We are overdue for basic amenities – Owalare of Ilare-Ijesa

Oba Emmanuel Adejoro Otebolaku is the
Owalare of Ilare-Ijesa in Osun State. In this
interview by TUNDE BUSARI, he speaks on his
adventure, tortuous journey from the sleepy
community to the Nigerian Army and back
home.
Is it true that Ilare-Ijesa is the first Ijesa town
in history?
Thank you very much for your effort. You
have, by this, shown to me that you are a
thorough bred journalist who seems to take
interest in investigation.
Let me tell you and emphasise it that your
finding is right. Ilare-Ijesha is the first Ijesa
community to have settled here before other
communities settled at their different locations.
History is a rich subject, which I want to urge
our government to bring back to our school
curriculum. If our students are taught History,
they will get some important information they
ought to know and understand before they grow
to adulthood. And this information will help them
in understanding their environment, their people,
their culture and other divergent composition of
Nigeria, for instance. I am sure you were
shocked when you read and found out this truth.
Ilare-Ijesa remains in history as the first Ijesa
community.
Then why is the town smaller than other Ijesa
towns like Ilesa, Ijebu-jesa, to mention but a
few?
In the context of the size you are talking about, I
am a Christian who believes in the workings of
God, the creator of us all. God determines what
becomes of his creatures in life. Don’t we all see
how young men become governors over their
seniors who work for them? Let me say that it
is not about size. It is about the peace the town
enjoys. I want to tell you sincerely that in Ilare-
Ijesa, we enjoy uninterrupted peace as you will
confirm when you move round the town.
Everybody goes about his and her daily business
without disturbing one another. If this is what we
have, I thank God because it is not so in other
places. Again, the size does not remove the
historical position of Ilare-Ijesa among other
towns.
I am particularly concerned about the state of
infrastructural facilities. Do you share this with
me?
I should share it with you because no traditional
ruler will want his town to be on the same spot
forever, in terms of infrastructural development. I
agree with you that we are not getting what we
ought to have gotten a long time ago. For
instance, Ilare-Ijesa was the headquarters of
Obokun North Local Government, which the late
Chief Bola Ige administration set up in the
Second Republic. But when the military took over
in December 31, 1983 coup, the arrangement
was later reversed. But I am happy to tell you
that after 33 years or so, Ilare-Ijesa is again the
headquarters of Obokun East Development Area.
We appreciate the gesture by Governor, Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola for reconsidering my town as
the headquarters. It means what we lost in 1984,
we have back in 2017. It is symbolic and we are
thankful to the government. As a traditional ruler,
I can only show this appreciation and also
appeal to the government to remember the state
of our basic amenities. We are overdue for these
things as a town which is always faithful and
supportive to the government. It is in our
character to always support government policies,
even if the policies don’t favour us. We believe
that this new council will bring the development
we long desire.
READ ALSO Ilare: First Ijesa community
living in the past
I also learnt that your town lives mostly on
communal service?
That is the truth of the matter. I am blessed
with children who have genuine interest of the
town at heart. That is what I said earlier about
the peace we enjoy in the town. My children
understand what happened and pull resources
together to improve the state of the town. I am
happy to tell you that one of them is the one
building the secretariat of the new development
area as his contribution for the smooth take off
of the work. Is this not a grace of God? I want
you to visit that place and assess the building. It
is a modern secretariat which is going to be
equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities.
When did you ascend the throne sir?
I was installed on December 25, 1981.
On Christmas day?
Yes. You are surprised because it is a unique
day, a special day for Christians. It makes my
coming to the throne more historic.
How was it done with the festivities in town?
It was well organized that after the installation,
we went straight for thanksgiving.
How did you even emerge?
I emerged the way I should emerge because the
process had the hand of God in it. We have
three ruling houses from which we rotate the
kingship. I come from Ogidan ruling house and
15 aspirants came out to show interest.
What did you think gave you the ticket, if I am
permitted to call it so?
There was nothing that gave me the edge over
other aspirants than the will of God. I am not
saying God does not like others. God loves all of
us but He is the one, the only one that
determines what we would become in life.
What were you doing before the succession
issue came?
I was in the Nigerian Army at the 31 Infantry
Brigade in Makurdi. I discharged when the issue
of succession came up because there was no
way I could combine the two. Apart from the
fact that Makurdi is far from Ilare-Ijesa, the issue
deserved all the attention.
READ ALSO Ilare: First Ijesa community
living in the past
When and how did you join the army?
I joined in 1968 voluntarily. It was during the civil
war. As a young man, I felt I should take part in
the war to save Nigeria from disintegration. That
was what inspired me and others. My first
posting was the Third Marine Commando under
the command of Colonel Benjamin Adekunle. The
experience in the war is nothing one can forget
forever. It was tough but the joy of it was that
the purpose was achieved. We brought peace
back to the country and we became one again.
Are we one in the true sense of it?
Because you said this is not a political interview,
let me restrict myself to the palace and the
throne. But I must not forget to tell you that
there is nothing like peace. If you had been at
the battlefront, you will not wish we go to war
again.
I have spoken with some Obas who said they
had the prophesy in their childhood. Did you
also?
It is true. I can recollect that when I was going
to the army, a prophet told me that I would still
return to Ilare if I did not die in service. I heard
this message but did not take it serious because
I was so engrossed in building a good career in
the army.
Between 1981 and 1991, that is, your first 10
years on the throne, how can you describe that
period?
There was no problem. I had a good relationship
with my people. Everything was okay. Wherever
you have peace-loving people, you don’t have
anything to worry about. That was the grace I
have.
Can you say your military experience is
beneficial to you on the throne?
The experience helps me greatly. Nigerian Army
has one of the best training in the world. If you
pass through the training, you will not be the
same again. That is why they say once a soldier,
always a soldier. It is a lifetime experience,
whether you are in service or retired. I thank God
I was in the army because the experience made
me a better person. So applying those trainings
in the palace is easy for me.
Isn’t the palace boring for a former active
soldier?
The palace cannot be boring. It is home to
everybody. It is hardly free of human traffic on
daily basis. Kabiyesi must make himself
available to his subjects, listen to them and
resolve their issues.
You have council headquarters now, what else
do you think government should do for your
town?
The road from Ijebu-Ijesa, which connects Iwoye,
Esa-Odo down here to Otan-Ile, should be
completed. The work stopped just a few
kilometers to Ilare. Government should help us,
especially now that road is the location of the
secretariat.