You will be celebrating your 80th birthday and 35 years on the throne in a few days from now. How do you feel looking at the journey so far?
Well, first of all, I give glory to God Almighty for sparing my life and for the grace to be alive today. So, to God be the glory.
Reflecting on your 35-year journey on the throne, what would you identify as major achievements and contributions as a prominent monarch in Ado-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, and across the country?
Well, 35 years is not a day; it is three decades and a half. When I got to this place 35 years ago, the entire infrastructure in the palace was yearning for attention. The late Ewi Anirare was here for over 40 years, and he did very well. The first storey building in this palace was started during his reign, and the last effort on that project was on the 28th of August, 1948. The building was magnificent, so much that children of school age at that time were coming to the palace every day for two weeks to dance, eat, and go home. That actually tell you how happy the people were.
But immediately after, our people went on sabbatical. So, by the time I came, the structure was dilapidated because the building was made of mud, and there were cracks here and there. The other one that was put up during the reign of my predecessor, Oba George Adelabu, was uncompleted. So, from the gatehouse, everywhere looked neglected so much that I had to continue to sing everywhere I went: how do I survive with this? It was the song in the church, and I committed the whole thing before God.
Fifty years ago, I didn’t see myself as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, and when it became obvious that I should come, I had to pray over it. I said God, if it’s your wish, let it be done, that your name will be glorified during that time. But if it is going to be an area that one will regret coming to this place, you should not allow it to happen.’
So, when I came, I put everything before God. From the gatehouse today, you can see the hand of God everywhere. I started by asking one architect from the Federal Polytechnic, the late Oluwadiya, who was the Director of Works at that time, to help me put up some drawings of what I should put in place in the palace. At a time, it was about seven drawings, and the man said, ‘Kabiyesi, all these drawings we’ve been preparing, where is the money to execute them?’ I said he should not worry. But to God be the glory, we were picking the projects one by one, and God has been faithful.
Beyond the transformation of the palace, what major developments has this ancient town witnessed since you ascended the throne?
Well, there was peace, because the town was highly polarised when I ascended the throne and heavily divided into two because of the chieftaincy problem. One faction, Omo mi la muun mi, was behind Prince Adegoke; another group, Erinle Ado agbe mi, was behind the then Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba George Adelabu. The town was divided into factions because reconciliation seemed impossible.There was a particular day when the leaders of the Erinle Ado agbe mi came to me. They said they wanted to see me. I thought it was an important issue. So, when they came, they said, Kabiyesi, you have the authority and the power; use your power. I said what is the problem? They said how do you allow these people in the town? Because the Omo mi la muun mi would be meeting every Sunday, and anywhere they went, they would be singing, disturbing the peace of the town. If they saw any person who was Erinle Ado agbe mi, they would attack him physically. So, they thought I should use the police to suppress them.
Then I laughed. I told them that as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, all these people you see are my subjects. If I try to use the police to oppress them, it shows that I’m not capable of being the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. I’m supposed to be their leader. I told them that one day, the whole issue would become history. Today, we thank God, the town is now united and speaking with one voice. So, there is unity of purpose. Now, we seize the opportunity of the Udiroko Festival. Udiroko is the only festival that unites all Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters, because it happened to be the day our forefathers landed here, and they met under an Iroko tree and resolved that every year, they would set a day aside to thank God for journey mercies. So, every year, we have been celebrating the festival.
Looking back into your past 35 years on the throne and your 80 years of life, you must have faced challenges. What were those challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Well, first of all, as I’ve said, the disunity at the beginning came to an abrupt end because God Almighty in His infinite mercy intervened, and there was peace.
Two, there was a time when the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Bodunrin (now late) and Deji Adegbite, the Registrar, came to me because they had a problem of accreditation. So many courses were not accredited due to the lack of facilities. So, they came to me and said this institution is sited in your domain; what is your contribution? And I thought it was a challenge. I said okay, go and bring the list of your requests, and I will pick one of my choice. So, they came, and I said Ado people would settle for the Faculty of Law because they had about three sets that were yet to be accredited at that time. The man looked at me and thought we were going to arrange and give them some money to go and add to it. I said we would put up the Faculty of Law. He said Kabiyesi, we would need this under six months, and I said don’t worry.
