MONARCHS ARE TO PLAY THE ROLE OF POLITICAL OBSERVERS - HRH OBA SAKARIYAU OWOLABI OLADIMEJI 1, THE OLUKA ORANGUN OF IKA-EJIGBO

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.