Kunle ADELABU
-Institutes annual lecture in late monarch’s name
A foundation established to immortalise the late immediate past Ayangbure of Ikorodu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi, CON, has been inaugurated in Ikorodu.
The inauguration event, alongside the unveiling of two of the foundation’s proposed projects which are the construction of a memorial vault and garden with cemetery, administrative block, reception hall, and a garden, took place during the inaugural memorial lecture held in honour of the highly revered monarch who joined his ancestors in 2014.
The themed of the lecture was, ‘A Notion of Omoluabi As Epitomized By HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi, CON, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu (of blessed memory)”.
Prof. Oladele Caleb Orimoogunje of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Lagos (UNILAG), delivered a paper on the theme of the lecture which was held at the Ikorodu Musical Village on Saturday, October 13, 2018.
The paper was divided into three parts; the perception of Yoruba on Omoluwabi, characters that stood late Oba Oyefusi out as Omoluwabi and lessons from the life of the late monarch.
In the lecture, Professor Orimoogunje stated that whoever possesses certain positive traits and characters is regarded as ‘Omoluwabi’.
“Among the Yorùbás, whoever that treads the path in consonance with the societal norms in a contextual and pragmatic manner can be regarded as ‘Omọlúàbí’.
“Before anyone can be referred to as Omọlúàbí, he or she must possess the following unique qualities or attributes: consciousness, forgiving spirit, humility, ability to contribute to the growth of the immediate community, respect for culture, keeping up the good name of the progenitors, being bold and valiant, kindness/generosity and leaving a good legacy behind”.
Speaking on the life and times of late Oba Oyefusi, the lecturer stated that he played his roles very well within his immediate community, nationally and internationally.
“Our duty today is to allude to the life and involvement of Ọba Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi in his immediate environment and abroad. Without mincing words, the late Oba made himself a cynosure of all eyes in this community.
“He tried as much as he could do to keep the good name of his progenitors wherever he found himself, hence, the Yoruba adage which says: “ọmọ inúọgbàkì í ṣiiṣuyọ”, that is, a well-brought-up person does not deviate from the societal norms. He thereby left a good legacy for the generations behind.
“The late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlabi Adekoya Oyefusi was an embodiment of honesty. We stumbled on a citation that describes him as an OOba that loved the truth, and, whenever he held on to the truth, he always stood by it, and, pursued it to the logical conclusion. Undoubtedly, this is one of the key qualities all and sundry should seek for. The idea of if you can’t beat them, join them was not customary to the late Oba. He did not believe that one should not be truthful, despite the fact that honesty is not reckoned with while deception is greatly valued in this contemporary society. This belief of his, made him succeed in all his endeavors towards the growth of his immediate community”, Prof Orimoogunje stated.
Establishing the late monarch as a man that values culture which, according to the lecturer, is a character expected of an Omoluwabi, he stated:
“The spirit of Ọmọluabi always preaches love for one’s culture and it also embraces other cultures in a reasonable manner. Whoever neglects his or her culture is far from being an ‘omoluabi’, if the Yoruba aphorism; “Ilé la ti ń kóèṣọ́ ròde”, is taken into cognizance. The respect for one’s culture brings in a salubrious situation into society.
Buttressing the late monarch’s respect for culture, the lecturer quoted him from his book:
“During my school days, I enjoyed carrying the Òṣùgbó bag of my great uncle to Òṣùgbó cult. I loved going to Òṣùgbó because there was love, unity, discipline, respect for elders there and, above all, honesty among them. This exposed me to the activities at the cult. I asked a series of questions from my late uncle and he always took a lot of patience to explain them to me (Oyefusi, M. 2011: xxvii)”.
Prof Orimoogunje added while emphasizing late Oba Oyefusi’s love for his culture:
“Understanding and embracing his indigenous culture and foreign ones really brought oneness and tranquillity to this community during his reign as the Àyángbùrẹ̀n of Ìkòròdú. This type of attitude is worthy of emulation”.
Another aspect of Omoluwabi traits of the late monarch as stated by the lecturer is the ability to show gratitude.
“An ọmọlúàbí should show a profound gratitude always, as it was exhibited in the life and reign of late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábí Adékọ̀yà Oyéfùsì. Throughout his life, the late Oba always remembered his benefactors among his siblings and friends for good. During an interview with him, the Oba made mention of various families such as Ògúnsànyà, Chief Ọnà-án-fọwọ́kàn, Chief T.O.S. Benson, late Chief S.O. Gbàdàmọ́ṣí and late Chief Ṣóyébọ̀. He alluded to how each of them had positively contributed to his life.
Prof Orimoogunje also identified kindness, generosity and ability not to abuse power among others as traits that portrayed the Oba Oyefusi as Omoluabi.
“Ọmọlúàbí is expected to be kind and generous to the cast-outs and the needy without believing in eye-service and reproach. In other words, he or she must be a free will giver and a silent philanthropist that comes to the aid of the individuals, and the society as a whole.
“Late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábí Adékọ̀yà Oyèéfùsì was well known in this aspect of life. During the tenure of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the then Lagos State Governor, he donated his salaries to Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbóbì, Lagos. There were quite a number of philanthropic gestures accredited to the late Ọba worthy of mention, but for the sake of time and space.
