Dear folks,
Oba Olusayo Akeem Ogungbangbe, the Owaloko and Ajagbusi-Ekun of Iloko-Ijesa adds another year, in total 58. In few months time, he will be one year on the throne of his forefathers. Close relatives, friends, allies, followers including people like me whose hearts were conquered by his humility and extreme love for people have blessed and prayed for him. Yes, we are still praying for him because the king must live long in good spirit, health and wealth for the posperity of Iloko-Ijesa, Osun state and the world at large.
Truly, I have a great working relationship with some traditional rulers especially in Osun state. Through destiny and efforts of great men in my life, I have been opportuned to meet with many great kings and I have favourities. Yes, these kings did not become my favourities because they live in gold, class and honor. They become my favourities having critically looked into their respective lives and found sterling qualities that are clearly different and inspiring.
From Oba Olufemi Agunsoye, the Elegboro and Abikehinekun of Ijebu-Ijesa to Oba Dotun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, they share same visions; building youths for future challenges, promoting education and making life easier for the miserables. You would never cry genuinuely to the palaces of these great men in king robes and not come out of the palaces with a relief. As much as I want to read many testimonies, I have watched it happened several times. Both men are great in their styles, class and royalty.
But it appears Oba Olusayo Akeem Ogungbangbe shares same stakes with them. I have carefully followed the activities of the new but calculated king and I am most proud to be a follower. Against the wishes of foes, dictates of people of no thought and calculations of traducers, Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe is gradually turning around the face of Iloko-Ijesa. Truly, the ancient town is not strange to development and infrastructural growth but it has experienced a wide gap as a result of kingship tussle it witnessed for many years which has brought about a decline in its infrastructural growth.
Weeks after Oba Olusayo Akeem Ogungbangbe was crowned and handled over the staff of office as the original landlord of Iloko-Ijesa, I visited him in his multi-million white house, carefully built along the main road connecting the town with Ilesa, the headquarter of Ijesaland. I asked the king about his plans for his people and community at large. Feeble-minded men do not become kings in Iloko-Ijesa. Men of weak thoughtd and intellects have no place in the traditional setting of the ancient town. He clearly told me that peace is very important. He decried the then sharp division in the town caused by kingship tussle and lamented the damages this division had caused the town. I will not allow the division to serve as clog in the wheels of growth and development in my town, he inarguably posited.
Oba Olusayo Akeem Ogungbangbe has a forgiving heart. Despite all his trials before he was crowned, he did not abandon any individual or caucus in running the affairs of the town. He is busy uniting the ancient town, bridging gaps and reconnecting people across divides. The wise king knows better that where there is no peace, there can not be progress or development. A closer look at his almost a year in office, it is quite interesting to note that he diverted his interest and mind into two things; peace and education. The peace Iloko-Ijesa enjoys today is a clear result of bridging gaps and reuniting people at all fronts. Scholarships, facilitation of human capacity programmes and projects among others are not found wanting in the ancient town.
In one of my articles, I stated that there is a strong connection between the king, the throne, the people and the town. I also stated that the king is the main architect and builder of his own town. Choosing a king is a great task and important as the town itself. A wrong person must not sit on the ancient throne. If it happens, it brings hunger, famine, underdevelopment and calamities. Fortunately for the people of Iloko-Ijesa, a right person is on the throne. God’s chosen servant and a very humble person who prioritises the needs of his people is on the throne.
As I felicitate with the good people of Iloko-Ijesa for choosing rightly, I also want to commend the elders of the community for working assiduously with the king. Both the king and the town will not be at war. The king will not experience heat and the town will not witness heat. God will not abandon the king, the town, the people and the throne. At 58, Oba Olusayo Akeem Ogungbangbe is still young, vibrant and resourceful. Every year, grim reapers will always reject the God’s chosen king because the journey to take Iloko-Ijesa to greater heights has just started and the king, Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe is not tired of driving the town under God’s direction.
To the king of the people and man of peace, you will live long to witness great things of no small measure.
Ade a pe lori. Esin oba ma je oko pe. Irukere oba ma po laafin….Kabiesi o
Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo is a Nigerian writer and editor at WITHIN NIGERIA newspapers.
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