MEET ALAAFIN IKU BABA YEYE IKEJI ORISA
BIOGRAPHY OF ALAAFIN OF OYO EARLY LIFE.
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the present Alaafin of
Oyo from Adeyemi branch of Alowolodu family, was born on
October 15, 1938. He is the current Alaafin of Oyo the
acclaimed traditional empire of Yoruba land situates in the
current Oyo State of Nigeria. During his late childhood
stage, he lived briefly at Iseyin where he learnt the basic
rudiments of Islamic.
The Old Oyo Empire has been said to have existed without
interruption for a period of about 600 years. In the olden
days, the Alaafin was an absolute ruler. He is also called by
other names which include Kabiyesi (the King Who No One
Can Question), Iku Baba Yeye (The One Who Can Command
Death or Pronounce Same Upon His Father or Mother Or He
Who Is Parent To Death), Alashe (He Who Wields Authority),
Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-Command to gods).
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III is the son of Oba
Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and
sent into exile in the year 1954 for having sympathy for the
National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Oba Adeyemi
II had come into conflict with the then deputy leader of the
Action Group. It was in the year 1971 that Lamidi Adeyemi
succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II. This happened
shortly after the end of the Nigerian civil war, when Colonel
Robert Adeyinka Adebayo was the governor. Then, he was
working as an insurance clerk. Ascension to the Throne
As the usual practice in the selection of the new Alaafin,
after the death of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi
contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to become the
Alaafin. He then called for a meeting within Alowolodu royal
family. He informed them of his meeting with Oyomesi and
that he suggested his son, Sanda ‘Ladepo. All the members
of the family agreed to this except Baba Salami Dudu. Baba
Salami Dudu suggested Prince Lamidi Adeyemi a son to
Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll. The contention for the throne
of the Alaafin became more intense to the extent that some
of the princes from the larger royal families in Oyo became
contenders. Among these were Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin,
Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Prince Lamidi
Adeyemi, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola.
After all the intrigues, the present Alaafin (Oba Lamidi
Adeyemi Olayiwola III) emerged the Alaafin of Oyo in 1970
and was crowned on the 14th January, 1971. He had
married two of his wives Alhaja Olori Abibat Adeyemi (Iya
Dodo) and Alhaja Olori Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi (Iya
Ilekoto) before his ascension to the throne of his forebears.
Some of his notable children are Late Alhaja Kudirat
Akofade Erediuwa, Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi, Princess
Folasade Arewaomoba, Princess Taibat Adeyemi, Prince
Nurudeen Adesegun Adeyemi,Prince Akeem Adeniyi
Adeyemi (Skimeh), Prince Adebayo Fatai Adeyemi among
other
His Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, J.P,
CFR, LL.D. The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his imperial Majesty
Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a
monarch not with only but also with class. To say he is an
enigma by every standard is an
understatement, as many who had an interaction with him
testify that “a moment with him is like a exploratory
adventure through the school of history”.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III, no doubt, one of
Africa’s most powerful and most influential kings, has lived
two decades and over half a century into decades of heeding
the natural call of the gods and his people.
Here is an X-ray into the life of the great Traditional Icon,
who has held the Oyo Empire together in response to the
covenant he made with his people and the gods. Like the
saying goes, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, His imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.)
Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, would not agree any less to
this saying. As an insurance officer who became the Alaafin
of Oyo. The contest to his emergence began in 1968, when
he was invited along with ten others from his ruling house
to contest for the vacant stool of the Oyo Empire. As it was
the custom of the land, there were three parameters with
which the were judged. First was eligibility, second was
popularity and third, the stamina for the huge
responsibilities of the office of the Alaafinof Oyo.
Oba Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi emerged the first; defeating
ten others after a vigorous screening exercise. However,
due to what observer attested to be a political interference,
the then government “refused to endorse my appointment,
saying the procedure was not right” were the words of this
great monarch during one of the numerous interviews he
granted. So the process started over again with the same
result the second and the third time. Interestingly, despite
the immense pressure upon the Oyomesi ‘against his
candidature by the government, the Oyomesi stood it
ground. Thus the process was put in abeyance until after
the civil war, when the whole process started all over again.
