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What Oba MUNIRUDEEN LAWAL Told City People
For week, Ede town in Osun State was agog with activities to mark the 15th Coronation anniversary of HRM Oba Dr. Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, the Timi of Edeland. the grand finale took place on Saturday, 10th June, 2023 at Ede High School, Cotton Junction, Ede, Osun State.
During the event, Oba Lawal spoke to SUNDAY ADIGUN, the Head of City People TV about his life as Timi of Ede.
Below are excerpts.
How happy were you to see people that came out en mass to celebrate your 15 year anniversary?
First of all I want to thank God. Because I believe He is with me in all ramifications. My party has always been live that ever since I became King 15 years ago. We were more than this when I celebrated my 5th years on throne. But with what I saw at this 15th years celebration made me believe that God is with me.
I shed tears of joy yesterday. That is why I am giving all the glory and praises to God.
How did you become Timi of Ede 15 years ago?
It’s a long story. Whatever God gives you no man can give you. I don’t even know how but I believe it has be written by God. Because when my late father, Oba Tijani Oyegunsa died on the 3rd day some people came to me and said it is high-table. I was wondering what time? Even though it’s been predicted during my grandfather, Oba John Adetoyese’s time that I will become King.
And that was in 1974, when I was in HSC Ogbomosho Grammar School, but I didn’t take it serious. Even many prophesied. But when my father died I told those people that came to me to go and make every necessary consultation. I told them not to force anything if after their consultation and I didn’t emerge the winner. Because I don’t want what I will chase and will not get and it will now destabilize my journey. I told them to even go to Muslim clerics, Pastors and traditionalist, because I want to be 100% sure and they left to do exactly and after 4 weeks they returned back and said all their consultations are positive.
It was then I started making plans. I just thank God that I am leaving according to what God destined for me.
People shared lots of testimonies about how your reign has Timi of Ede has been of immense benefits to the community, and the entire Edeland. How do you feel hearing all these and was it pre-planned?
You will remember what I said at the beginning of this conversation, that I am 100% sure God loves me. Everything that is happening in Ede today was never planned by me. God made everything happened on his own and it gives me the confidence that indeed God really want me on this throne.
There was no single hotel in Ede when I became King 15 years ago. I remembered how I was praying, shouting at the first praying ground (Yidi) I attended when I became King. We don’t have any place to lodge any of our guests. We will have to go to the neighbouring towns. There was no University in Ede except Federal Polytechnic, Ede that was established during my father’s reign. But by the grace of God Redeemer University came, Adeleke University came, Ilori College of Education came in, and many others.
If you move around you will see many road projects going on. We had just 2 or 3 fueling stations in Ede when I became King in 2008, now it’s uncountable. That is why I said it’s the finished work of God. Every good things happening in Edeland is God’s knowledge. And God now blesses me a performing Governor. My father also had a Governor who was a bonafide son of Ede, and the Governor happens to be the elder brother of my own Governor, Asiwaju of Edeland, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, though he didn’t spend more than 2 years, that was when the issue of MKO Abiola started with hope that once MKO win, he will start afreah. He joined Abiola in the campaign, and we all know what happened to MKO Abiola. And that really affected him, he did not spend more than 2 years. Look at how God now did it. We tried all our best in 2018, we beg God for Nurudeen Adeleke but we accepted our fate then. And we started the 2nd time, and despite all the turbulence, we give God the glory for the victory. I believe there is still more goodness to come and I pray for long life.
What are the other developments you are looking at in Edeland?
Just like Oliver Twist asked for more. I am also asking for more grace. I still pray for Ede to be like Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja. There are so many things we are still believing God for. I am praying and it will please my heart to have many of the old houses rebuild to modern houses. I am praying for more blessings. I am praying for more businesses, I am praying for more companies.
We don’t have much companies here we have plenty civil servants. So, I am praying to God for more establishments in Osun State by that the town will grow more. I pray everything will happen during my time by the special grace of the Almighty. I pray in the next 5 years Ede will experience more transformation.
Looking at all the achievements so far in the last 15 years, what has life taught you Kabiyesi?
When you are starting a new business, you will definitely experience challenges. It is not easy. To become a King is not what is based on your experience. I don’t know what is it entails, I just badged in. Something you have never done before, and the experience is different from where you are coming from, there will be lots of challenges. Those people you came to rule don’t know where you are coming from, they will deal with you strangely, but God helped me. Ascending the throne 15 years was a tug of war. We had 20 contestants for the post of Timi of Ede, before God helped me. And you know challenges will surely come from those that lost out. They raged, we went to different courts, but I thank God, He settled everything.
Therefore, moving close to God is very paramount. If you move closer to God without any blemish, He will definitely reward you. God is not an hypocrate. I thank God for everything. I thank God for the Mushin, Christian and traditional communities. They all cooperated with me. It was serioustly tough when I started but I thank God.
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