In our bid to bring Royalty closer to the people and
portray Nigerian traditional rulers in the true light of fathers and community
leaders that they are, our team had an exclusive interview session with the
Oluka Orangun of Ika, Ejigbo Local Government Area, Osun State Nigeria on the
14th day of October, 2013. In this all-encompassing interview, the
distinguished Monarch bares his mind on various issues pertaining to the
ancient Ika town and his dreams of making Ika a better place during his reign.
This interview that also touched on the culture, taboo and tradition of Ika
people was not just satisfying but very educating. See excerpts below:
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1. Can we meet you sir?
I am Alayeluwa,
Oba Sakariyau Owolabi Oladimeji 1, the Oluka Orangun of Ika, Ejigbo Local
Government.
2. We believe you must have
had a very interesting childhood. Can you let us in on your childhood
background?
Smiles...Well, I cannot
describe my childhood as a smooth one, Infact it was the grace of God that saw me
through those days. When my mother died in the year 1960, the responsibility of
taking care of me fell solely on my aged father who was already very sick at
the time. He tried his best though, but when he could no longer combine
managing his health condition with taking care of a little boy, he had to hand
me over to my mother’s younger sister who took me to my mother’s family house
(Babasale Compound, Ejigbo).
Ilorin: February of 1961, my elder
brother, Mustapha Oladimeji who was at the time working in a cloth factory in
Ilorin as an apprentice sought the permission of his boss to have me come and
live with him. The boss, an Ijesa man, consented to the request and gave him
the permission to bring me in. Thus, in February 1961, my brother Mustapha came
to pick me and took me to Ilorin with him.
3. So, Kabiyesi, did you in
the course of your sojourn in Ilorin have access to Education?
Yes, I had
access to Primary Education while I was in Ilorin with my brother. I attended
St. John’s Primary School, Idofian between 1962 to 1969 and that was the only
school education I ever had.
4. How come you did not have
access to Education beyond Primary School? Was it that you lost interest or
there was not sponsor?
It was in the
year 1969 that Alhaji Yusuf Olorunkemi Agbalaya advised my brother to allow me
move to Lagos so that I can make a living for myself too. At the time, things
were not so easy and it was just right for me to take the opportunity to pursue
greener pastures.
Lagos: In
the year 1969, month of May precisely, I moved down to Lagos into the house of
Jimoh Adisa Olobi, the elder brother of Alhaji Yusuf Olorunkemi Agbalaya. Jimoh
Olobi’s wife, Taibatu Gbeleola Adisa parented me and took very good care of me
such that she was nearly a mother figure to me. Later in the year, Adisa Olobi
decided it was best for me to go and learn a trade so that I can earn a living
too and he took me to Sandcross where they sell fish, where I was to be an
apprentice for the next five (5) months.
While
I was working in Sandcross and earning fifteen (15) shillings, I met an old
friend (we met in Idofian) who at the time was working in a bakery. The bakery
apprenticeship looked so enticing to me because of the amount of money my
friend told me they earned per day so I decided to join the bakery where this
my friend was working. When I discussed with Yusuf Olorunkemi, he rejected the
idea on the grounds that I was too young to begin making my own decisions on
where or how I worked. Eventually, he reluctantly consented but insisted I was
not going to work where my friend worked but he will take me to a friend of his
who owned a bakery. He took me there and I began my journey as a baker which
was to take me another four (4) years. I saved 300 Naira in the course of my
work there and decided to move on after four years because I discovered I was
working too hard and earning too little.
My first shop: After four years as an
apprentice in the bakery Yusuf Olorunkemi took me to, I decided to use the 300
Naira savings I had to establish a shop of my own. Alhaji Hassan Agbalaya, son
of Yusuf Olorunkemi Agbalaya helped me secure a shop in Malu Road, Ajegunle and
he introduced me to the book selling business that he was into at the time. So,
I began selling books and I was in that business for three more years.
My Marriage: On
December 15, 1977 I got married to my first wife Taibatu Oladimeji of Olukola
compound Ejigbo through Hassan Oladimeji, my elder brother.
The shop in
Oluwole: After three years of selling books, I began
thinking of another line of business as I felt the book selling business was
not bringing enough profit. So, I approached Sule Olanrewaju Ajao who I had
also known from Idofian. He found a small shop for me in Oluwole area of Lagos
and introduced me to the cloth selling business. I began selling imported
shirts and trousers which Alhaji Abdul Aremu from Ilala, Kwara State was
helping me transport. Not long after, 1979 precisely, Obasanjo placed an
embargo on importation and difficulties came for those of us who were selling
imported goods. Before the ban on importation, I already had 3000 Naira in
savings and I felt luck was finally smiling on me. But after the importation,
business became so bad that I ran into a debt of around 52,000 Naira. These
difficulties made me decide to leave the cloth selling business also.