To the relief of many and chagrin of the opposition, Oba
Adeyemi III was elected the winner and was finally chosen
by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970 and then moved
into the palace after completing the necessary rites under
the tutelage of the Oyomesi.
In the process, he was inducted into the mysteries of
various gods like the Ifa mysteries, and the Sango
mysteries. He was also made to undergo these inductions
in order to be the direct representative of these deities on
earth. He was taken through these processes so as to know
all the chants, the proverbs, oriki of all the past Obas. More
so, it was during the various purification and cleansing
processes, at the hallowed grounds of Yoruba ancient
shrine that Oba Adeyemi III made a covenant with the
illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect
and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition; vowing
to be the icon, the embodiment of Yoruba culture, And, he
had since then taken his covenant seriously and had
delivered the
dividends of his covenant.
At an impressive ceremony at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo
town, Oba Adeyemi III was presented with the staff of office
as the Alaafin of Oyo in the presence of thousand of
witnesses from all works of life by the then military
Governor of the Western State, Colonel (now retired
General)Adeyinka Adebayo. Then began the journey laden
with a huge responsibility to protect, defend, project the
cherished values of Yoruba customs and traditions with the
zeal and if need be to lay down his life defending those
values.
Fortunately, and much to the relief of the Oyo Empire and the
world, the need to lay down his life to defend Yoruba values
never arose, hence his 70 birthday celebration, with 38 out
of those years spent on the throne of his forefathers. The
philosophy behind the Alaafinate as an institution “is duty
for service and service to humanity”. This translates that:
once someone becomes the Alaafin, the totality of his life is
service to the people and
humanity in general. The Alaafin has no life of his own; day
and night he is for the service of the Yoruba race, nay
humanity.
In the cause of these many years, Oba Adeyemi III had
striven to work strictly in accordance with the oath he took
in the presence of the Oyomesi, on behalf of his
people. Being a self conscientious perfectionist, we make
bold to say that he has worked assiduously and tirelessly
with many
governments both at the state and federal levels:
Beginning with General Adeyinka Adebayo
(1971); Colonel Christopher Oluwole Rotimi,
(1971-75); Navy Captain Akintunde
Akinyoye, Aduwo, (August – September,
1975-83); Colonel David Mediaysese
Jemibewon (1975-78); Colonel Paul Tarfa
(1978-79); Chief Bola Ige the first elected
governor, (1979-83); Dr. Victor Omololu
Olunloyo second elected governor
(October- December 1983); Colonel
Oladayo Popoola, military governor
(1984-85); Colonel Adetunji Idowu Olurin,
military governor (1985-88); the late
Colonel Sasaeniyan Oresanya, military
governor (1988-90); late Colonel
Abdulkareem Adisa, military governor
(1990-92); Chief Kolapo Ishola, third elected
governor (1992-93); Naval Capitan Adetoye
Sode, military administrator (1993-94);
Colonolen Chinyere Ike Nwosu, military
administrator (1994-96); Colonel Ahmed
Usman, military administrator, (1996-98);
Compol Amen Edore Oyakhire, military
administrator (1998-99); Alhaji Lam
Adeshina fourth elected governor
(1999-2003); Senator Adewolu Ladoja
(2003-2007); Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala
(the incumbent governor).
At the federal level, he was worked with
General Yakubu Gowon, (1971-75); General
Muritala Mohammed (1977-76); General
Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979); Alhaji
Shehu Shagari, the first executive president
(1979-83); General Muhammed Buhari
(1984-85); General Ibrahim Badamosi
Babangida (1985-93); General Sani Abacha
(1998-99); General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); and
President Umaru Yar’Adua
During the agitation for the state creation in 1975, the
Alaafin was first to fire the salvo, coupled with the efforts of
others, the old Oyo, Ogun and Old Ondo States were
created. In recognition of his priceless and modest
contributions to national development, he was invited as the
only Oba from Yoruba land to perform the holy pilgrimage to
Mecca with General Muritala
Muhammed. Other traditional rulers on the trip were the late
Emir of Gwandu and the Otaru of Auchi, late Momodu
Ikelebe II. The Federal Government honoured this
great achiever with the national honour of CFR at the
National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, in 1979.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointed Kabiyesi Oba
Adeyemi as the pioneering Chancellor of then newly
established University of Sokoto, now Uthman Dan Fodio
University, Sokoto, for a first four-
year tenure. At the expiration of that first tenure, the senate
and council of the University recommended him for another
term. The president and visitor to the university graciously
approved the request,thus he was appointed for a second
term. And at the expiration of the second term, in
an unprecedented manner, has was
appointed for yet another term, the third term, thus giving
him a total of 12 years as the Chancellor of the university, a
feat yet to be matched by anybody in the annals of
chancellorship of university of Nigeria.
