Why did you change from being a musician to a medical doctor?
I became a medical doctor by accident. I had wanted to be a musician. In my final year in secondary school, I had made a deposit to enter a university in the United States of America (USA) to study music. Then, I was so much in love with music. My favourite musicians included Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Ofege, and my room in Ijebu-Ode, was filled with all sorts of musicians’ posters like Michael Jackson and others.
But an incident occurred. I was ill and my father took me to our family doctor, Dr. Boyejo, the renowned Eruobodo, and in the evening, the nurse on duty came to give him (Boyejo) his take home for that day, and it was N500. I wowed that somebody could be earning that much a day! This was around 1974/75. At the time, a doctor’s salary was probably N400. Right there and then, I changed my mind and I told my father that I would no longer study music.
He thought I was kidding, but I said Medicine was my choice. And because I was a good student, it became easy for me to go through the course during my A’level at Adeola Odutola College, and I did very well. That earned me a government scholarship to study Medicine in Russia in 1975.
What about growing up?
What can I say? My father was a well-known Ososa son because we never left Ososa growing up. Most people know our family house and we used to come to the town at least once a year. December 26 is Alatishe Day in Ososa during which all my father’s children come together and have at least three-session prayers involving the Christians, the Muslims and the traditionalists. Thereafter, we would eat and have fun. We still keep that practice till date.
What was your childhood like? You speak as if you were born with silver spoon.
(Cuts in) Well, I don’t know about silver spoon. I had my own share going to school with khaki and this iron-made pot-motor container bag, which I carried on my head like others. My mother was a no-nonsense woman, who wouldn’t take any excess from her children. She beat me countless times just to instill some discipline in me. Have you heard of a mother hiring an outsider to beat her child just to curtail our excesses as a youth? That was the kind of woman my mother was.
I remember one man, popularly known as Roki, who my mother hired to beat me. One day, he beat me and in the process broke my right hand. I didn’t steal o! I don’t know if this story captures your definition of being born with a silver spoon or not. But I was close to my father and I lived with him in Ijebu-Ode.
How many wives and children did your father have?
Interestingly, I am number 22 of my father’s children, who had close to eight wives. Some had kids and some didn’t. My father had about 48 to 50 children at the last count. When we saw the will he did, I happened to be number 22.
One thing I observed with my father was that he was always deferring to me for almost anything he wanted, though I didn’t have the means like some of my older siblings. One of my sisters is Mrs. Hairat Balogun, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State. I had to mention all this to let you know that I didn’t have the resources like some of my siblings.
It appears you were rascally growing up.
Ah, eeyan mi (my brother), don’t let me deceive you, I was so, so rascally. Today, I don’t blame parents for beating their children. I tell people that if not for the beating, maybe my head would not have reset. Ah, I was more than a rascal. I went to a normal public primary school. I only went to a boarding secondary school because I didn’t want to go to Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, which was directly across my house. But, like I said, the beating actually reset my brain.
What memory do you have of your secondary school days?
My secondary school life was fantastic. I left in 1972. Some of the things we did were noted. I used to belong to the press club. I was very, very good with girls. I had a lot of girlfriends. I also met my wife, the present Olori (queen) in that school. I ran into her at an inter-house sport. I played hockey and table tennis. I was into literary and debating club. I also loved to feature in drama, particularly, and I always sought the Kabiesi role simply because I would be given a beautiful olori.
Out of the 50 children your father had, with wealthier elder brothers, how come it was you that became the Gbegande of Ososa?
I will tell you something: my ascendancy to the throne was divinely ordained. I worked as a medical doctor, started my private practice and then I went into politics. Before I became a politician, I had japa (travelled out). By 1999, I sold my practice in Ijebu-Ode, packed my things and told my mum that we were going to America. As soon as I got to America, I went to register in Kaplan Institute, and that was how I became a Kaplan scholar.
Just before we left, I ran into Senator Gbenga Kaka, my classmate and former deputy governor of Ogun State. They were on a campaign train. But because Gbenga was my classmate, I stopped by to exchange pleasantries with him. After urging me to support them, I gave them some money from the boot of my car. Interestingly, they won the election. After their victory, I was called upon to come back from the United States to serve in the government. Due to my inability to return earlier, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the then governor, had picked his commissioners. I was then given a deputy chairmanship role in the hospital management board.
Was that how you got into politics?
Yes, that was how I entered politics. Before Osoba’s regime came to an end, I was already running around with Gbenga Daniel. As God would have it, we won the election. Daniel became the governor and I became the council chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government.
