Elekole

OBA ADETUNLA ADELEYE: LIKE HE THAT SERVETH 

By

Okan Seye Adetunmbi, 9/10/10

For any monarch to have reigned for 52 years on his ancestral throne in an environment where life expectancy is put at 46 years, it is indeed remarkable and calls for celebration. Contemporarily around the world, natural rulers celebrating 50 golden years on the throne of their forefathers are very few. His Royal Majesty, King Adetunla Adeleye II, Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Egbe-Oba Kingdom in his lifetime, was in this rare category in the contemporary Africa. His Majesty, Elekole Oyinyo was in the league of Her Imperial Majesty, the octogenarian Queen Elizabeth who was crowned on June 2nd 1953. Apart from the life expectancy limitations; traditionally, relatively mature people in their 30s, 40s 50s and above, are predominantly considered to rule their communities in Africa. This often puts limitations to the subsequent years spent on the throne. Except for the young King of Agbor in Delta State of Nigeria who came on the throne at the age of 4 years old and he is bound to practically spend his lifetime on the throne which in a matter of time would make him stand out God willing on the total number of years spent on the ancestral throne.
A peek into the history of royal fathers in Yoruba land and their ascension to the throne of their forefathers revealed that most of them who became king before 1950s had little or no formal western education. This to some extent limited their ability to reach out beyond their domain. It was indeed a wise decision on the part of Ikole king makers to endorse the choice of their quintessential Prince Adetunla Adeleye who trained as a Teacher in Wesley College (1950 set), Ibadan to take-up the mantle of leadership in Egbe-Oba Kingdom in January 1958 as the 31st Elekoke of Ikole-Ekiti.

Relatively, the unique Ikole people, the hometown of eminent Nigerian families such as the Oyebodes, Olatawuras, Ade-Ajayis, Adeloyes, Ogunleyes, Kolawoles, Filanis, Odupayes, Ibitoyes, Oguntuases, Bamigboyes, Ogunlayis, Onipedes, etc; are counting their blessings today. In the past 52 years Ikole had been in the national limelight. Their sons and daughters have recorded so many laurels in academics, judiciary, commerce and other human endeavours. Also in terms of state and federal government presence, Ikole Local Government Area had its own share all these years.

No doubt, the year 2008 was special to Egbe-Oba Kingdom in Ekiti State of Nigeria and Adeleye royal family. This was the year the indisputable one of the most venerated oldest reigning monarchs in Yoruba nation, Oba Adetunla Adeleye II attained 50 graceful years on the throne of Elekole and marked his 80th birthday anniversary. Monarch Elekole indubitably stood in royalty as the bridge between the first generation of Yoruba monarchs who were highly revered, and the modern day respected Kings in Nigeria. Until his transition, he represented the living knowledge of the past and present monarchs in Yoruba nation. It was indeed a privilege having him in the midst of the Obas who ascended the throne of their forefathers in the 1970s till date. One respected King known for the influence and impact of a royalty directed towards improving the lot of his subjects and kingdom. His reign saw to the modernisation of the monarchy in tandem with many social changes that took place over the past years.

     King Oyinyo built a new palace (Aofin Ogbogbomaja) and a chapel for the royal community, first of its kind in Ekiti-State and its environs. As if he had premonition of a remarkable reign, he adopted the official name of “Oyinyo s’aiye Ikole” i.e. bring forth ‘salt’ (good tidings) for his people. Thus, the ellipsis of his official name was “King Oyinyo”.

Of course, holding forte in an exalted position of this nature in a developing environment that traversed military regime to democratic dispensation certainly comes with confronts. Expectedly, the devout Christian background and experiences over the years of King Adeleye saw him through. Any King who had the privilege of sitting in conference with the then best of the most revered royal fathers in the old western region such as: Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi, Olojudo Olayisade, Ooni Sir Adesoji Aderemi, Alafin Adeyemi I, Oba Akenzua of Benin, Ogoga Fabikun, Oba Ladega Ayangburin of Ikorodu, Alake Sir Ademola, Oore Oyinloye, Sir Olateru Olagbegi, Oba Awolesi Akarigbo of Ijebu-Remo, Olu of Warri, Owa Ijesha Land, Deji Akure, Timi of Ede Oba Laoye, Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, Osemawe Atewogboye of Ondo, Odemo Ishara etc must have seen it all.