It must be noted that for the period of those years, Oba
Adeyemi III presented several academic and reasoned
memoranda on the
university education and on contemporary issues published
both nationally and internationally. The university, in
appreciation to his contributions and achievements,
honoured him with the Degree of Doctor of Letters (LL.D),
Honoris Causa. At the time of Oba’s
Chancellor, the university recorded
absolute peace as normal calendar was never disrupted for
a day.
The monarch, in January 1988, installed. Chief MKO Abiola
as the Aare Ona Kankanfo in recognition of Abiola’s
contributions to the social, economic, cultural and political
development of Yoruba land and Nigeria at large. Two years
later, the Federal Government under the administration of
General Ibrahim Babangida, appointed the Alaafin as the
Amiru Hajj operation to lead
the Muslim faithful in the 21 states of the federation. The
report of that year’s Hajj operation remained the yardstick of
measuring the success of Hajj operations in the country till
date.
At his primary constituency as a Paramount foremost
traditional ruler in Yoruba land, Oba Adeyemi III used his
position to better the lots of many Obas, lifting many non
crown wearing Obas to the status of
beaded crown wearers, not to mention his consistent fight
for the improvement of their (the Obas’) welfare at all times.
These Obas spread through Oyo, Osun and Ogun. Some of
those who benefited from this gesture were the Olubadan of
Ibadan Adebimpe and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh
Oyewunmi Ajagungbade. “Following
the powerful motion I moved at the floor of the Old Oyo
State house of Chiefs, the government approved the beaded
crown of the two traditional in 1976”. The monarch
said.
In 1975, the Onjo of Okeho got elevated. In1977, the Onitede
of Tede, Oba Olulokuntoo got the beaded crown. In 1979,
the
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Mashood Osuola, alsogot the beaded
crown. Timi of Ede, the late Oba Oyelusi Tijani Agbaran II,
also got
elevated. In 1980 and 1981, Oba of Kisi, Oba Yusuf
Ariwajoye and Okere of Saki, Oba Abimbola Oyedokun, and
Sabi Iganna got promoted respectively. Others were the
Baale of Ile-Ogbo, who got elevated to the status of an Oba
to Olu of Ile-Ogbo in1995, Olubu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye
Olaniyan who got his own in 1986. Alayegun of Ode-Omu,
Akire of Ikire-Ile, Akirun of
Ikirun, Aree of Ire, Olunisa of Inisha, all in Osun State also
got beaded crown, courtesy of the Alaafin. Baale of Igboora,
Jacob Oyerogba got elevated as a crown wearing
Oba with the title of Olu of Igboora in 2001. In Ogun State,
the Oba of Ipokia got the beaded crown got elevated at the
instance
of the Alaafin. Last but not the least, Baale of Igangan,
Lasisi-Aribiyan got elevated to the status of an Oba as Oba
Lasisi Aribiyan, the Asigangan of Igangan and was awarded
beaded crown in 2002.
