𝕆𝕌ℝ ℝ𝕆𝕐𝔸𝕃 𝕄𝔸𝕁𝔼𝕊𝕋𝕐: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕥 𝕋𝕒𝕤𝕜 𝔸𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕...

𝐎𝐧𝐢 𝐆𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐣𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐨 III

A sense of power of power is the most intoxicating stimulant a mortal can enjoy. Ellen Shallow Richards (1842-1911)

In human history, all attempts to reform extant social order is often confronted by two discouraging questions. First question is: who are you? the second is: what is your stake (locus standi). Failure to answer the two questions satisfactorily often render reforms innocuous and the reformer disparaged. To avoid such, I hereby introduced myself, my name is Oni Gbolabo (Ph.D.) from Baba  Olokuta’s house at Omofe junction, Imogun, while my father’s house is in Idasa, Baba S.M. Awosugba carpenter’s house.

Freeborn Ijesha needs no further explanations on who and my stake in writing this piece for the goodness of Ijesha land. Having my origin and my stake (locus standi) established, I automatically become a stakeholder in the goodness of the land. Nothing else befits all freeborn Ijesha than the goodness of the Ijesha land, absolutely nothing else. Then, having a stake empowers me to express my opinion on the task ahead for our the Owa Oberon Adimula of Ijesha land;  His Imperial Majesty, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup. 

In the spirit of native patriotism and ‘Baba Re A Gbe’ loyalty, I need to call the attention of the Imperial Majesty to the inherent and inherited problems at hand in Ijesha land in order to ease the tedious task ahead. As we hope in anticipation for the best, so also we must do the needful. No doubt the tenure of the sitting Owa will impact rebirth, renewal and the reclaiming of our pristine heritage that had been defiled and desecrated. In the renewal and rebirth the glory of Ijesha home and abroad will come alive and the land will regain its pride. 

To begin with, Kabiyesi must always crosscheck all information presented to him from all sources irrespective of the person giving the information. Even relying on the reports from some Oloyes should be delicately scrutinized to avoid misleading information flawed by personal sentiments, ego and crass misrepresentation of truth. The simple reason is: a lot of Oloyes have vested interest in many inordinate spheres that requires reforms. 

The show of organic inordinate conflict of interest that ensued when Oba Adekunle Aromolaran joined ancestors was ridiculous enough to behold. It was so chaotic that  all sensible Ijesha were asking if that was the first time we ever had transition of Oba in Ijesha land. I think the clear definition of duties, responsibilities and limits of our high chiefs must be documented henceforth for easy consultation. However, that is just by the way as I will address major issues next.

Kabiyesi sir, your wisdom and attention are urgently needed on the embarrassing problem of having two kings in some communities, towns and villages. I cannot imagine how Ijesha land degenerated to this ignoble level. Having two Obas at the same time? Haba. It has gotten to an embarrassing peak sir and urgent action is needed. It is has gone as bad as ever. I will not say much here on this sir. I strongly believe something will definitely happen to stop the negative trend.

I progress in my litany by highlighting our confronting issues and where possible will suggest probable solutions, although not all solutions could be presented openly. Your majesty sir, top on the list is the threatening insecurity situation in Ijesha land. Apparently, we know the entire country is under siege but our case in Ijesha land is reddish because we lack locally coordinated fronts to assist the security personnel. Insecurity referred to here is multidimensional sir. The insecurity caused by gold prospectors because they are not profiled, insecurity caused by chiefs that are careless about those operating in their domains, insecurity by those selling land and leasing houses for unregistered people,  insecurity by those selling their ancestral heritage, bloody and deadly fights among boys, spot robbery such as killing of okada riders etc. The report of the DSS in Ilesha in December 2024 calls for concern.

The scariest of all is the insecurity caused by non natives who dominated and colonized many villages to the extent that Ijesha are leaving villages for them whereas we have chiefs in those villages. If this is not a threat now it will become bigger threat later unless we structure the responsibilities of our chiefs. Naturally, people travel for greener pastures all over the world, still common rule requires being profiled wherever one travels to. Here visitors will just sneak into our villages armed with lethal weapons without the consent of  the landowners. This is common in Ijesha land and now constitute a major threat. 

Sir, asides the physical insecurity, another scourge is the chasing away of development by harassing those trying to develop our communities. An annoying case is that of someone who wanted to rebuild his old primary school with his own resources but some entities refused because he did not pay them. I mean that the person should pay the people he wanted to assist. It sounds crude but that is just it. We hope this will not become a norm in your reign sir. Your intervention shall be appreciated sir.

Next, Ijesha land must advance to the next stage industrialization. Industrialization of Ijesha land is the next task awaiting His Majesty’s attention. Kabiyesi sir, as a student of Ilesha Grammar School in the 80’s we rarely celebrate politicians, rather we applaud industrialists. Most vehicles on our roads in Ilesha belonged to industries. Most vehicles carried names such as: Ogbedu Plastics, Ile-Ani Textiles, Ducana Aluminum Fabrication, Flexible Packaging Paper Mill, Summit Oil, Adediran Steel & Wire, Orice Distillers, Olu Abiola Nails Factory, Dele Candle and lastly the proposed Sanmi Breweries etc. I did not forget International Breweries, Ilesa, a cat with nine lives that resurrected after it went into near bankruptcy.These companies were our pride and employed many Ijeshas then. I must also reckon with Moshood Balogun for his Guguru and Soap Industry.