Without indigenes’ support, there’s little traditional rulers can achieve —Owa Ooye Okemesi

SAM NWAOKO reports the colourful inauguration of a development project at the palace of the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi Afuntade I, by the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, where the traditional rulers expressed their near helplessness without their subjects’ support.

The well-arranged Alawe’s palace was filled by well-dressed guests, title holders and men and women from within and outside the community, who had turned out for the novel inauguration of a completed and furnished project at the palace premises. They had waited through the mellifluous music interlude for the arrival of their king for the official commencement of the business of the day.

And soon, the Alawe, the good-looking Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, made his regal appearance with his Olori, Abimbola, to a rousing reception at the palace arena. In their company was the chairman of the day’s occasion, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, a one-time chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers. Their arrival set he tone for the event and ignited some levels of nostalgia among the palace hands.

Shortly after their grand entry, other monarchs were ushered into the palace. They included the Arajaka of Igbara Odo, Oba Edward Jaiyeola; the Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Jacob Boluwade Adebiyi and the Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, who arrived with his Olori, Funlola Adejimi Adu. The Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumuni Adebayo Orisagbemi arrived shortly afterwards with his unique staff and dressing. Interestingly, they had joined the mother of the Alawe, Eyeoba Mary Ann Ajibade Alabi, at the royal dias, for the joyous gathering.

Also present and well represented on the occasion were traditional chiefs of the town, the Oloris (palace queens), the princes and princesses, market women, representatives of Ilawe Improvement Union (IIU), political leaders and sundry groups and associations in and outside the town.

The traditional rulers and all had turned out for the inauguration of a block of offices constructed, furnished and donated to the palace of the Alawe by the family of Elder Sam A. Adetayo, indigenes of the community who had responded to a call by Oba Adebanji Alabi for such projects in the palace and the community.

Speaking on the project, Oba Alabi noted with delight that the Adetayo family had responded with dutiful support to his monarchy by rising to the occasion of doing something to enhance the administration of their home community.

The monarch said Ilawe was ready for various kinds of developmental projects including institutions of higher learning and universities, and urged the indigenes of the community to create enabling environment for local and foreign investment.

Oba Alabi enthused: “I thank God that this unprecedented and unparalleled development is happening under my reign. I want to thank the family that donated this edifice. It was donated by the family of Elder S.A. Adetayo.

“It was built in two months, and it was properly and lavishly furnished in a taste that befits an Oba. All the children contributed, they levied themselves to build the house.

“Baba Adetayo was a good friend of my father’s, who used to come to my father when I was young. He was my lecturer at the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti where he taught me Sociology of Education. He was passionate about the poor and the less privileged.

“I want to appeal to my dear Ilawe people to let us rally round for the development of our community. Let us join hands together to make Ilawe great because it is when we are united that we can make Ilawe great.

“Our town is capable of hosting a number of projects, including a university. We should be ready to release our land for such projects whether private or government-owned.”

He noted with delight that the project was started in January 2018 and was completed, furnished and handed over by the Adetayo family in March, 2018.

Speaking in the rationale behind the donation of the elaborate, ultra-modern administrative block to the palace of the Alawe, Elder Sam Adetayo, who spoke on behalf of his family, noted that Oba Adebanji  Alabi, had done well to galvanise the people of Ilawe since he ascended the throne of his fathers in April 2012.

According to Elder Adetayo, Alawe Alabi, had done well to rally his subjects contribute to the growth and development of their hometown. He said in response to a call by the Alawe Alabi on his fifth coronation anniversary, the project was conceived by his children, led by Dr (Mrs) Oluwatosin Sekoni, based in the United States of America.

He said the children contributed various amounts to make the sum with which they executed the project, the construction of which he explained was to make administration easier for the traditional ruler.

According to Elder Adetayo, “In Kabiyesi’s address on his fifth coronation, it was mentioned that a modern and befitting event centre for the community had become very imperative.

“Mrs. Tosin Sekoni has acceded to to construct a modern event centre in Ilawe. This is still in the pipeline. But in the interim, she decided to build a comfortable, state-of-the-art office complex in the palace and the entire Adetayo family supports the project.

“The Adetayo family has special regards for our Kabiyesi. We are happy to note that during his reign, we have recorded tremendous progress in the family.”

The elder Adetayo explained that his children decided to execute the project as a token of their love for their hometown and to also send a signal to other Ilawe indigenes to develop their community. He added that Mrs Sekoni spearheaded the construction of the project because of what he said was “her love for her town of origin, her regard for the institution of obaship and the belief that the monarch should have a befitting office.”

Adetayo said the inauguration of the project was “an epoch-making event in the history of the town” and disclosed that the family had also decided to give scholarship to two deserving sons and daughters of Ilawe-Ekiti at the university level every session in memory of their grandfather, the late Pastor T.A. Adetayo.

Further to the desire to ser the Alawe in a befitting office, the Adetayo famiky said the project was also a mark of significant history to perpetuate their family’s name and as a way of stimulating a healthy competition among the people for further development of their dea Ilawe-Ekiti.

Earlier, Oba Alabi had explained that the new complex would house the Alawe’s office; a conference room; a mini hall, reception and conveniences, among other facilities. He had also explained that the Owa Ooye, who inaugurated the project, had remained his friend since he ascended the throne of his ancestors.

While inaugurating the project, Oba Michael Adedeji congratulated the Alawe for the feat, saying the Alawe was handsome as a man and had a beautiful character as a human being. The Owa Ooye noted what he said was the developmental strides witnessed since his ascending the throne six years ago.

Oba of Okemesi noted that without the support of subjects for their traditional ruler, they would be bare and may not achieve anything during their reign. He therefore urged the people of Ilawe and indeed all the communites in Ekiti State to not to relent in supporting their monarchs.

• Why it is wrong for any prince to take a chosen oba to court —Ajalaye of Ipetu Ijesa

According to the former chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, he had witnessed such support for an Ekiti monarch only in Ikere, where the Ogoga holds sway, and expressedthe desire to see such support for more traditional rulers in Ekiti State.

He said, “Alawe, you are a lucky man. There is no Kabiyesi that can succeed without the support of his people. I pray that Alawe will enjoy a long reign.

“He is a bright Oba that is well-exposed. He is a handsome man, what else do you want in Ilawe? An Oba will want to be comfortable in the palace. In many communities in Ekiti, if somebody wants to do something, people will warn him not to do it.

“This should not be the case. There are no witches and wizards that would prevent you or your friends from developing your community. Come home and do something for the development of Ekiti State.”

The Owa Ooye thereafter said his prayers in a very traditional way, which included some rhythmical  incantatory invocations that elated his audience. The people enthusisatically responded accordingly to each of the traditional prayer points the monarch raised, for they were profound.

The Okemesi king, through his prayers, gave a huge local, but beautiful tinge to the well organised ceremony. And the people were happy that they had a chance to learn from their monarchs and also learn some of their heartaches.