As a matter of fact, Oba Adeyemi III presented the crown to
all
of them at various towns with pump and pageantry. In the
exercise of his power as the Chairman of the Council of
Obas and Chiefs, in 1977, he caused meeting of the Council
to be moved and be held in his
palace in Oyo. Childhood Crown Prince Lamidi Atanda
Olayiwola Adeyemi’s father Late Oba (Alhaji) Adeniran
Adeyemi II, being a staunch Muslim, mapped out his son’s
journey into education, starting from the Quranic Schoolin
Iseyin. He (Prince Lamidi) later went back
to Oyo but not into the palace. Rather, hestayed with the
head master, St. Andrews Primary School (now St. Andrews
College), proceeding thereafter to live with the Alakeof Egba,
Oba Oladepo Ademola, in his
palace. Prince Atanda’s education met a dead end
following the 1947-48 demonstration of Egba women
against “tax without representation” led by Mrs Funmilayo
Ransome Kuti. The effect forced Oba Ademola to abdicate
his throne to live in exile at Osogbo.That period was Prince
Adeyemi’s introduction into the other side of life he had
never imagined to have existed. Mosquitos, home chores
and lots more became his duty. But as they say, hardship
only makes one tougher.
His father sent for him in 1948 and later sent him to live with
Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos.
While in Keffi, he attended Obalende Modern School, owned
by Pa Domingo; father of the renowned musician Adeyomi
Domingo. He later attended Tinubu Methodist School
overlooking the famed fountain, the first General Bank. Oba
Adeyemi came second in his Entrance Examination into
secondary schools inLagos Island and was offered places at
two
great schools Igbobi College and St. Gregory’s College,
Obalende. He chose to attend St. Gregory’s College
Obalende in accordance to his guardian’s wish. Obalende
was a cross-cultural settlement and living in there required
wit and will, otherwise one will be walked over.
Oba Adeyemi III lived in tough areas of Lagos Island. Places
like Faji, Olowogbowo and the famed Ojuolomokoto. His
Sport Life
All work and no play they say, makes Jack a dull boy. The
ruler as many may have known and as many will find
incredulous, is a sportsman. Before his ascension on to the
throne of his forefathers, he trained and still trains as a
boxer. He runs; jogs and plays football. Typically of him if
time permits, he does as much as six kilometres and skips
the rope. His Growing Up The Crown Prince Atanda
Adeyemi could have grown in luxury and affluence as a
royal son should, but his growing was a far cry to what
could have been.
His father though not read appreciated the value of
education through the contact he had with the British
Administrative Officers that came to the Old Oyo Empire.
Consequently, he
lived to fight tooth and nail to see that his son was well
read. Needless to say, Oba Adeyemi III left St. Gregory’s
College with very good grade and had the choice to study
Law, Economics or Public Relations. He chose to study Law
because he majored in English doing both narrative and
descriptive essays; coupled with a good retentive memory
and a fantastic ability to remember dates and people, he felt
his future in Law was secured. Little did he know that fate
has other plans in stock for him. His quest for Law changed
when his father was deposed on February 14 , 1946 two
days to the planned travel abroad. He was offered a job at
the Royal Exchange Assurance, Marina, Lagos. Despite the
fact that he had landed where his dreams could not carry
him, he made the best of every situation fate presented him.
He wrote articles under pen names in newspapers, writing
about himself and his experience.
One of his numerous articles was entitled" I SHALL BE
GREAT" in 1968 and a year later, he wrote yet another one:
"I shall be the next Alaafin". He wrote critiques of how the
Nigerian teachers were treated, having been inspired by the
state in which he saw one of his old teachers in a tattered
shirt and tie. He wrote yet another entitled. "Women
Liberation: A misnomer in Yoruba land". This may not be
unrelated to his view that women in the Oyo Empire were, in
his words, “at least very active”.
Shortly after his stay at the Royal Exchange Assurance, he
was promoted into the 14 Floor into specialist area of
obligatory
Facultative Insurance and Internal memo drafting. He began
to earn lots of money but his father gave a strict instruction
that the must invest every penny that came his
way. Consequently, Oba Adeyemi III ventured into business
buying wrecked cars to repair
and resell. Oba Adeyemi’s journey had not been on a
smooth path, rather he rode on the high stormy sea, sun-
burnt mountains and
many times on rock hilly parts. Having lost his mother,
Ibironke, at an early age, he had little or no motherly touch
and never had to stay for a long while with his father. He
was almost always a lonely man. But his dreams and
determination for success drove him heeding the calls of the
gods, forgetting his own personal life for the sake of others,
he has become an Icon, undoubtedly an Iroko tree: where
all birds from the universe find their rest.
