- Oba FRANCIS ALAO Tells City People His Story
Orile-Igbon is one of the popular communities in Oyo State. The ancient town is located next door to Ogbomosho in the Surulere local government area of the state. The big news is that the town now has a new Oba, whose official title is the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon. The Olugbon is a 1st class Oba in Oyo State. The ancient town recently installed Oba Francis Alao as the new Olugbon. Two week back, in Lagos, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE spent an evening with the new Oba whose coronation will hold in a few weeks time and his pretty soft-spoken Oloori. He told us about his journey to the throne. Below are excerpts.
How did you receive the news of your appointment and where were you?
It was on July 17, 2017. I was in Lagos, precisely Victoria Island, where I was attending a business meeting. There was a call by the chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Gbodeniyi who said I needed to travel down to Ibadan immediately. He asked me to come down to the secretariat. I did as requested and met him and some local government officials. When we were through, we traveled down home and arrived at past 12 midnight.
Did you feel any strange thing in you after the appointment?
I did not feel any strange thing because it was the work of God whom I serve. I gave praise to God and asked for his guidance in the new journey. I said to Him “Almighty God, I have been called upon to the throne, perfect your will if I am destined to the throne. Against all odds, let your will be done.”
What happened when you woke up the following day after your arrival?
Early in the morning, the kingmakers, led by the Balogun, Jimoh Adeyemi, came and led me to a place called Igbole. That was where the installation was performed and Akoko leaf inserted into my cap. Everything went well according to the customs and norms of the town. Akoko leaf is the symbol of installation in Yorubaland. Then I moved round the whole town which stretched to the location where we have the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
How was the procession around the town?
The crowd of people greeting from every point was amazing. The turnout was even enough to tell one that he has no reason to disappoint those jubilating, cheering people. The traditional chiefs too were not left out. They were all there heaving a sigh of relief that they had made a right choice.
What do you think made you the choice of your people?
The chiefs craved for a new king who would continue the development which my immediate predecessor achieved before he passed on. It is on record that he brought the state high court, divisional police headquarters, trailer park and other amenities. They believe that a well-traveled and credible successor was what the town needs. If you were there you would have seen what I am talking about. The procession was not an easy exercise but thank God it went well. I prayed for the people and acknowledged their warm greetings too.
Wasn’t the period you were in seclusion boring being an active businessman who was always on the road?
It was not boring in the true sense of it. It was in fact lively because people were visiting me. The chiefs and all religious groups—Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers—came to pray for me on a daily basis. I want to use this opportunity to clarify that what happens in Ipebi is purely traditional. There is nothing fetish in it. It was transparent from day-one to the seventh day.
You are a son of a regional pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Your wife is also a pastor. How do you explain this against your traditional obligations as Oba?
I am assuring you that there is no problem in striking a balance between my religion and my culture. I just told you that, contrary to what they say out there, there is no fetish thing we did throughout that seven day. This is saying that being a Christian or Muslim does not prevent you from ascending the throne if you have right to the stool of your town. In fact, I am going to invite the CAC , the Christian Association of Nigeria and other leading pastors to my coronation. I am going to tell them to encourage others to return home and contest for the throne. From the first day my appointment was approved by the governor of Oyo State till date, prayer, fervent prayer has always been our pillar of support here.
How did you even enter the race to the throne after the transition of your predecessor?
The Mogaji of our Akinbola Ruling House, Pa George Olayinka, called me and even said pointblank that I should come and ascend the throne. He said the town could not afford to retrogress or stagnate. He was confident and very serious about the matter.
What specific role did your wife play during that time?
As I have said earlier, we do things together. She saw the call as hers and joined me in prayer. She was managing director of a bank for many years and I believe she is going to use her wealth of experience to achieve my vision for the town.
Can you share with us your plan for Orile Igbon?
Before I mark my first coronation anniversary, investment worth N20 billion would have come to Ile-Igbon, God willing. I have traveled to the United States of America, South and North America and Europe. The exposure I have gathered on those trips will come to bear during my reign. We have the best cashew in the country. We are going to develop cashew production and cassava too. Ile-Igbon will shortly become an investment community. I am going to work together with governments at all levels on this vision with a view to expanding our success. I know the expectation on me is very high, going by my status as a successful businessman. I am so conscious of it and, God willing, I am going to do my best to live up to the expectation.
How did you feel when you were made the Olugbon of Orile Igbon?
To the glory of God, I felt very elated and thankful to almighty God to have been made and appointed the Olugbon of Orile Igbon. Actually, it came to me as a surprise. It also wasn’t a big surprise, because God has a plan and purpose for everybody in life. The grace of God has made that appointment to be true.
When was the appointment made?
My appointment came in 15th of July 2017 by Oyo State executive governor, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Isolak Ajimobi.
How has it been since that time?
Since that time, the moment I was appointed a lot has happened. I was appointed on the 15th of July, I got the letter on the 17th of July and immediately, the following day, I went to Orile Igbon. I performed all the traditional rites and on the 19th I was installed. I spent another 7 days, called Ipebi, a kind of seclusion for a few days. After that, I am free to continue. The next thing is coronation which will happen in the next few weeks.
Can you tell us a bit about Orile Igbon?
Orile Igbon had been in existence since 11th century. My progenitor called Olugbon Ese was from Oduduwa in Ile Ife. He established his kingship since 11th century. You remember this adage in Yoruba that Ko baje laye Olugbon, ko baje laye aresa, kobaje laye Onikoyi, ati Ila. It simply means that the Olugbon was very great king in those days and up to date. Where we call Orile Igbon today used to be a provincial headquarters in those days. Olugbon was 2nd in command, in the whole of Oyo Empire, in those days. Since then, his reign expanded and came across the whole of South-West, to the Republic of Benin, even to Dahimey. In those days they used to be warriors and he, himself, Olugbon Aresa, Onikoyi they were great warriors, great adviser, commanders, to the Alaafin of Oyo. They have been carrying this on, up to this moment. My predecessor had done well, thats Oba Adegboyega Osunbade. The man had lifted the throne high because it got to a time when the throne was almost forgeotten. When Baba Osunbade came in, he did all he could do and the image of the throne came up again to limelight in Oyo State and South-West. It was from there they elevated us to be Vice-Chairman, Oyo State Obas Council, and we were made a 1st Class Oba. Since I came in, since I have been appointed, I have tried all I can to reach out to many investors and business people to come and invest.
The land is acrable, in terms of Cashew plantation. You will get the best cashew in Orile Igbon and the whole of Nigeria. When you plant Cashew in Orile Igbon today, in 2 and half year you can harvest it and you are sure you will harvest the best quality as compared to other areas in Nigeria that takes 6 years for cashew to grow for harvest and you won’t still get a good quality. So let me use this medium to reach out to people, to investors all over the world to come over to Orile Igbon to come and see how they can synergise with the state government.
Can you also please describe where Orile-Igbon is located in Oyo State?
The location is fantastic. Its from LAUTECH in Ogbomosho to Kwara border. Thats towards the North. Then towards the West, its between Iresa Adu to Osun border. Also on the East side is Orire local government towards Iseyin. Many people don’t know that Orile-Igbon is 10 times bigger than Ogbomosho in terms of landmass and theplace is wonderful when it comes to size.
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