Although I was in politics, I was committed to several philanthropic activities. Those community aid activities made some Ijebu sons and daughters to approach me to vie for the chairmanship position. We then formed the PAMA Group. Eventually, we won the election. Soon, I discovered that I was not cut out for politics.
You were almost removed as local government council chairman. Why?
That is true. The problem was not that we were not working as people’s representatives, but that we were not meeting outrageous demands by some party leaders, who would come and tell you how much they must collect at the end of each month. Even women leaders and all sorts demanded for money as a right and not priviledge. At some point, they almost removed me, but Governor Gbenga Daniel saved my neck from the gallows.
Apparently, the governor was happy with me due to my performance. It is on record that it was my administration that built the housing estates in front of Ijebu-Ode Club and near the stadium. I built all the roundabouts in Ijebu-Ode except those around Odutola and Awujale. I completed Obanta Shopping Complex, which was partly built by Ogun State military administrator, Kayode Olofinmoyin. I delivered many structures in Ijebu-Ode Local Government. And, after my first tenure, due to the toxic political terrain, I declined to re-contest.
Thereafter, I went into construction, helping some politicians to build their houses. In the process, Otunba Daniel called me and said they (state governors) were given a mandate from Abuja to have a primary health care development board. That was how I became the pioneer executive secretary of that board.
Though the governor gave me free hand, I knew we were going to have a problem, because Nigerians don’t like change. While the medical people in the ministry of health were into many cadres, local government staffers didn’t have a voice of theirs. I am happy today that, that board is now in charge of all nurses and medical doctors practising in local governments.
Anyway, we did our best when we were there. It was in the process that I met Alli Pate, the incumbent Minister of Health. He was the ED, National Primary Health Development Board, and that made us close. As at that time, my eye was set to get an appointment in Abuja.
Why didn’t you pursue your dream of going to Abuja?
It was while in the process of that pursuit that the late Oba Michael Onayinka joined his ancestors in 2008. He was a very kind and good man; a first class monarch. It was just a sad thing that he only spent two years on the throne. After his death, it never crossed my mind until people came to say it was the turn of Ogunroyega Ruling House. I went into history and found that we could contest. One of my elder brothers, Engr. Fatai Alatishe, a retired air force officer, was put forward.
A few months earlier, the family had said that all those who were interested in the race should indicate with a letter of intent, with a deadline fixed for December 2009. The family had agreed with my elder brother as the candidate, and we all contributed money. Then, I returned to my job in Abeokuta.
But as usual I used to return to my Ijebu-Ode home every weekend. Each time I came, I would see Baba Oloye Meta in my house. He told me that the oracle (ifa) didn’t choose my brother for some reasons. At different times, he alongside others kept telling me that I was the preferred choice. As the pressure was mounting on me, I started avoiding them.
One day, when I got home, I met Baba Oloye Meta and I went to ask my mother what he was doing. My mother said he was waiting to see me. I didn’t want to confront him, but that day, I had to. I said they should go pick another candidate at Ososa, and that I was not interested in becoming a king where you people kill your Obas. The man assured me that nothing evil would happen to me.
I remember that one day we were having a prayer session in my Primary Health Care Office in Abeokuta and my director, one Dr. Lawal, said a pastor wanted to greet me over the phone. The man started prophesying elevation. Though I listened, but in my mind, I dismissed him.
One weekend when I returned home, my wife, who never said anything about this obaship matter, said to me that she sat in the afternoon and saw my father coming, and told her that he knew I was afraid, but that I should accept being the Ososa king. Immediately I said to my wife, have you joined them? But when I went into my bedroom, I reflected over what she said and it then became a matter of personal decision.
As soon as I decided, though the deadline for expression of interest had passed, I went to my sister, our family head, who advised me to write a backdated letter to keep the record straight. That was how the journey to becoming the Gbegande went.
You have mentioned PAMA repeatedly. What does that signify?
That is very interesting. That is my nickname from childhood. PAMA is just the acronym of my name. I didn’t know that earlier. I just realised that my father kept calling me PAMA and everyone started calling me by that name. If I call one of my children now, he won’t call me Kabiyesi, but PAMA. Before my father died, he told me what PAMA means. He said it is Prince Abdulmojeed Adetoye Alatishe. I’ve attempted to change that name, but it didn’t work out.
I’ve heard that some people forced you on Ososa people. How true is this?
You are an Ososa son. How can anyone force someone on Ososa people? Even if I didn’t know much about our people before, now that I’m here, I know that Ososa is a unique town. I discovered that our people have independent mind and they warned me not to associate with a particular notable person in the town. That was why I refused to go to his house after I was nominated. But after much persuasion, we went and met the man. Honestly, I don’t know why many of our people are hesitant to associate with this fellow.