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the present Alaafin of
Oyo from Adeyemi branch of Alowolodu family, was born on
October 15, 1938. He is the current Alaafin of Oyo the
acclaimed traditional empire of Yoruba land situates in the
current Oyo State of Nigeria. During his late childhood
stage, he lived briefly at Iseyin where he learnt the basic
rudiments of Islamic.
The Old Oyo Empire has been said to have existed without
interruption for a period of about 600 years. In the olden
days, the Alaafin was an absolute ruler. He is also called by
other names which include Kabiyesi (the King Who No One
Can Question), Iku Baba Yeye (The One Who Can Command
Death or Pronounce Same Upon His Father or Mother Or He
Who Is Parent To Death), Alashe (He Who Wields Authority),
Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-Command to gods).
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III is the son of Oba
Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and
sent into exile in the year 1954 for having sympathy for the
National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Oba Adeyemi
II had come into conflict with the then deputy leader of the
Action Group. It was in the year 1971 that Lamidi Adeyemi
succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II. This happened
shortly after the end of the Nigerian civil war, when Colonel
Robert Adeyinka Adebayo was the governor. Then, he was
working as an insurance clerk. Ascension to the Throne
As the usual practice in the selection of the new Alaafin,
after the death of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi
contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to become the
Alaafin. He then called for a meeting within Alowolodu royal
family. He informed them of his meeting with Oyomesi and
that he suggested his son, Sanda ‘Ladepo. All the members
of the family agreed to this except Baba Salami Dudu. Baba
Salami Dudu suggested Prince Lamidi Adeyemi a son to
Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll. The contention for the throne
of the Alaafin became more intense to the extent that some
of the princes from the larger royal families in Oyo became
contenders. Among these were Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin,
Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Prince Lamidi
Adeyemi, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola.
After all the intrigues, the present Alaafin (Oba Lamidi
Adeyemi Olayiwola III) emerged the Alaafin of Oyo in 1970
and was crowned on the 14th January, 1971. He had
married two of his wives Alhaja Olori Abibat Adeyemi (Iya
Dodo) and Alhaja Olori Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi (Iya
Ilekoto) before his ascension to the throne of his forebears.
Some of his notable children are Late Alhaja Kudirat
Akofade Erediuwa, Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi, Princess
Folasade Arewaomoba, Princess Taibat Adeyemi, Prince
Nurudeen Adesegun Adeyemi,Prince Akeem Adeniyi
Adeyemi (Skimeh), Prince Adebayo Fatai Adeyemi among
other
His Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, J.P,
CFR, LL.D. The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his imperial Majesty
Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a
monarch not with only but also with class. To say he is an
enigma by every standard is an
understatement, as many who had an interaction with him
testify that “a moment with him is like a exploratory
adventure through the school of history”.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III, no doubt, one of
Africa’s most powerful and most influential kings, has lived
two decades and over half a century into decades of heeding
the natural call of the gods and his people.
Here is an X-ray into the life of the great Traditional Icon,
who has held the Oyo Empire together in response to the
covenant he made with his people and the gods. Like the
saying goes, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, His imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.)
Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, would not agree any less to
this saying. As an insurance officer who became the Alaafin
of Oyo. The contest to his emergence began in 1968, when
he was invited along with ten others from his ruling house
to contest for the vacant stool of the Oyo Empire. As it was
the custom of the land, there were three parameters with
which the were judged. First was eligibility, second was
popularity and third, the stamina for the huge
responsibilities of the office of the Alaafinof Oyo.
Oba Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi emerged the first; defeating
ten others after a vigorous screening exercise. However,
due to what observer attested to be a political interference,
the then government “refused to endorse my appointment,
saying the procedure was not right” were the words of this
great monarch during one of the numerous interviews he
granted. So the process started over again with the same
result the second and the third time. Interestingly, despite
the immense pressure upon the Oyomesi ‘against his
candidature by the government, the Oyomesi stood it
ground. Thus the process was put in abeyance until after
the civil war, when the whole process started all over again.
