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Princess OLUWAKEMI ONANUGA, The Only Female Aspirant
A few days ago, City People played host to Princess Oluwakemi Onanuga who wants to be the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
She visited our Gbagada corporate office in Lagos to tell us why and how she joined the race for the stool. Lately every where she has been, people are shocked to learn that a woman can be an Awujale. That was the same thing in City People. We also didn’t know that women are allowed to join the race.
What made her decide to run, we asked her pointedly. She smiled.
“I have a story to tell. You know, I’m the only woman contender for the Awujale throne. Originally, I think there were 25 people, and by virtue of the nominations, it rippled down to 85 princes. And I’m the only princess if you look at the list of names. So there must be a story to tell to be able to have achieved that. Let me start by introducing myself. I am Dr. OliwaKemi Onanuga. We’ve been at this for a while, about three months. Since September. A lot of people knew when we started, and I just thought, okay, let’s see how it goes and then I ended up on the nomination list. Yes, well, I’m an Odunba. My mother is an Odunba. And the Odunbas are the Tunwases, more or less. So, Oba Adesimbo Tunwase, the first Aboki, was my great-great-grandfather. And they are the Odunbas. As an Odunba, we have an association called the Odunba Descendants Association, of which I am the legal secretary. I’m the secretary to the family because I’m part of the family. So, when Kabiesi passed, Kabiesi actually passed the day we were celebrating my mother’s 90th birthday. The news broke. The news of late President Buhari and late Oba Adetoba broke the same time, like 30 minutes apart. We were in a venue in Ikoyi celebrating my mother’s 90th birthday. So it was very pivotal to us. Because Kabiesi was on the throne for a long time. Nobody was expecting another Awujale. He’s been there for so long. It’s almost become part and parcel of Ijebu life. So when he died suddenly, those who were close knew his time was not too far because he had been a bit ill. So, of course, there needs to be an Awujale. And it’s been said in Ijebu, for some people, it’s news.
For me, being royalty is not news. Because it’s always been said in the corridors of the palace that we’re the next ruling house. So there’s no argument concerning that. Because by virtue of the Chief’s Declaration of 1957, we have a template that we follow. And as a lawyer, you know I understand that. By virtue of that law, we rotate who becomes Awujale.
The late Oba Sikiru Adetona came from the Anikilaya family. It was their ruling house. It was their term. After the Anikilaya is Fusengbuwa, which is our own ruling house. And it’s by law.
If I was Alhaji Wasiu, and I love his music. I was saying to some people, I’ll strategise better. To give my children a chance.
Because likely, if he’s not bumped out of the Fusengbuwa family, his children may have a chance. But with what’s happened, who knows? After Fidipode, it now goes back to Gbelegbuwa.
So those are the 4 ruling houses. Anikilaya, Fasengbuwa, Fidipote and Gbelegbuwa, the family of my learned friend, Prince Adesanya comes. So, it’s our turn. And because of the length of time since the last coronation, there was a lot of confusion.
Because those who installed the late king 65 years ago had also died. So there are no real custodians of the process. The likes of Odutola, Kuku, Okunowo had passed. There kids are in their 80s now. But we were lucky that late Shubomi Balogun, who is an uncle is from the Tunwase house, by the way. He Was able to maintain the name of Tunwase.
And why is Tunwase so popular and so key? He was the Oba on the throne as Awujale Tunwase when the Imagbon war happened. The Imagbon war was the fight between the British monarchy and the Jebu people. Historically, the Ijebu people were the custodians of trade and commerce in the whole of the west of Yorubaland. For the British to enter that lucrative market, they needed to deal with the Ijebus. The Ijebus said no, of course. This led to a war. The British, with superior firepower… There was a man in Ijebu at the time called Otubu. He was the balogun. When Tunwase took over, he was the one who brought guns to Ijebu. Otubu was the balogun before Oduoeyingbo, who is the great-grandfather of the current Ogbeni Oja, Dr. Sonny Kuku. We were the ones who put his great-grandfather on the throne. Oduoeyingbo Kuku then became the balogun after Otubu. They had guns, but “shakabula.” It’s historical, and that’s where my roots come from. Because the British won, they were able to secure safe passage. Tunwase became a Christian, baptized his entire family, and remained king over Ijebu land until he died. Fast forward, I went to one of the family meetings as the secretary to the Oduba Descendants Association. This was after the Awujale had died. We were in a 90-day observance of no activity, no throne, no candidates. But we were meeting. Of course, you know that there were wranglings. Wasiu started his own attempts to grab the throne by saying that we didn’t observe times and seasons; we should be discussed. So there were all of those meetings.
So it was one of those meetings in a hall, Adesunbo Tunwase, one of the largest halls in Ijebu Ode. That was where my great-grandfather is actually buried. That was where I was when I saw “Awon Omo Oba.” I said to myself, “Awon wo re?” like retarded soldiers. I’m not trying to be detrimental, but leave this house vacant for 40 years, and you will see what becomes of it.