I have always been fascinated by the inscription of the dictum of King Oyinyo on the marble floor of “Aofin Ogbogbomaja” which says; “Eni ti yi o te aye lorun a ko i ti bi” (person who will please the whole world is yet to be born). His official motto is entrenched in Philippians 4:13; “the monarch has the strength to face all conditions by the power Christ gives him”. This tells a lot about the disposition of the archetypal monarch of all times who also subscribed to the philosophy of “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”. His people hailed the befitting temple to worship his God which stands tall in Ikole district characterized with 360 deities. His charge to Christians is that it is all a matter of time for idol worshiping to go into oblivion when there are no devotees of such gods.

Kabiyesi, Elekole Oyinyo a family man and dutiful grass root person to the core which endeared him to his Chiefs and all other ranks of his subjects. No sacrifice was too much for King Oyinyo to attend to the needs of his people and loved ones. Oba Elekole was a great planner with a distinct perspective vision for the empowerment of his subjects and advancement of his domain in all ramifications of life. He kept to the traditional periodic meetings with his chiefs which are held on schedule. There is every 9-day (traditional 1 week) meeting of Ikanse (Ikole Traditional Executive Council) as the situation permitted and other relevant cultural festivals that are capable of sustaining communal living in harmony.

The King’s typical day started at 5am, break time at 2 - 4pm and his bed time was at 10pm. Sometimes he set out very early in the morning for a long journey to attend ceremonies on invitation of his subjects, friends and fellow Obas. One must give credit of the knack for keeping to time to Kabiyesi. These were among other reasons why his majesty always had people around him whenever it came to his own royal functions. Memory of 1994 is evergreen when Ikole did not sleep until the monarch and his chiefs came back from Mina where we have gone to bring home the bride for the oldest prince of the royal family, my friend, Justice Adekunle Adeleye; after a successful wedding ceremony, where I was the best man. A meticulous Oba who had an office within his private apartment to enable him attends to official matters at home as the need arose in his lifetime.

    A great lover of good Church music, I cherished every moment I spent with him. Likewise the encounters with the king and my uncle, D. O. Adelusi a.k.a. “uncle Nimbus” (1927-2007) his friend and classmate at Wesley College, Ibadan; who in some instances played the king’s piano during visits from Ilupeju-Ekiti to the palace while we sang descant along with kabiyesi to the admiration of his majesty. Interestingly, my maternal grandfather Pa D. Adelusi Ojo (circa 1870-1950) a.k.a. Ojo onilepanu (man with steel roofing sheet house) was very close to the palace of Elekole and actively participated in the final rites of Oba Atewogboye Adeleye I (the father of King Oyinyo) in 1936.

Amiable kabiyesi was blessed with his marriage on 30/12/1956 to Eyesorun Ayo Adeleye (nee Opeseitan) a trained Teacher turned a successful business woman in her lifetime. Olori Ayo will go down in history as a resourceful mother, the most enterprising and supportive Eyesorun to the Elekole royal family. She was survived by Princesses Jumoke, Temilade, Bisi, Adetomilola, Adebimpe and Princes Adekunle, Adedamola and Adedayo. The Christ in King Oyinyo sustained him to bear the irreparable loss of his virtuous wife in 2004 and beloved ones among other challenges all these years. Kabiyesi was also blessed with Olori Yemisi Adeleye and her children. The Olori took care of the monarch and survived him to the glory of God.

      King Adeleye was the only child of Olori Tinuola and one of the children of the 29th Elekole, Oba Atewogboye Adeleye I (1917-1936). A product of St Paul’s Anglican School, Ikole where he passed through the tutelage of Chief J.E. Babatola who later became Minister of Education in the old western region; started his teaching career at Wesley School in Sagamu in 1951. Posting took him in 1953 to Divisional Teacher Training College, Ikare in preference to his initial posting to Ifaki, a nodal town in Ekiti-State. He was just settling down in 1957 for Advanced Teachers’ Certificate Course at the Nigerian College of Arts and Science, Zaria when the clarion call came. He was the youngest among the 9 members of Amerijoye Ruling House who indicated interest to succeed Elekole Falowo Fafure who reigned 1937-1957. On January 15 1958, Chief J. O. Osuntokun, Minister in the Western Region; the District Officer Mr D. Howard and Chief Arokodare, Secretary of Ekiti District Council came to Ikole to formally announce the approval of the Government of old western region of the popular choice of Elekole Adeleye II at the age of 29+ years.