To the relief of many and chagrin of the opposition, Oba
Adeyemi III was elected the winner and was finally chosen
by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970 and then moved
into the palace after completing the necessary rites under
the tutelage of the Oyomesi.
In the process, he was inducted into the mysteries of
various gods like the Ifa mysteries, and the Sango
mysteries. He was also made to undergo these inductions
in order to be the direct representative of these deities on
earth. He was taken through these processes so as to know
all the chants, the proverbs, oriki of all the past Obas. More
so, it was during the various purification and cleansing
processes, at the hallowed grounds of Yoruba ancient
shrine that Oba Adeyemi III made a covenant with the
illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect
and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition; vowing
to be the icon, the embodiment of Yoruba culture, And, he
had since then taken his covenant seriously and had
delivered the
dividends of his covenant.
At an impressive ceremony at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo
town, Oba Adeyemi III was presented with the staff of office
as the Alaafin of Oyo in the presence of thousand of
witnesses from all works of life by the then military
Governor of the Western State, Colonel (now retired
General)Adeyinka Adebayo. Then began the journey laden
with a huge responsibility to protect, defend, project the
cherished values of Yoruba customs and traditions with the
zeal and if need be to lay down his life defending those
values.
Fortunately, and much to the relief of the Oyo Empire and the
world, the need to lay down his life to defend Yoruba values
never arose, hence his 70 birthday celebration, with 38 out
of those years spent on the throne of his forefathers. The
philosophy behind the Alaafinate as an institution “is duty
for service and service to humanity”. This translates that:
once someone becomes the Alaafin, the totality of his life is
service to the people and
humanity in general. The Alaafin has no life of his own; day
and night he is for the service of the Yoruba race, nay
humanity.
In the cause of these many years, Oba Adeyemi III had
striven to work strictly in accordance with the oath he took
in the presence of the Oyomesi, on behalf of his
people. Being a self conscientious perfectionist, we make
bold to say that he has worked assiduously and tirelessly
with many
governments both at the state and federal levels:
Beginning with General Adeyinka Adebayo
(1971); Colonel Christopher Oluwole Rotimi,
(1971-75); Navy Captain Akintunde
Akinyoye, Aduwo, (August – September,
1975-83); Colonel David Mediaysese
Jemibewon (1975-78); Colonel Paul Tarfa
(1978-79); Chief Bola Ige the first elected
governor, (1979-83); Dr. Victor Omololu
Olunloyo second elected governor
(October- December 1983); Colonel
Oladayo Popoola, military governor
(1984-85); Colonel Adetunji Idowu Olurin,
military governor (1985-88); the late
Colonel Sasaeniyan Oresanya, military
governor (1988-90); late Colonel
Abdulkareem Adisa, military governor
(1990-92); Chief Kolapo Ishola, third elected
governor (1992-93); Naval Capitan Adetoye
Sode, military administrator (1993-94);
Colonolen Chinyere Ike Nwosu, military
administrator (1994-96); Colonel Ahmed
Usman, military administrator, (1996-98);
Compol Amen Edore Oyakhire, military
administrator (1998-99); Alhaji Lam
Adeshina fourth elected governor
(1999-2003); Senator Adewolu Ladoja
(2003-2007); Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala
(the incumbent governor).
At the federal level, he was worked with
General Yakubu Gowon, (1971-75); General
Muritala Mohammed (1977-76); General
Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979); Alhaji
Shehu Shagari, the first executive president
(1979-83); General Muhammed Buhari
(1984-85); General Ibrahim Badamosi
Babangida (1985-93); General Sani Abacha
(1998-99); General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); and
President Umaru Yar’Adua
During the agitation for the state creation in 1975, the
Alaafin was first to fire the salvo, coupled with the efforts of
others, the old Oyo, Ogun and Old Ondo States were
created. In recognition of his priceless and modest
contributions to national development, he was invited as the
only Oba from Yoruba land to perform the holy pilgrimage to
Mecca with General Muritala
Muhammed. Other traditional rulers on the trip were the late
Emir of Gwandu and the Otaru of Auchi, late Momodu
Ikelebe II. The Federal Government honoured this
great achiever with the national honour of CFR at the
National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, in 1979.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointed Kabiyesi Oba
Adeyemi as the pioneering Chancellor of then newly
established University of Sokoto, now Uthman Dan Fodio
University, Sokoto, for a first four-
year tenure. At the expiration of that first tenure, the senate
and council of the University recommended him for another
term. The president and visitor to the university graciously
approved the request,thus he was appointed for a second
term. And at the expiration of the second term, in
an unprecedented manner, has was
appointed for yet another term, the third term, thus giving
him a total of 12 years as the Chancellor of the university, a
feat yet to be matched by anybody in the annals of
chancellorship of university of Nigeria.