So, Udiroko was very close that time, and that day, I put it before Ado people. They said it was a challenge for all of us. Then we set up a committee, and I made Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) the chairman of the committee. Before six months, the structure was on, and that year, they started the accreditation of the Faculty of Law. That was a major achievement for the town, because today, only God knows the number of lawyers produced by that faculty.
Then the issue of state creation came. I was about six months here when they came to me in 1991, led by Commissioner Babatunde, an Ado man. He told me that a group of like minds called Wednesday Group were meeting at Chief Deji Fasuan’s house, and they needed the support of the royal fathers.
Well, I readily accepted because I didn’t see myself coming to this place as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. I said maybe one of the reasons God drafted me to this throne was for this purpose. So, I accepted because it was going to bring development to Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State a whole. So, I joined, and we were there for close to six years.
They came here, and God used the late Bishop of the Anglican Communion, who invited the royal fathers in Ekiti to the celebration of the Silver Jubilee at that time. So, on a Sunday, something just occurred to me, and I called Bishop Akinbola. I said, My Lord, these Kabiyesi we have invited, where do you want to entertain them after the church service? Because, at that time, the conditions of our roads were terrible. It would take you about two hours or more to move from here to Efon, ditto to Ikole or Omuo. So, you could imagine when you close at 2 pm in the church, and for them to go back to their domains, it would be close to 6 pm. We needed to entertain them before they would go.
He said Kabiyesi, and it didn’t occur to me that I should go and take care of them. For me to take care of more than 100 people without any prior information, I said okay. So, I called Eyesorun, and we arranged.
After the service, the Bishop said royal fathers, go to Ewi’s Palace for your pelu pelu. More than 100 came, and we were arranging the meal for them to take and go back to their domains. They said this is not a time for merrymaking, and that Nigeria created about six states a few months earlier, and by all standards and measures, Ekiti was qualified to be one of the six states. Is this how we will wait here? And we were in Ondo State at that time. The population of Ekiti State was more than the other areas because we were 52% of Ondo State, yet they gave two local governments to the other people, and we that were much, nothing was given to us. So, people thought it was time for us to agitate for our own state. That was how the whole thing started, and we were there till 6 pm.
They said, in another two weeks, they were coming again in that number as a follow-up. I told them that in two weeks’ time, there was a plan for me to go to Lagos to go and thank Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters in Lagos for their huge support. They said okay, choose between the two; if you prefer going by the way of Ado-Ekiti or Ekiti put together, which interest is more important? I said Ekiti. So, that was how I shelved the idea of going to Lagos for familiarisation tour.
What role did you play in the process that led to Ado-Ekiti becoming the state capital?
Well, they made me the chairman of the committee. Leaders of thought and the Kabiyesis fused together, and I was the chairman of the committee. Chief Deji Fasuan was leading the leaders of thought. So, we were meeting bi-monthly. At times, emergency meetings would occur. There was no part of Nigeria that we did not touch.
And for six years, when we talk of harrowing experiences, that was the period. Because at times, you travel, and at the end of the day, you say what is it that we need to do that we’ve not done? Has God forsaken us? But at the end of the day, the state was created.
Looking at Ado-Ekiti as the state capital and reflecting on how it was some 35 years ago before you ascended the throne compared to what it is today, are you comfortable with the current state of development and infrastructure in Ado-Ekiti? And what improvements or changes do you hope to see in the years ahead?
Well, ‘comfortable’ is relative. Maybe we are not there, but we are better. Because when I came, Ado-Ekiti was the headquarters of a local government, and we had a Divisional Police Office here. But today, we have a whole company of police and about six DPOs in Ado-Ekiti already. And the number of secondary schools in Ado-Ekiti at that time has multiplied more than ten times now – and private institutions too. At that time, the only university in Ado-Ekiti was UNAD and the Federal Poly. Today, there is EKSU, there is Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), there is Crown Poly, and other higher institutions like that.