I remember an incident that happened at a place called Odo. We were all there and he came to greet me. But I observed that many people around were unhappy seeing him with me. There was this Mama Iyan, now late, who came to challenge him, and alleged that this man was indebted to him. I didn’t like the way the altercation between him and the woman went, yet I tried to maintain neutrality. Later on, we found that the people didn’t like seeing me with this man.
I remember an incident. While I was returning from his house, at the town’s market square junction, the boys that ordinarily hailed me refused to do so. When I inquired what the problem was, one of them said ‘Kabiyesi, we saw you, but as much as you continue to fraternise with this man, we won’t hail you. That was the end of going to his house.
It is public knowledge that you are not in good terms with one of the leading industrialists in your domain, Alhaji Sule Adebola Adegunwa. Why are you at loggerheads?
Honestly, Alhaji Sule Adegunwa never offended me as a person. It is the aftermath of not going to his house that might have contributed to any misunderstanding you might have been hearing about. In fact, the first Eid-el-Kabir I’d gone to do in his house, I learnt some boys and members of the whole community had decided to pelt me with sachet water, waiting for me to pass a popular path. Thank God, I didn’t return through that path. When the people saw that I’m a man of my own, they started accepting my leadership.
Was that the reason he (Adegunwa) dragged you to court?
That was the beginning of everything. When you want to catch somebody, you’ll try all sorts of things. Part of the issue was a plan to build a new palace. A sum of N17 million had been raised. The elders conducted me round the proposed site for the palace. As we got there, I didn’t like the topography of the place. It wasn’t flat land. In the evening, I went on my own to look at the land and I discovered it has a gorge at the back. Secondly, the site is like the end of Ososa town. My aura didn’t just choose the place.
Thereafter, some sons and daughters of Ososa told me that there used to be a palace in the town. Unfortunately, at the time, the said palace had been turned into a motor park, with the house abandoned and bushy. Notwithstanding, when I got here (palace), I decided to rebuild it and we called for donations. Surprisingly, many indigenes subscribed to it. Efforts to recover the initial over N17 million contributed to build a new palace didn’t yield. I engaged a construction company, which evacuated the rubbish in this place. I drew the design for this place by myself. During the foundation, we discovered several artifacts under the rubble.
Do you think the people you’re referring to wanted a king they could remotely control?
That is obvious. From what I’ve said so far, you have one way or the other shown interest in this spot. I wasn’t going to fall in line with their proposed palace. I was not going to be at their beck and call. It’s obvious for anybody who has that kind of attitude not to be happy with you. It is just that sometimes it is difficult for people to accept reality. Take away tradition, when you call somebody a king, does he not deserve some degree of respect? Even I have to give that king respect despite the fact that it is me. This is the reason I have decided to become a model to my people. I have to project a good image of what a king should be. Even if I was once a rascal, that was Dr. Toye, but not the Gbegande.
When I was a politician, I was a thug. If I can respect that throne, why will an ordinary person not respect it, especially when the throne belongs to all of us? That was how the whole controversy started. Well, it is not uncommon. The late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona had a fair share of his from a popular and wealthy family in Ijebu-Ode.
But is that why you had to libel him and it led to a court case?
The problem we have here is narcissism. If you have had all the cases, though you wrongly accused me, how can a little me connive with 7Up Bottling Company to destroy your factory? That was a terrible allegation. These people have done several things to bring me down. I have had to fight many battles in my life but the greatest of it all was the plot to use the late Baba Awujale to depose me. the Awujale set up a committee, raised an allegation against me on Adegunwa’s behalf. It was only God and the Governor that saved me on that day. Two commissioners came. The plot was to depose me. But, God turned it around.
Ah! After our referred Awujale’s speech, anybody who heard would have concluded that I should be hanged. He got some chiefs, one of whom is still alive, to testify against me. One of them, who at some point fell apart with the Awujale, later confessed that he was guided on what to say. It was Oloko, elderly monarch, and one other monarch that countered Awujale’s testimony. That ended the plot. Then, the two commissioners told Awujale that the meeting would be reconvened between the Awujale, Baba Adegunwa, Gbengande, and the two elders. That meeting has not held till date. That was the end of the enquiry.
I’ve had testimonies before. I’ve tested God and he has always answered me. My first trip to Mecca, before witnesses, I tested God, and He answered me. The greatest testimony I’ve had in my life was deliverance from the plot of dethronement. I was a goner, but God intervened. When I remember that day sometimes, I get emotional.
15 years on the throne, what development has your reign brought to the town?
First, let me say it again that there won’t be meaningful progress where peace is missing. We also need the attitude to serve. I always advise my fellow monarchs who often complain about their domain and people that if they have the right attitude to serve, leading their people will be easier.