It must be noted that for the period of those years, Oba
Adeyemi III presented several academic and reasoned
memoranda on the
university education and on contemporary issues published
both nationally and internationally. The university, in
appreciation to his contributions and achievements,
honoured him with the Degree of Doctor of Letters (LL.D),
Honoris Causa. At the time of Oba’s
Chancellor, the university recorded
absolute peace as normal calendar was never disrupted for
a day.
The monarch, in January 1988, installed. Chief MKO Abiola
as the Aare Ona Kankanfo in recognition of Abiola’s
contributions to the social, economic, cultural and political
development of Yoruba land and Nigeria at large. Two years
later, the Federal Government under the administration of
General Ibrahim Babangida, appointed the Alaafin as the
Amiru Hajj operation to lead
the Muslim faithful in the 21 states of the federation. The
report of that year’s Hajj operation remained the yardstick of
measuring the success of Hajj operations in the country till
date.
At his primary constituency as a Paramount foremost
traditional ruler in Yoruba land, Oba Adeyemi III used his
position to better the lots of many Obas, lifting many non
crown wearing Obas to the status of
beaded crown wearers, not to mention his consistent fight
for the improvement of their (the Obas’) welfare at all times.
These Obas spread through Oyo, Osun and Ogun. Some of
those who benefited from this gesture were the Olubadan of
Ibadan Adebimpe and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh
Oyewunmi Ajagungbade. “Following
the powerful motion I moved at the floor of the Old Oyo
State house of Chiefs, the government approved the beaded
crown of the two traditional in 1976”. The monarch
said.
In 1975, the Onjo of Okeho got elevated. In1977, the Onitede
of Tede, Oba Olulokuntoo got the beaded crown. In 1979,
the
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Mashood Osuola, alsogot the beaded
crown. Timi of Ede, the late Oba Oyelusi Tijani Agbaran II,
also got
elevated. In 1980 and 1981, Oba of Kisi, Oba Yusuf
Ariwajoye and Okere of Saki, Oba Abimbola Oyedokun, and
Sabi Iganna got promoted respectively. Others were the
Baale of Ile-Ogbo, who got elevated to the status of an Oba
to Olu of Ile-Ogbo in1995, Olubu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye
Olaniyan who got his own in 1986. Alayegun of Ode-Omu,
Akire of Ikire-Ile, Akirun of
Ikirun, Aree of Ire, Olunisa of Inisha, all in Osun State also
got beaded crown, courtesy of the Alaafin. Baale of Igboora,
Jacob Oyerogba got elevated as a crown wearing
Oba with the title of Olu of Igboora in 2001. In Ogun State,
the Oba of Ipokia got the beaded crown got elevated at the
instance
of the Alaafin. Last but not the least, Baale of Igangan,
Lasisi-Aribiyan got elevated to the status of an Oba as Oba
Lasisi Aribiyan, the Asigangan of Igangan and was awarded
beaded crown in 2002.
