By Tunde Abatan, tunde2013abatan@gmail.com 08165660217
Alaafin
The statement ” when beggars die,there are no comments but when a noble dies,heaven themselves sing Halleluyah to praise Him” is a truism at all times and in all clime.
Senate President mourns Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi lll
Hence,the level of emotional effusions and deep sorrow since the passage few days ago of Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi 111 has been as unique and unequalled as when some other sages produced by Yoruba land passed away decades ago.
Across political, cultural and social lines,the passage of Alaafin Adeyemi, easily the most glamorous,deep and iconic traditional ruler the Yoruba had had in the last forty years since the demise of the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi,the Ooni of Ife.
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The late Ooni who equally with his panache,deep intellect and aura joined his ancestors in 1980 has also an uncommon carriage among his then contemporaries.
The transition of Oba Adeyemi 111,Iku Baba Yeye,last Friday marked the departure of the last set of influential Obas and traditional and cultural icons in Yorubaland.
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Besides,leaving his footprints on the sand of time by bestroding the cultural and traditional landscape of the proud Yoruba people, the uncommon fervour and class he added to the throne he assumed fifty two years ago is unique in all respects.
So also was his rare commitment to the Unity and defence of Yoruba territory which had faced unusual invasion and external threat in the last three years compared only to the resistance against Fulani invasion of the late nineteenth century.
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In the area of culture,filling the vacuum left behind by Oba Adeyemi is not only a herculean task,for he set a record in effectively retaining Yoruba core values,tradition and symbolism.
Though, a practising Muslim,Oba Adeyemi never pretended about his love for presevation of Yoruba cultural norms which transcend his modern religion.
Not only was he husband to corterie of ten beautiful young women always eager to show off, Alaafin Adeyemis command of native intelligence in spite of his limited education pursuit was also at per with his rare use and understanding of Yoruba language and deployment of rate wisdom to solve issues at critical moments in the nation.
For the former,only few of his age could boast of enough stamina and strength to husband the young beauties that adorn his expansive palace, talk less of siring two set of twins at the twilight of his life and reign .
With the set of queens at his beck and call, Alaafin set a pace and record both in their sheer number and collection of beauty queens but also in maintaining them.
The selection of his queens was also a reflection of his dressing sense which only few royals of his class possess.
Alaafin love life and he lived it to the fullest.
Though,as stated, he protected the institution by not eating outside nor embrace alcohol, his social outings had the colour and panache of a modern day monarch adepth at maintaining royalty and protecting Yoruba cultural heritage.
His life and style was a record by which succeeding Alaafins would be measured.
This is because it’s a rarity to combine class,taste and opulence with dignity and pride which he radiated while he reigned.
In Oyo and indeed Yorubaland, Alaafin reigned and ruled.
Alaafins over five decades tenure also set a record by installing two Aare Onakakanfos in the person of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and his successor,Aare Gani Adams,the Ooua People’s Congress OPC,leader.
It is on record that the dreaded position was last occupied by another Yoruba political leader,the late Samuel Ladoke Akintola who equally died in battle.
With his immense wealth, Alaafin Adeyemi equally sired at least two politicians who were at one time or the other won election to both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Yet,he was not afraid to engage two governors of his domain Oyo state,Adebayo Alao- Akala and Isiaka Ajimobi , the duo who ironically left mother earth before him, without being demoted.
That he did and survive political conflict with two governors who hold power over his tenure,Alaafin displayed uncommon boldness.
That he survived conflict with the two governors due to difference in political beliefs is rare among Obas of his generation.
Today, it is a herculean task to get another successor with equal cultural,social and intellectual depth ready to defend their position and the race they belong, to succeed him.
Another big task before Alaafins successor is ability to combine and defend deep cultural and political belief in an era where monarchs have been reduced to footstools of ruling politicians in todays modern political era.
The great task now before the Oyo Mesi,the ancient powerul Oyo kingmakers, is to produce either by traditional Ifa divination a successor as strong,educated and intelligent combined with rare courage to replace the late Uncommon monarch.
The next few months will be eventful as the race to fill his the big shoes left by Oba Adeyemi commences.
