bring to the town. I am very positive that we have started a great journey, which will, God wiling end well. I am also appealing to government on the new cement plant which Dangote is bringing down here. The plan, I was made to understand, will the biggest in Africa.
You mentioned earlier that you passed through some rough roads. Can you explain better?
Some rough roads I said mean that I paid my dues to reach here. I was running a travel agency in Lagos and doing my best in the business. As I said I just have to give glory to God for all he has done. I had what can be called a breakthrough in the business shortly before the Atlanta 96 Olympics when I did ticket for about 5,000 Nigerian contingents to the world sports festival. It was an experience I will continue to relish because it turned things around for me and my business. I have to single out my wife as pillar of support. She was always with me doing one thing or the other for me. She was an energetic woman with sound mind, which complemented my own efforts. There is no doubting the fact that I am a goal-getter. I had a good relationship, especially with Nigerian Supporters Club under the leadership of Dr Rafiu Ladipo. My wife was always with me when I hang out with these very lively people. This helped me in no small measure in my business.
As one who has a rich network of friends and business associates, you must be missing your life before you entered the palace. Aren’t you?
It depends on how you look at it. As for me, I am here by divine directive. It was God who brought me to the throne and supported me till date. Because of this, I should not say I am missing anything. Everything, life here and life outside there belong to God. My friends and business associates also know whom I was and whom I am now. Naturally, the throne must take certain things away from Obas. And in life too, when one realizes he has passed certain stage of life, one needs to do away with certain ways of life.
How do you administer your town?
Only God directs how an Oba directs his town because to God belongs the town and the people and the Oba himself. You should understand what I really mean. When I faced some challenges in the past, it was the same God that faced the challenges and resolved them. I have come to a stage that I don’t think I can do anything without the consent and approval of God because I am nothing before him. You could have asked about what guides me on the throne. And I would have answered that only God, who installed me in the first place, is my guardian.
and then