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HRM, Oba ADEWOLE Tells City People
The Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, Arojojoye II, is one of the prominent kings of Yoruba land. His stool is well regarded as being the 4th direct son of Oduduwa, the legendary founder of the Yoruba race. The Palace of the Ajero is a place to visit whenever you travel to Ijero-Ekiti. It is a place where a lot could be learnt about the customs and traditions of the Yoruba race. Last Week, City People’s Jamiu Abubakar and AbdulRasheed Sanni were at the palace of the Owa Ajero to cover the installation ceremony of a proud son of Ijero-Ekiti, Olubankole Adeleye who bagged the chieftaincy title as the Oluye of Igemo, Ijero-Ekiti. Immediately the ceremony was concluded, we quickly approached the king for an interview session and he granted our request. HRM Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole therefore took us through the historic journey affirming the importance of Owa Ajero stool in Yoruba land. Below are excerpts from the highly educative session we had with him.
Ijero Ekiti is an ancient town which is very significant in the history of Yoruba. Can you share with us a few of the heritage of the land?
Ajero is one of the direct sons of Oduduwa. Actually, I’m in the number 4 position among the seven prominent sons of Oduduwa. I have three senior brothers and three junior brothers but we were of the same father. Alara is the Alara of Aramoko and the Orogun who is the Orogun of Ila in Osun State. We were born of the same mother and Ajero happens to be in the middle again. Alara being the senior and the Orogun being our junior. So, that’s why when you get here, you can consider yourself as being in the palace of Oduduwa yourself. Anywhere you get to, whether it is Alara’s Palace or Ajero’s Palace or Orogun’s Palace, you are in Oduduwa’s Palace.
Does that answer why you wear the crown which looks like that of the Ooni?
Yes, that’s why you see the logo. Yes.
What is the history behind a particular roundabout called Ita Ajero in Ile-Ife?
The Ita Ajero is still in Ile Ife till today. That was the last place that the sons of Oduduwa converged, where their father blessed them and gave them the paraphernalia of office. It was there, the Ifa oracle was consulted for each and every one. And the Ifa Oracle told them what they would meet, where they were going to found their own kingdoms. So Ita Ajero is the last place where they departed to found their kingdoms. That’s the beginning of democracy, because they sat down, and they agreed on certain things. They agreed for example that when each one of them found their kingdoms, they would not wage war against one another and that has been so since time immemorial. Any community that wages war against another is not pure Yoruba. It must be a stranger element waging war. Sons of Oduduwa; they will never wage war against one another.
Aside from Ita Ajero, what other historical places can be traced to Ijero Ekiti?
There is a place here, the present Ipoti, or the present Owa, Owatedo in Ijero kingdom. That point was where the mother of the mother of Alara Ajero and Oragun actually died. The mother was usually going from Alara to Ajero to Orogun and things like that. So one of those occasions she was coming from Ila Orogun and got to that point and that was where she died. And then when she died, a message was sent to Ajero, in my own kingdom who then sent a message to Alara that mama is gone. He sent a message to Orogun that mama is gone. Orogun pleaded that he is the last born and that her remains should be brought to Ila for rest. Alara refused, he said he is the first born so he has to keep the corpe. Ajero said to both of them, you can’t have her. So, eventually the Ifa Oracle was consulted, which now said our mother should be buried exactly where she died. Then it was now a dilemma, how can we three kings be in the cities and our mother will remain in the forest. Ifa was further consulted, Ifa now said, Alara should contribute 10 people, Ajero 10 people, Orogun 10 people to start a town. The first name of that place is Ogbonlu, a town made up of 30 people. So that was how Owatedo in Ipoti started. So the burial site is still there. And then of course this palace itself is a tourist attraction. This was not the first palace that Ajero used. The first one was at Iloko, that’s another town in Ijero Local government. That was the first place that the Ajero settled when he was coming down from Ile Ife. And that’s our original home. But because of the terrain of that area, we had to move up here for ease of development and other considerations. So that’s it.
Ijero Ekiti under your reign has developed tremendously, how have you been able to achieve this?
I thank God and I thank my people, the people of Ijero Ekiti for their cooperation, for their love and their support. Ijero is blessed with sons and daughters who are doing well in all spheres of life. In the military, we have generals, we have Admirals. In the civil service, we have permanent secretaries, executive directors, and things like that. In academics, we have professors, a lot of them. In business, we have business moguls. All of them are supporting me for the progress and development of the kingdom. That’s why by the grace of God, we are recording the progress that we are making..
What is your message to the people of Ijero, home and abroad?
Once again, I thank all the sons and daughters, home and abroad, who have been supportive of my administration, and we have been together. I still enjoy them. Actually, they should not forget who, no matter where they are, no matter what position they are holding, whatever God has blessed them with, let them always remember to give back to this society, because this is our own home and we cannot go to any other place. And we have to develop our home. We have to develop our community. I thank those who have been doing this every time, those who have come home to build beautiful houses, and by the grace of God, they will live long and enjoy the fruits of their labour. So I encourage every other person to come home regularly, not to forget home, and to give back to this society. And wherever they may be, it is my prayer for them always, as I place them under the protection of Almighty God, that God will be with them. Whatever they are doing, they will prosper, and by God’s grace, they will bring the dividends back home. Thank you.
