I miss my joints, clubbing, driving –Osun monarch Oba Agunsoye relives one year on the throne

–Osun monarch Oba Agunsoye relives one year on the throne

A first class traditional ruler in Osun State, Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Olufemi Agunsoye,the Abikeyin Ekun II, in Oriade Local Government Area of the state, today marks his first anniversary on the throne. In this interview with our correspondent, ADESOJI ADENIYI, the monarch, who retired as a senior civil servant with the Federal Ministry of Industry before he became a monarch, relives how he mounted the throne, what he misses now that he is a king and other interesting issues.

How has it been in the last one year?

So far so good. It has been a thing of joy because this did not come as a surprise that God elevated me. But you know when there is a change of status, especially becoming an Oba, there is no way there will not be challenges. But throughout my life, I have learnt so many things. I have learnt to stand up to challenges and  move on. Working in the Federal Ministry of Industry, I have learnt so much. I was a zonal coordinator, controlling about seven states with many people working under me. There were  challenges when I came here to pick the throne but I was able to handle the people because of the managerial acumen that I have acquired as a civil servant. So, I was able to surmount the challenges. Nothing really was too big for me.

How was the selection process and and your installation as the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa?

There was a divine intervention in the process though it was not easy. We passed through many stages but we thank God eventually for our victory. When you look at the lineage, the process and the number of contestants, it should have been a direct process for the Agunsoye family to emerge. Unfortunately, everyone was allowed to contest but eventually, God took absolute control and made it easy. The outcome was beautiful, the whole town was jubilating. Actually they saw me as the right choice, that the kingmakers had done the right thing in picking me. So things have been easy and people remain  happy. So, we really have the divine intervention that made the whole thing easy and helped us to surmount all the challenges facing us. So we thank God for the people’s acceptance.

Was there a stage of your life that prepared you for this throne?

One or two things that I have to say about myself as a person. Right from my youth in the Agunsoye family, I don’t know how it came about, but I found out that I was the first person being called prince. Right from my secondary school days, from Form One, people had known me as Prince Agunsoye. I was a football player; on the football field,  they called me prince. So, I think it’s God. I am the last born of the family, the Agunsoye family, and that is why I adopted the title Abikeyin Ekun Agunsoye 2. After the demise of my father when I was three years old, people began calling me Abikeyin Ekun. So, right from my secondary school days, I don’t know how I came about using the title of prince. But from all my journey in life, the love of my people had always been in my heart. Even at a stage, about 10 years ago, one of my bishops asked me where I worked because every weekend, I must be in Ijebu-Jesa for one thing or the other, not because I was building myself to become the king. This just came naturally to me. As a person, what is paramount in my mind is love for my town. And I also tried my best to support the system to make things work out. Anytime I was called for developmental projects, I contributed the little I had. I gave scholarships when I was working. All this brought me very close to the town. Also, my rapport with the princes and princesses was robust. We have what they call Committee of Princes and Princesses. Among them, I played my role effectively. So, I will say God had already ordained me before I became the king. I will also say that my attitude and my way of life made the people to love me.

What is the update on the crisis occasioned by the creation of Ijesa North Traditional Council among  communities in Oriade and Obokun local governments of which Ijebu-Jesa is a principal town?

Actually then, it was not a serious issue. You know, in Ilesa things happen that you cannot explain. People fought for this Ijesa North Traditional Council, it was not a single person. We have Owa-Oye, the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Owaloke, Owamiran and many other Obas, who fought to pull out of Ilesa. So, we thank God that eventually the Ijesa North Traditional Council was created. It was unfortunate that our Kabiyesi then, the Elegboro, was a bit down for almost 10 years and could not attend meetings. But thank God since I came on board, the acceptability has been great. Love has been radiating among us. Between Obokun and Oriade, there is what we call peaceful transition. What we normally do is to rotate the chairmanship on a yearly basis between Obokun and Oriade. The last chairman in Oriade was the Kabiyesi Ogunmokun, the Akeji of Ikeji-Ile. He came on board because there was no Elegboro, there was no Owaloko, there was no Apetu. These are the three rotational presidents. Because there must not be a vacuum, when it came to the turn of Oriade, all the Obas unanimously picked Akeji. But since last July, it has moved to Obokun and the current president is Owamiran. This is for one year and after one year, it will come back to Oriade. So, there has been cordial relationship among the obas in the two council areas. Now, we have young Obas with like minds and we are working together to develop our domains.

What is your agenda for the transformation and development of Ijeu-Jesa?