Looking at other state capitals, especially in the South-West, what do you look to see in Ado-Ekiti in the next few years?
Looking at other state capitals, when you judge by the volume of money going to all the states, at a time, ours was the least, and that has been utilised for the benefit of Ekiti people. But I know whoever is going to be the governor must be an Ekiti man, compared with when we were in Ondo State. In Ondo State, about six or seven blocs; you have Ekiti as a bloc, Akure as a bloc, Owo as a bloc, Akoko, Ondo, Ilaje, the position had to go round the blocs. But now, every four years, it is going to be an Ekiti man at Oke Ayoba.
And if there is any government in Nigeria that will not have an Ekiti person as minister, I don’t think it will be complete. There are so many things. But then, as I have said, there are many, many hills to climb. Because economically, we are still struggling. Yes, but Rome was not built in a day. So, we have cause to thank God.
Does it not constitute a source of concern to you and the Ewi-in-Council that even after 29 years of the state’s creation, no indigene of Ado-Ekiti has yet had the opportunity to serve as Governor of Ekiti State?
I am not a politician. I remember one of our visits to General Abacha in Lagos. He said Kabiyesi, yours is a special group because you are traditional rulers. Look at that corner, you will see a heap of documents submitted by people requesting the creation of states and local governments. Those people are politicians, but you are not. You are agitating for the interests of your people. You cannot be governor, you cannot be commissioner. So, as you rightly said, let’s look at Akure. How many years has Ondo State been created, since around 1976 and how many Akure sons have become governors? None yet. So, I know that one day, Ado-Ekiti’s turn will come.
What is most important is that whoever occupies the seat of government should ensure peace and development. The average Nigerian does not necessarily care who is leading, but whether that person can put food on the table. Of course, it is good for an Ado-Ekiti person to be governor, but it is not something that must happen by force or at all costs. I believe that one day, an Ado-Ekiti indigene will occupy that position.
There have been concerns among many residents, particularly here in the capital, about the indiscriminate rate at which non-yoruba settlers are acquiring land and property in Ado-Ekiti. Is this a matter of concern to you, or do you consider it a normal and acceptable trend in the city’s development?
Well, you see, the Nigerian Constitution allows every citizen to own property anywhere in the country. That is why you cannot legally prevent anyone from buying property in Ado-Ekiti. However, what I have always told my subjects about this issue is that they should be careful before selling their ancestral homes. They must think about the future because their children will someday want a place to call their father’s house. I have been warning about this for more than 10 years. I saw it coming and have repeatedly advised them to be cautious.
The problem is that when someone offers, say, N100 million, it sounds like a huge amount. But by the time they share it among family members, each person may end up with less than N200,000. Eventually, the money is gone, and they are forced to move to virgin lands, while the person who bought their family property enjoys life in the city centre. I understand the concern. It is indeed a challenge but the constitution allows everyone to own property anywhere. If anyone challenges it in court, the buyer will win.
You were deeply involved in the struggle for creation of Ekiti State. Looking back 29 years later, would you say the dreams and aspirations that inspired that movement have been fully realised?
Honestly speaking, no. We were not lucky to have those who were part of the struggle emerge as the governors in the early years. At the time, we had a well-prepared blueprint. General Abacha told us there would be no take-off grant, and we said we were ready. We even agreed to start with six ministries to cater to our people’s needs. I was given a letter to the pioneer Military Administrator, Colonel Inua Bawa, and even proposed names for commissioners. Unfortunately, some of the inherited permanent secretaries and commissioners told Bawa that the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti wanted to hijack the administration. That created a wedge between the traditional rulers and the administrator.
But we thank God today. The current governor was our secretary during that struggle. He knows exactly what our plans were then. You can see him now reaching out to all past governors, appealing for unity and collaboration. He is even engaging the opposition, telling them that this is our only state, and we must all work together. Today, you can hardly speak of opposition because the governor has brought everyone together. That spirit of unity and collective purpose was the very foundation of our struggle for Ekiti State.