Building
Materials Venture in Mushin: Once I decided to leave the cloth selling
business, I went to meet Alhaji Agbalaya in Mushin who was in the building
materials business. He wanted to introduce me to the business but I needed
10,000 Naira capital so I had to run to Alhaji Adebayo Adisa, the son of Alhaji
Adisa Olobi. He gave me the capital and some very good advice. Alhaji Agbalaya
introduced me to the building materials business and in no time I started
importing building materials from Belgium. I imported my goods from Belgium for
ten (10) years. Later, China became the world power in the manufacturing sector
and their products were cheaper than Belgium too. I became the first building
materials dealer in Lagos to have sold Made in China glass and since those late
80s, I have been doing business with Chinese people in the building materials
sector.
5.
Claps....We must confess, you have answered our questions beyond
expectation sir, taking us through the entire timeline of your rise to
greatness, and God will grant you renewed strength sir. Sir, but how did your journey to the throne begin?
When in October
6, 2010 Oba Olosunde Emmanuel went to join his forefathers, I came home because
I was very close to him before his death. When I left the palace where I went
to offer my condolences, the Oosa of Ika invited me to his house and told me
“ewu ti won bo sile yii o, iwo naa lo le wo o” meaning “this cloth that he (the
dead Oluka) has put off, you are the only one who can wear it o”. He told me I
should prepare to be the next king. I vehemently opposed the idea and told him
I had no intention of becoming king.
Again, Osolo called me some
weeks after and told me he had a dream that I became king. To ward off the
propositions they were making, I encouraged Waheed Jimoh, a younger brother of
mine to go and contest for the Oluka stool. In the course of all these
happenings, I came to Ika to discuss developmental issues with the Chiefs and
while we were discussing, Ika people, old and young, women and children came
singing to my house calling me Oluka, Kabiyesi etc. I started crying and it
seemed it was from that day that it became clear to me that there was nothing I
could do to reject the throne.
6. During the reign of Oba
Olosunde Emmanuel sir, the Ika king was referred to as Oluka. But since you
ascended the throne six months ago, you have taken up the title ‘Oluka
Orangun’. What exactly is the correct title of the Ika king?
....smiles...
Well, you asked a good question. I think I should take you through the history
of Ika town so that you can fully understand what the correct thing should be.
You see, the Ika people were originally Ila people (Ila-Orangun, Osun State). We
left Ila-Orangun when there was a kingship tussle between our people and
another family. When we got to Ejigbo, the then Ogiyan pointed his finger at
this spot where Ika is located (Ogiyan na ika si ibi yi) and that was why we
adopted the name ‘Ika’ meaning ‘ibi ti Oba na ika si’ (where the King pointed
his finger).
Due to the name of the town, it
will be correct to give the ‘Oluka’ title to the king of Ika. However, we must
try as much as possible to reflect our true background in the title of the king
and that is why we have sought the consent of Ogiyan of Ejigbo land and
currently seeking that of the State Government to officially adopt the title
‘Oluka Orangun’ of Ika land which will help us keep in touch with our ancestral
Ila-Orangun lineage.
7. Is there any taboo or
ancestral fact related to Ika town?
Ika people have
been granted freedom by God to live life to the fullest without inhibitions by
taboos. However, there is this Olokun river in Ika. No matter how much you cook
any fish caught in that river, it never gets done. Fishes from that river
whether caught by an indigene or a stranger can never get done. We do not know
why or how that came to be but that is how it has always been.
8. Has the Ika indigenes been
supportive since you ascended the throne?
Alhamdulillah...
The Ika people, old, young, women and even children have been very supportive
since I came on the throne and I have no single cause to regret my ascension to
the throne of my ancestors.
9. Sir, as a traditional
ruler on one hand and a devout Muslim on the other hand, how do you combine
your Islamic obligations with the traditional demands of being an Oba?
Those two are
distinctively different. There must always be a place for religion in one’s
life. However, as a king, one must also identify with the traditional aspect of
being king because when you become a king, you are king over everybody,
Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists alike. One must find time to identify
with all of them.
10. Kabiyesi, being a
businessman before you ascended the throne of your forefathers, how do you
combine the strenuous demands of running your business with the exhaustive
demands of being king and still find time to relax?
Well, God has
given me a very wonderful family that has been very supportive. In actual fact,
I no longer stress myself over anything. My son is the Managing Director of my
Company (SAOLAD Nigeria Limited, Lagos) and he is doing a very good job taking
the company to greater heights than I ever could. As well, the Ika people have
been very wonderful so I do not have to go through much stress in administering
the community. I virtually rest all day.
11.
As the Oluka Orangun of Ika land, what are the programmes you have
in mind to better the lot of Ika people?
Thank you. When
I came on the throne, I came with a determination to make life easier for Ika
and her people anywhere they may be. When I became king, I discovered there was
a periodic contribution being made by Ika indigenes towards execution of major
developmental projects. I immediately stopped that practice and right now,
whatever major project we have to execute, I fund it. The only thing the people
may have to deal with is the maintenance of such projects. Out of the seven
boreholes in the community, Government sunk five (5), Eagles Club Ejigbo gave
us one (1) and I funded the sinking of the other one.