“In the Yorùbá traditional setting, it is the duty of ọmọlúàbí to abstain from the act of abuse of power. In line with their belief, any great position one attains in life, it should be seen as a privilege. Therefore, one should always remember that God is the great being that favours whoever he wants. Therefore, one should be God-fearing always by not abusing his/her power.
“Throughout the life of late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábí Adékọ̀yà Oyèéfùsì, he did not abuse his position, being a religious man, who, in his nature, was very ambivalent, he was able to communed with God through the indigenous and foreign religions.
“The life of our late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábí Adékọ̀yà Oyèéfùsì portrayed that of merciful and forgiving personality. In any situation where one offended him or the entire community, his usual utterance was Ẹ jẹ́ kájèbùrẹ́ meaning let’s forgive. He believed that if one, especially a ruler, is too tough, it will be difficult for him to relate well and govern the people.
“In this lecture, it will be unfair not to touch the romantic and caring nature of Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábi Adékọ̀yà Oyèéfùsì towards his best-half and children. As an Ọmọlúàbí, he treated his immediate family in line with the Yorùbá adage that says bọ́dẹ̀dèkòdùn, bíìgbẹ́ nìlúúrí, meaning if one fails to get comfort at home front, the entire society will be in agony”, the lecturer recalled in his paper.
Drawing lessons from the Yoruba perception of Omoluwabi which he stated that the late Oba his, Prof Orimoogunje enjoined the public to be of good characters.
“The lesson drawn from the life of late Ọba Salaudeen Afọlábí Adékọ̀yà Oyèéfùsì is in line with the opinion of Maya Angelou who says that “The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humour and style and generosity and kindness”, Prof Orimoogunje quoted.
Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State who was represented at the event by Mr Padonu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs in is address at the inaugural lecture stated:
“I am greatly honoured and privileged to address this august gathering for the inaugural Memorial Lecture in honour of our distinguished monarch , Oba Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi Foundation to immortalize him in view of the indelible legacy he had left on the sand of time
“I must say that I am very humbled to be associated with celebration of an icon who not only made history during his reign sojourn on this earth but displayed rare courage and passion for the development of his community, the entire Ikorodu division and the state at large
“The theme: “The Notion of Omoluwabi as epitomized by HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi, CON” is well conceived and apt as it portend to bring to the fore the sterling leadership qualities of our late Ayangbure as a man of character, integrity, honesty and harbinger of courage of his time
“I am particularly elated as theme of discourse seeks to address the moral degeneration and the leadership challenge presently confronting our nation. I would like to submit that the need to reinvent the concept of Omoluwabi in our present circumstance has become very compelling today, particularly within the Yoruba nation and the country at large” Gov. Ambode stated
Olori Muyibat Oyefusi, the widow of the late monarch, while speaking at the event, stated:
“Oba Oyefusi was an anointed king of Ikorodu and he did quite a lot for this town and its environs. He served meritoriously, intelligently, brilliantly, successfully and courageously. He was a kind-hearted and contented person. He ruled with the fear of God for 44 good years.
“I am saying this categorically because I served with him for 40 years and four months. He was a prayer warrior.
“A believer of democracy which he fought for at gunpoint in Ijebu-Ode when he was challenged by the military personnel. He even asked them to shoot; he was not afraid of being arrested or shot dead”, Olori Oyefusi recalled.
She called on the state government, privileged individuals and the general public to contribute towards the construction of proposed vaults and garden in honour of the monarch in Ikorodu.
Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab, former Head, Due Process Unit in the Presidency, while speaking with the journalists, commended the initiative of the foundation in planning to build a vault and garden.
He also agreed with the theme of the lecture that the late monarch lived a worthy life which depicts the nature of Omoluwabi.
Hon Wasiu Adeshina, Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, in his own contribution, said:
“I am happy to be part of the commemoration lecture for the late Oba of Ikorodu. The late king performed very well during his reign and the lecture is a good way of immortalizing him. The organizers have done very well in instituting a foundation in the late king’s memory and Ikorodu Local Government is fully in support of the project being embarked upon by the foundation. It is a project that would project Ikorodu more”.
Some of the dignitaries at the event were Otunba Balogun Subomi, CFR, represented by High Chief Akin Disu, the Bobagunwa of Lagos, Hon. Justice Adedayo Oyebanji, Chief (Mrs) Omolola Oyinlola, wife of the former governor of Osun State, Lady (Mrs) Kolawole A.M, Olori Aribike Adewale, wife of Olu of Epe, Chief (Mrs) Funke Arthur-Worry, Chief (Mrs) Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, former Lagos State Deputy Governor and Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, wife of the former Lagos State Governor and Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, the Asiwaju of Ikorodu among others
Royal fathers in attendance were HRM Oba Alaiyeluwa Lateef Adams, Akinwunmi I, the Orikate of Surulere, hrm Oba (Dr) Kasali M.A (Jpil.), HRM Oba Adisa Akindele, Ilupeju Oke-Odo, Gbagura and High Chief Lawrence Bankole Daranijo