    Ascension of King Oyinyo indisputably opened a new chapter in the history of Egbe-Oba kingdom. On the 23/4/1958, King Adeleye delivered his inaugural speech as the President Ikole District Council charging the new elected councilors which reassured the community of the right choice of the new king. He also served as the President of Ikole Customary Court in 1958. On 6th May 1958 he joined the western region conference of chiefs in Benin which had Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of western region of Nigeria in attendance and delivered an address that received a standing ovation.

    His dynamism as one of the few educated and vibrant monarchs at that time attracted more responsibilities to him beyond Egbe-Oba kingdom. 1959 to 1960 he served on the board of western region Finance Corporation. While Sir Adesoji Aderemi was the Chairman of the regional conference of Obas he served as the Secretary in the early 1960s. He was elected into the House of Chiefs in 1960 during which he contributed intelligently to the debates at the upper house of the old western region. This also qualified him for the membership of the commonwealth parliamentary association and as the first elected Ikole legislature. He was appointed Minister without portfolio in 1963 during which he also proved his mantle accordingly. Kabiyesi served as a member Ondo provincial council in 1961; Chairman of local government review committee set-up by Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi in 1971; Spokesman of traditional rulers when Irikefe commission visited Ondo province in 1975; Chairman of Ondo State council of chiefs in 1981 during which he initiated convergence of the 5 western states Obas at Akure, the first of its kind after the first republic; member of the national council of states 1980-1984; Chairman of Ekiti State elders council in 1997; Chairman of Ekiti State council of Obas in 2004; Chairman board of governors, Ansar-Ud-Deen High School and Egbe-Oba High School, Ikole for many years and member of Ondo State committee of the national council on education for citizenship.

      The gregarious monarch had always exhibited distinction in his choice of royal robes, carriage and all his endeavors over the ages. Rover 3-litre engine with registration number WP5050 stood King Adeleye out when it was bought in 1961, there were only 3 of its kind then in Nigeria. The widely traveled king participated in the annual conference of international local government authorities held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983. A diligent and perceptive Oba who was conscious of the responsibilities ahead of him on the throne and made out provision to embark on trading in farm produce and general merchandise as early as 1964 to augment his sources of income. This helped him a great deal to supplement the meager allowances payable to him as an Oba. His main pastime in the younger days was hunting which he did passionately and was a unique marksman when he aimed any game. A well rounded father, grandfather and one of the very privileged few who can be classified as royalty personified.

    What else can one say about a genial monarch who through grace of God for 52 years, he successfully interacted with over 22 Chief Executives of the Stat   e; 7 in the old western region, 10 in old Ondo-State and 6 in Ekiti State. He must have been guided by the reality of constitutional provisions that an Oba has no choice than to be loyal to every incumbent administration it does not matter if the king feels otherwise about the party/persons in government. A revered Yoruba king; in age, experience, persona and years on the throne stood out like a magnificent cathedral in the midst of regular buildings. Apparently, the federal government of Nigeria appreciated the privilege of having him as a prominent member of the traditional institution in Nigeria and his valuable contributions to the callings of his ancestral throne and conferred him the Commander of the Niger (CON) in 1983 and later Commander of Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR). His tenure was one reign that confirmed the adage that a sharp cutlass cannot cut on its own without a pilot. It is not the office, title or constitutional powers that do the job; it is the innate character of the person in charge that makes the difference. I say congratulations to Ikole people and the royal family for the divine choice in 1958. Indeed, the royal majesty, King Adetunla Adeleye II fought a good fight. To God be the glory for the 82 graceful years. He rested in the lord on October 2, 2010 to join his ancestors.

Shaaki Olokun

Kiniun Ekiti

Omo Elekole Atewogboye 

Ebiti ka o ponyin s'oro 

Omi se sirisiri gbe ni 

Ikole ri un m’aso se, o d'ala b'ose 

E i s'oju un riro, esidale ran ni 

Elekole Obalayaso

Oba Adetunla Adeleye II

Igirabatalokun

Oyinyo s'aiye Ikole 

O tu Ikole te, b'oni te'fa

Amumu amama, 

Oloju aribanija kei koni lominu 

Okan soso ajanaku ke i m'igbo kijikiji 

Shaaki re o Oba Oyinyo 

One in a million!

Continue to rest in peace sir.