Governor Oyebanji has just celebrated three years in office. How would you assess his administration over the past three years reflecting on the struggle that led to the creation of Ekiti State?
I told you, it is just like when you have a baby and you give your daughter to a foster house for someone else to take care of your daughter for you. She is the mother of the baby and that person can treat the baby anyhow. But, this Oyebanji is just like the mother of the baby now, he knows exactly where the shoe pinches. That is why he has performed better than all governors before him put together because he was one of us. We struggled together, and he was fortunate to understudy previous administrations. So, I can say without hesitation that he is the best among them all.
Looking at traditional institutions across the country, many people have criticized the conduct of some monarchs. They believe traditional rulers, as custodians of culture and tradition should be above reproach. Some also argue that the process of ascension to the throne has lost its authenticity because certain traditional rites are being bypassed due to religious beliefs. What is your take on this, and what do you think traditional rulers should do?
I know what I passed through during my own ascension. There are rites you must perform before becoming an Oba. If you truly desire to be a traditional ruler, you must be ready to submit yourself and go through the process. It is that process that makes you a true Oba, because it teaches you what to do and what not to do.There is no religion against performing the necessary rites before becoming an Oba. Yes, you can be a Christian or a Muslim, but your conduct, character, and way of life as a king can influence others positively. However, I do not support the idea of cancelling traditional processes required for ascension to the throne.
As I have said, we are all human beings with individual differences, but the fact remains that there is a process you must undergo before you become an Oba. Whoever desires to ascend the throne should be willing and prepared to go through all the traditional stages.
Kabiyesi, you have witnessed Nigeria’s evolution over the last 80 years. How would you evaluate the country’s current leadership and the direction in which the country is headed?
You see, when General Buhari became the President for the second time, I was praying for three years that whoever would be the president of this country after him should be the person that God himself has decided to present for us to develop this country. The man without a godfather to become the president; he should be able to think on his own and see Nigeria as his constituency. He should see all of us as his subjects and put himself in a position of the father to all of us. That was my prayer for three years. And when the election was going on, I suddenly discovered that President Buhari, who had the product that was supposed to be selling, his actions were as if they were working against that product.
Two, around that time, they changed the currency, which was against his own product. Then I said to myself, may God be ready to answer my prayers, because as an ordinary person, you would think Buhari should support the product of his party at that time, but body language indicated that he was not doing so. Looking at the PDP as a party, if Atiku, Wike, Kwankwaso and Obi, the four of them, had fused together, there was no way Tinubu would have won as president of this country. But for God to answer my prayer, all of them worked against each other and they split their votes. If we put the votes of all four of them together, there was no way the president would have won, but because it is the wish of God for him to win, this thing happened.
So, all these factors put together, this administration is out for the best for this country. But now, people are bitterly complaining, and yet, we have the right to complain. To me, at the end of it all, they will praise Tinubu.
Part of the current complaints has even reached the international community. The President of the United States has expressed concern that many people have been killed in Nigeria. What is your take?
The killings did not start today; they predate this administration. We are all Nigerians, and we know what has happened over time. But to clean up all this mess will take time. Nigeria is a very large country. To me, what is happening now presents an opportunity for the President to act decisively. I repeat, at the end of his term, Nigerians will praise President Tinubu.
What lesson has life taught you at 80 as a monarch, a father, and a statesman?
To me, it is the immeasurable grace of God that I am enjoying. Life has taught me that one should be grateful to God all the time and be humble. Contentment is the word, because we have seen so many things. But for contentment, it would not have been what we are seeing today. So, whatever position you find yourself, you should think of what people will say about you. Think of the position you are occupying because you are representing people. As I sit here, I am representing all Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters all over the globe. So, whatever I do has effects on my people. I should think before I do anything here.
So, what legacy do you wish to leave behind?