Actually, since I came on board, a lot of transformation has come to Ijebu-Jesa in terms of physical, capital and human developments.  My vision is to see that Ijebu-Jesa becomes a toast of this environment in Ijesaland. Within so short a period that I became the Elegboro, I have put in place a modern office with two large rooms, where I can receive visitors and work. In the last one year, I have completed an international market with 20 lock-up stores for the use of my people. Within this period, the government has given us a legal aid council. We have just finished refurbishing the magistrate and the high courts, which we have handed over to the state and the federal governments for the lawyers and judges to use. Then coming to individuals, who are my subjects, Rotimi Obeisun Investment has been performing wonderfully. He is God-sent. He has set up radio and television stations. He has set up Timsed Beverages plant. Timsed Confectionery plant. He has built Timsed Civic and Event Centre, Timsed Cinema and brought Tantalizer here too. He has also set up an Agoro-allied and rice processing plant, a fertilizer plant. Obeisun is a gift to us. If a man could put up huge investments like these in our domain, we can see a bright future for our people. So when there is cooperation between an Oba and his subjects both within and in diaspora, there is so much we can achieve together. We really thank God for what we have achieved so far. The song of one of our late sons, I.K. Dairo, “Ijebu-Jesa di America”, is coming to reality in our own time. Our town is really moving forward and we give all thanks and adoration to Almighty God.

Are you not worried about the massive youth unemployment and restlessness in all parts of Nigeria, a situation that has given rise to all forms of crime?

Unemployment is a global issue. Not only in Nigeria, the whole world is feeling its effect. Because of automation in the technological world, most jobs have taken many people out of job. Automation and robotic way of doing things are really producing very serious challenges. You know, my experience in the Federal Ministry of Industry at the Industrial Inspectorate Department, where I retired, had made me see so much. I had seen and I had been to so many factories all over the country because that’s  my job. We know that technology is taking away many jobs but that is not to say that we will sit down, fold our arms and do nothing. My community here is an agrarian area and we are trying  to engage our farmers, to see how we can add value to their products. We are going to set up cottage industries to use the farmers’ produce as raw materials. When farmers bring their products at the same time and there is a glut, there will be a problem. So we are going to do it in a way that people will be relieved when they find markets for their products. Those who plant cassava we will get cottage industries to buy their product and process it into cassava flower, while those planting banana to turn it to plantain chips will also get help and so on.

I have just spoken with the government to see how we can lend a helping hand concerning the school feeding programme by making our farmers to supply some of the materials for preparing the meals for school pupils.  We are also planning a business venture, the Egboro International, to help market the farmers’ products. There is a place abandoned by the government and I am talking to my people, those who are rich, to come together to revive the place and make it suitable for our people to produce plantain chips for school children since there is now a ready market for it.

So, coming to the youth, we are encouraging them to learn a trade instead of riding commercial motorcycles. They school not just rely on their educational qualifications; they need to learn some trades and acquire additional skills. So when they ask for help, we will be able to support you once you have a skill. If it’s barbing salon or any other trade, we will support you once you have the skill.  We also give scholarships. You know, I said youths going into crime is a global matter but we are being creative in the way we want to solve the problem in our environment here.

What is your view about the clamour for a constitutional role for traditional rulers?

It will be the best thing if the government could give constitutional roles to Obas. You know in those days, they say Oba  lo ni’le, meaning,kings owned the land. When we say so, the kings were very powerful, they are the nearest to the people. You remember our late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the then Ooni of Ife, he was governor in the old Western Region. There was more respect for Obas but now that they don’t have constitutional roles things are different. The Obas only beg the government for everything now and it should not be so.  Meanwhile, we are the first people in distress run to before they get to police or the government. We settle a lot of disputes everyday. So, we need the constitution to back some of our functions to be able to get funds to respond quickly to issues. We can work hand in hand with council authorities.

What do you miss now that you are king; things you used to do but cannot do anymore as a king?

I miss my social life. I used to go to parties but can’t do that now. I used to go to joints and clubs. But if I continue, it can be used against me. I used to drive a lot. I drove from here in Ijebu-Jesa to Jos (Plateau State). Today. I won’t be allowed to do that. Even my wife will say no, don’t. Driving is my hobby. By the nature of my job at the Department of Inspectorate, I moved from one state to the other. I also cooked a lot. I love cooking. I cooked by myself when I was in Benin for seven and a half years and in Jos for 10 and a half years. I took pepper soup in joints but that I can’t do anymore. The throne has taken away my social life but I thank God for putting me in an exalted position where people come to meet me and I go to meet people too. A times, I ask God, is it me? Anywhere you enter, your seat is reserved. Also, some of my friends don’t come to me, they think I am the king. But I encourage a lot of them not to run away from me.

How was your first day as king?

I kept asking God, is this true? A lot of people were jubilating because of me. I was overwhelmed with joy and truly see the hand of God in my becoming the king. The very year I retired from the civil service was the year I was made the king. I know God is on throne. Today, one of my prayer points is not to allow the throne get into my head so that I won’t lose focus and do exactly what God had ordained me to do for my people. I want to remain what I have been, not to become proud.

Are you planning to take a new wife for the throne?

Not me. That has never been on my mind.

Even with overtures, can you change your mind?

No, I have been alone before now and exercised self control. I had seen so much pressure in the past and I summoned it. No, I don’t feel any problem.

Are you not overwhelmed by requests from people?

Yes, but I have a personal assistant that assesses people. Many came for genuine reasons but a lot for frivolous demands. They will just look at you and come forward to collect money.  Even some will ask for things not within your reach. But we surely attend to genuine requests. The ones I can not handle, I solicit the support of my subjects.