When I ascended the throne, Ososa was primarily an agrarian sleepy town. Then, the town would just be empty and quiet. I was living in my father’s house, which I’d renovated. We would be seeing some children hawking. One day, I saw two toddlers fetching water. When I asked them if they would not be going to school, they said they were apprentices. I had assumed maybe they were learning any of the vocations. When I pressed further, they said they were learning herbal medicine. I was shocked to the marrow. Immediately, I arrested them and sent for their parents. That led me to establish an education trust fund. I also constituted water tax force and hired some people to monitor it.
In my first year on the throne, the best WAEC candidate in Ososa had just a credit. I was alarmed and worried. In 2010, the best WAEC result in Ogun State is a son of Ekuewu, Ogunde’s in-law. My son used to come from Lagos on weekends to teach the students Mathematics. I was going to the only public school almost every other day. Now, I don’t need to go there. I am happy that Ososa Comprehensive School represents Ogun State in a competition today. We thank God. I galvanised some of my friends to improve on the infrastructure.
When Bigi drinks came, I told my people to ask them what they would do in the school. They eventually built an ICT building. Ososa in Diaspora built the school fence. The gate house was built by one of the indigenes living in Canada, Oworu. What is more important is not what I have done, but the development that has come to Ososa because of peace. The best way I can describe it to you is that I know some communities here in Ijebu land that haven’t witnessed a fraction of what we have seen here in Ososa.
Before now, our people weren’t going to our community health centre due to the deplorable state of the facility. We’ve upgraded the facility now, our people besiege the place and I’m happy. I built standard doctors’ quarters there and got NYSC to be giving us doctors every year. I also used to go there for consultation. I built a surgical theatre. I built a two-room accommodation for nurses. The imposing clinic there used to be a shed, which was done by Rotary Foundation. I rallied some Ososa indigenes in London, who raised funds to build that space. We commissioned it either last or this year.
Also, I do free medical outreaches, sometimes twice in a year. I usually call my colleagues to give me a helping hand. We still did free medical care during our 15th year anniversary on August 7. We’ve been able to attract more investors and this I do almost every time.
You just returned from London a few days ago. What benefits does your trip bring to Ososa?
Firstly, I went for medicals as I haven’t travelled for three years and I have doctors there. In the process, I had a number of dinners. For instance, the Ijebu-Ode Boys Club hosted me. The Alatishes hosted me. In one of the dinners, they decided to raise funds for me, and surprisingly, they donated close to N2m. Immediately, I told them that the money wasn’t meant for me but would be used to do something in Ososa. I also said they will now be doing same thing annually and they agreed. We may use that money for scholarship purposes.
The icing on the cake was Segun Odegbami, my friend. While we were discussing in one of the dinners, a guy, who followed our discussion, approached me with a proposal to begin a football academy. I saw that as an opportunity and quickly asked if they would like to establish such at Ososa. The guy showed enthusiasm and agreed to come to Ososa, provided we can get them land for that purpose. But I insisted that it will be Ososa Football Academy, and he accepted. I’m happy that some of our kids are good at football. There’s a fellow living in our town on my invitation, who has a football team. I’ve already discussed the idea with elders in the town and I see them embracing it. The academy is likely to be sited at the first secondary school site.
Is there a plan to revive Ogunde village, which has been abandoned for years?
Yes, I am the king, but not a member of Ogunde’s family. I happened to be Baba’s personal physician in the last four years of his life. That happened by accident, too. When I became the Gbegande, I was interested in making Ayo Ogunde Baba Oba, because he was very kind to me, approachable, and well-disposed. I suggested to him that his family should allow us to make Baba’s house a museum. We’re also talking about the film village. The best we can do is to attract government’s presence there and this administration in Ogun is aware of that. The current Chief of Staff to Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was Commissioner for Tourism, has been here and made promises.
What do you miss from medical practice?
I don’t miss anything because I still practice. I’m always involved in free medicals for my people. Before the end of this year, I may still organise another one and that gives me so much joy. Besides that, I have a scan room in my palace, which I personally handle because I’m an expert in ultra-scan. When we first started, it was free, but now, we collect a minimal amount. Also, my hospital, which I oversee, still runs. Whenever they have issues, I go to assist them.
What’s your plan for Ososa Day?
It’s a fantastic idea, though not my baby. It is the baby of Ososa United Society (OUS) and I am very happy for them. Those pioneering the feat need help to advance the course of the day. Those promoting the day should be supported, especially Dr. Adewunmi, who is now advance in age. We need corporate organisations and individuals to support the day.