The legacy that one Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe came, and when he came, there was turbulence in the town, it was divided, and God used me to solve the problem. There was peace before he left. And the whole town, by the grace of God, united and there was progress during his time as a result of the support of God Almighty.
You have been a Chancellor in three universities.
I was a Chancellor at the University of Jos for thirteen and a half years. I left the University of Jos to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and then to Odumegwu University.
How did that happen?
Well, a Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. The Visitor of a federal university has the right to pick any of the senior Monarchs or anybody to be Pro-Chancellor of the university. So, in 2002, I was made the Chancellor of the University of Jos. That was where I started.
What are the things you could say the institution achieved through you in those periods?
As I have said, the role of a Chancellor is to attend ceremonies, meetings, and chair such meetings. But you see, when I was at the University of Jos, the Pro-Chancellor was sick and unable to perform, so the lot fell on me. I could not fold my hands and watch them because my children were there. Unfortunately, at that time, facilities in the university were grossly inadequate to the extent that they were buying pure water to bathe. It was as bad as that. So, I had to go to the Presidency about four times.The first time, President Obasanjo said Kabiyesi, what is it? You are only a Chancellor; you are playing the role of the Pro-Chancellor. And I told him if I am the Chancellor of a university and my son or daughter cannot be a student there, then you should take me away from that university. Because, as it was, I couldn’t send any of my children to that university because of the conditions at that time. Then the man said okay, go and bring all the drawings of what you think you need to have there. So, I told the VC. The VC packed everything and presented to him. He collected the documents and said Kabiyesi, see, I’m not saying I’ll do everything at once, but we will be picking them one by one. Before I left, he had touched virtually all the projects.
There was a particular one that was a major problem for the university: the accreditation of the Faculty of Nursing. The Nursing Council had refused them accreditation. The Vice-Chancellor could not resolve it, the Pro-Chancellor could not resolve it. It was a problem. They had about three sets of students who could not graduate. So, I took it upon myself to go to the Nursing Council. When I got there, they granted the accreditation. Later, the Vice-Chancellor and his team came all the way from the University of Jos to Ado-Ekiti to thank me.
A lot of people would like to know how you have managed to balance your role as a monarch, father, husband and grandfather.
Well, I would say I am very, very lucky. By the mercy of God, I have a woman I would call my mother as my wife – the Eyesorun of Ado-Ekiti. She is a woman who can do anything for the family. If I am not around and something worths two, three, four or five million naira needs to be done, she would do it in my absence and complete it before my arrival.
I recall one time I was in Abuja during the reign of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. You know, anytime he was travelling, more than 10 or 15 traditional rulers would follow him, apart from his chiefs. He told me, Ewi, we are going to eat lunch at your palace today. I said okay. I swiftly phoned Eyesorun and told her we are coming; about 100 people, and we wanted to have lunch. It was not like these days when you can transfer money easily. She went as far as Igbokoda to look for fresh fish and prepared all manner of food before we arrived. It was in this office that the Ooni sat on the three-seater before we went to the dining area.
The man said if it’s fried rice, bring it. He would taste it. Jollof rice, bring it. He would taste it. Soup, he would taste it too. I was watching him, wondering why he was doing that, not knowing that he wanted to know the quality of the meal. After he finished eating, everyone, including the Kabiyesis, was satisfied.
He then asked someone, what kind of job was the Ewi doing before he became king? Because someone who was not informed ahead, yet was able to feed 100 people to their satisfaction, that amazed him. He was surprised we could reach that standard, all because of the organisational ability of the Eyesorun. I thank God also for the other Oloris and the entire Ewi-in-Council; they are very marvelous. When I tell them I am going somewhere, they believe where I am going because I don’t give them any reason to doubt me. Everybody trusts me, and they are always ready to support me.
I thank God that for 35 years, there has been no major rift between me and members of the Ewi-in-Council. Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters too are very good. Many of them are doing great jobs at the highest level. People like Aare Afe Babalola, SP Ajibade, Julie Pharmacy, they are blessed people and always ready to support the cause of Ado anytime. So, I enjoy the grace of God.