As a matter of fact, Oba Adeyemi III presented the crown to
all
of them at various towns with pump and pageantry. In the
exercise of his power as the Chairman of the Council of
Obas and Chiefs, in 1977, he caused meeting of the Council
to be moved and be held in his
palace in Oyo. Childhood Crown Prince Lamidi Atanda
Olayiwola Adeyemi’s father Late Oba (Alhaji) Adeniran
Adeyemi II, being a staunch Muslim, mapped out his son’s
journey into education, starting from the Quranic Schoolin
Iseyin. He (Prince Lamidi) later went back
to Oyo but not into the palace. Rather, hestayed with the
head master, St. Andrews Primary School (now St. Andrews
College), proceeding thereafter to live with the Alakeof Egba,
Oba Oladepo Ademola, in his
palace. Prince Atanda’s education met a dead end
following the 1947-48 demonstration of Egba women
against “tax without representation” led by Mrs Funmilayo
Ransome Kuti. The effect forced Oba Ademola to abdicate
his throne to live in exile at Osogbo.That period was Prince
Adeyemi’s introduction into the other side of life he had
never imagined to have existed. Mosquitos, home chores
and lots more became his duty. But as they say, hardship
only makes one tougher.
His father sent for him in 1948 and later sent him to live with
Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos.
While in Keffi, he attended Obalende Modern School, owned
by Pa Domingo; father of the renowned musician Adeyomi
Domingo. He later attended Tinubu Methodist School
overlooking the famed fountain, the first General Bank. Oba
Adeyemi came second in his Entrance Examination into
secondary schools inLagos Island and was offered places at
two
great schools Igbobi College and St. Gregory’s College,
Obalende. He chose to attend St. Gregory’s College
Obalende in accordance to his guardian’s wish. Obalende
was a cross-cultural settlement and living in there required
wit and will, otherwise one will be walked over.
Oba Adeyemi III lived in tough areas of Lagos Island. Places
like Faji, Olowogbowo and the famed Ojuolomokoto. His
Sport Life
All work and no play they say, makes Jack a dull boy. The
ruler as many may have known and as many will find
incredulous, is a sportsman. Before his ascension on to the
throne of his forefathers, he trained and still trains as a
boxer. He runs; jogs and plays football. Typically of him if
time permits, he does as much as six kilometres and skips
the rope. His Growing Up The Crown Prince Atanda
Adeyemi could have grown in luxury and affluence as a
royal son should, but his growing was a far cry to what
could have been.
His father though not read appreciated the value of
education through the contact he had with the British
Administrative Officers that came to the Old Oyo Empire.
Consequently, he
lived to fight tooth and nail to see that his son was well
read. Needless to say, Oba Adeyemi III left St. Gregory’s
College with very good grade and had the choice to study
Law, Economics or Public Relations. He chose to study Law
because he majored in English doing both narrative and
descriptive essays; coupled with a good retentive memory
and a fantastic ability to remember dates and people, he felt
his future in Law was secured. Little did he know that fate
has other plans in stock for him. His quest for Law changed
when his father was deposed on February 14 , 1946 two
days to the planned travel abroad. He was offered a job at
the Royal Exchange Assurance, Marina, Lagos. Despite the
fact that he had landed where his dreams could not carry
him, he made the best of every situation fate presented him.
He wrote articles under pen names in newspapers, writing
about himself and his experience.
One of his numerous articles was entitled" I SHALL BE
GREAT" in 1968 and a year later, he wrote yet another one:
"I shall be the next Alaafin". He wrote critiques of how the
Nigerian teachers were treated, having been inspired by the
state in which he saw one of his old teachers in a tattered
shirt and tie. He wrote yet another entitled. "Women
Liberation: A misnomer in Yoruba land". This may not be
unrelated to his view that women in the Oyo Empire were, in
his words, “at least very active”.
Shortly after his stay at the Royal Exchange Assurance, he
was promoted into the 14 Floor into specialist area of
obligatory
Facultative Insurance and Internal memo drafting. He began
to earn lots of money but his father gave a strict instruction
that the must invest every penny that came his
way. Consequently, Oba Adeyemi III ventured into business
buying wrecked cars to repair
and resell. Oba Adeyemi’s journey had not been on a
smooth path, rather he rode on the high stormy sea, sun-
burnt mountains and
many times on rock hilly parts. Having lost his mother,
Ibironke, at an early age, he had little or no motherly touch
and never had to stay for a long while with his father. He
was almost always a lonely man. But his dreams and
determination for success drove him heeding the calls of the
gods, forgetting his own personal life for the sake of others,
he has become an Icon, undoubtedly an Iroko tree: where
all birds from the universe find their rest.
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