Currently, I have financed the
rehabilitation of three (3) roads in the community and we are still planning to
do more in a bid to better the living conditions of the people of Ika. All the
people have to do is ensure such projects are safeguarded and maintained as and
when due.
12.
On the Issue of Local Government creation doing the rounds in Osun
State, how do you think Ika community will benefit from the splitting of Ejigbo
Local Government?
You should know
there is no community that will not benefit from having the seat of Governance
closer to them. If Ejigbo Local Government gets her wish of becoming two Local
Governments, governance will be closer to us and will consequently bring
development closer.
13.
At present sir, the Oluka Orangun is not a member of the Ejigbo
Local Government Traditional Council. What are you doing to become part of the
council?
I will say we
are working and not working. We are working because I am fervently praying that
Oluka Orangun will be considered worthy of being a member of the traditional
council. We are not working because we have resolved not to go lobbying for a
seat in the council because that will mean we are power-hungry and we believe
it is God who can put anybody in any position.
14.
We must say kudos to you sir for the way you have been thrashing our
questions from the start, you are indeed a man of words sir. What is the
relationship between you and the Ogiyan of Ejigbo land like?
....smiles....I
believe I deserve a very wonderful round of applause when we are through so let
us just continue. I have a very wonderful relationship with the Ogiyan of
Ejigbo land. Infact, I can call him my father, my adviser and my boss. First,
my mother’s father is from the same family as the Ogiyan of Ejigbo land, so he
is my father. Second, he is well respected king in Nigeria, one that other Obas
are proud to associate with so he is my boss. Third, he is a man of wide
experience, a prolific man of words so he is a great adviser.
15.
Sir, we will generously give you rounds upon rounds of applause when
we are through. In most towns, there are often disputes over how many ruling
houses there are and who and who belongs to those ruling houses. What is the
ruling house arrangement in Ika like?
For the first
time, I will want to skip this question. There are deliberations ongoing about
the Ika ruling house arrangement. Those deliberations are aimed at putting our
records straight so that no family will feel cheated. If I give a conclusive
response now, people will begin to think I have made a resolution on the issue.
When the town concludes deliberations, we will put the accurate number of
ruling houses and their names in the gazette.
16.
Who are those influential Ika indigenes that you will hope to
partner with in moving the town forward?
You see, there
is a difference between ‘go to school’ and ‘I want to go to school’. There is a
difference between being begged to do something and desiring to do something.
These influential people know they are indigenes of Ika, we can only pray God
will put the desires in their hearts so they can voluntarily come home and help
their community.
17. In what areas do you
believe Ika community needs Government intervention?
The issue I
consider to be utmost for Ika at the moment is for Government to give Ika
community its own ward in the ongoing INEC delimitation exercise. The community
is now bigger and should be taken out of the cluster of communities making up
the present Ward 10 of Ejigbo Local Government and given a separate ward. This
will bring development closer to our people.
18. Kabiyesi sir, what do you
believe should be the role of monarchs in politics?
I believe that
a King should not be found identifying with political parties. Rather, a King
should play the role of an observer. When he observes that a political office
holder is doing well, he can advise his people to support such person to bring
about more development but he must not get involved in the political game.
19. What is your personal life
principle sir?
Hmmm... I
certainly do operate my life on the basis of honesty. I hate dishonesty because
I trust everybody.
20. How have you been coping
on the home front? Are your wives helping you to effectively discharge your
duties as a king?
....smiles....I
thank God for endowing me with my own wives. As you already know, I have two
wives and they both have been very supportive right from the onset. The
children have also been wonderful and God has been moving us forward.
21. Your advice to the youths
sir.
All I will
advise the youths is to always live a life of humility. When you are humble,
everyone who is supposed to help you will be happy to help you.
22. Will there be
establishments of industries in Ika town during your reign and connections for
the youths and people of Ika?
Let me not
promise specifically that an industry will come at a specific time. However, we
are seriously working on tapping the opportunities that our connections have
afforded us to bring industries into Ika community. That notwithstanding, we
have been making frantic efforts to ensure that we connect all Ika youths who
are ready to work in any capacity that God affords us even before I became King
and that will continue.
23. Your word for the Nation
at this festive period sir.
I implore
Nigerians to come together in the spirit of love to move our Nation forward.
When we are united, we will have the opportunity to face our challenges
together and overcome them.
I believe the
time is right to give you a resounding round of applause sir for the wonderful
way in which you have thrashed all our questions. We pray that the good Lord
who has set you on the throne of your forefathers will assist you in
effectively running the Ika community and He will grant you long life in good
health to fulfil all your heart’s desires towards this town.
.....claps.....Thanks
you sir.