Because many of the king’s children had been educated, including my parents, and were abroad in Lagos, the house is now empty. As a matter of fact, it was only two or three years ago that my uncle, Oduba SAN, built the site of the palace of my late great-grandfather, the Abraham Oduba Plaza. It has been built on our old palace, which is just behind the current Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu Ode. The Kuku’s house is a stone’s throw away, and the Ogunade’s house is where those who crown the king reside. But now we hear there is another that also does that.
So what we are trying to do now is to pick up the pieces of information—what we can do and what we know. Fortunately, our Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House is a seasoned chartered accountant, Omoba Prince Lateef Owoyemi. He is the former president of the Chartered Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAN), so he is well-versed and exposed. He is a custodian of some of the history and was very close to the Awujale when he was alive.
As a matter of fact, he was meant to have been the Dagburewe of Idowa, but he was not made king. I guess it was because of age. The current Dagburewe of Idowa is a bit younger and perhaps more suitable. Hence, my chances are bright because I’m one of the younger middle-class folks vying for Awujale now. I don’t mind if I’m speaking Yoruba. This is our own first chance in 100 years. Folagbade was the first king that came from Tunwase. Folagbade was 100 years ago. In the hierarchy of how we choose, what do we do? Sit down and say I’m a woman? Let me take you back to the meeting you said you observed. I think it was a Fusengbuwa. Because if you remember, there was a struggle as to who would be Olori ebi between Abidagba. Fasi, and others. So there were a lot of factions. But you know, as a lawyer, we had already known at the very early stages of the race that whoever has a legal instrument in hand will emerge as Olori ebi. And Owoyemi had it. From a case he had with Subomi Balogun years ago, which he won. And if there’s a judgment in hand that is not upheld, not challenged, then who should emerge? So his emerging as olori ebi was a foregone conclusion and an easy devolution because he won the case. I’ve not read the facts of the case, but the fact of the matter is he won the judgment. So he had a legal instrument. So now contending for supremacy in the Fusengbuwa family was quickly reconciled. The government even recognized it.
There was a process agreed upon by the family that, number one, you have to establish that you’re a member of the family by filling out a membership form to the family. Those who needed to fill it out, because in court at that time, we didn’t need to establish anything. So we went through all the rights demanded by the family, which we are probably constituted today.
And then, where the olori ebi has to sign off the different families, as is Oduba, to say yes. That was why we were able to disqualify Wasiu very quickly because no Olori ebi would sign for him. He thought that if I signed for him, he was not known to anybody.
So it was obvious from the word-go that that was just a fictitious move, unfortunately. Because we love his music. He’s a very talented musician.
I love his music, especially when he’s singing for the President.
So when I went to that meeting, I looked at those who were the so-called princes and the family members, and I said, if these are the people that we would be saying Kabiesi to, I thought I’m not looking down on them. I took it from the perspective of education, exposure, global travel, acumen, and I didn’t think anybody’s CV could surpass my own. And if there were, let them bring it out. I have a very strong CV. A bio in experience, work, education, travel, global exposure, and family lineage. So I thought, I’ll put in for the Awujale. And that day, I actually cried. I’m not looking down on anybody. Anyone can try. But let’s give ourselves a chance to bring the best and the brightest, especially if it’s not going to come around for another hundred years. So why would we have educated people in the family, and the one we want to profile is the dullest? That would be the Nigerian story. It would not be so for Ijebu Ode. That was at the point where I decided to go and fill out the family form, pay this little amount, and continue to go to meetings until we had the meeting where the procedure for candidacy was determined, and initially, we were to pay N10 million. I understand N10 million now.
And I was listening to a recording which came out on Monday, that at that time there were only 12 people. How sweet would it have been to whittle it down to one from 12? The states said no, refunded money to those who had paid. I was one of those who had paid. My money was refunded. I want it on record. And they declared it free. As soon as it became free, everybody jumped on it. Hence we now have a list of 95 people. And that’s not easy to whittle. But it’s also easy, because it will be quick to disqualify. Let’s say we have a criterion of at least a first degree. Because in this day and age, a first degree is not entitled to leadership. Let’s just be real. You can follow, you can be skilled and talented, but we’re not only dealing with Nigeria or Ijebu; today we’re dealing with the world. How do you want us to talk to Donald Trump? How do you want to converse with astute world leaders who have done the work of education and statesmanship? How?
I have submitted an 80-page application, which will end up in a museum in Ijebu one day, whatever the outcome of this race. Because there must be a standard.
Because development is coming. Dangote has taken over all the waterfront in Eba to build seaports. And we know he’s got a successful track record. He’s done the refinery single-handedly. So I’m excited. I want to be Oba when that takes place, so I can resource him and give him all the support. Because it’ll create jobs for our people. So, who’s thinking about making the average Ijebu man eat garri three times a day? We can turn Ijebu land into an aerohub like Atlanta or New York. We are only 30 minutes on good roads from Lagos.
Why is Lagos’ GDP far above Ogun?
Why is Lagos’ GDP going through the roof and Ijebu is at the bottom when they are just 30 minutes apart.
