- •Says I have many children in higher institutions whose biological parents I don’t know
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún, an ancient city and capital of Ifedayo Local Government Area of Ọsun State, is an agrarian and quiet town with a respected monarch, educator, lawyer, lobbyist and humanitarian, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adedokun Abolarin, Òràngún of Òkè-Ìlá (Aroyinkeye 1), as its traditional and paramount ruler. The monarch, who once served as a private secretary and speechwriter to former Senate President, Dr. Pius Anyim, is blazing the trail through the establishment of Abolarin College, a boarding secondary school in Oke-Ila, which provides completely free education inclusive of tuition, uniforms, books, feeding and accommodation to children from poor families across Nigeria, where Assistant Editor EMMANUEL BADEJO met him teaching some SS3 students in an expansive compound. He speaks on his life, dreams and ambitions, and why he left his lucrative profession to serve his people and Nigeria as a monarch. EXCERPT:
CAn you tell us about your beginning?
I was born and bred in Ibadan, Oyo State to Elder Daniel Adeyemi Abolarin and Madam Mary Ibiteye Abolarin, daughter of Olayomi from Ipoti-Ekiti Ile-Aroawa. I started going to school in Ibadan from 1964 to 1969. In 1970, I entered Adventist Grammar School, Ede, Osun State and left in 1974. Subsequently, I did my A-Level, just one year at The Polytechnic Ibadan before I moved to University of Ife, where I read Political Science. I graduated in 1980. I joined the National Youth Service Corps in Jos, Plateau State. In 1981, I started my master’s degree in International Relations, which I finished in 1983. But within that period, I started working.
I started as a lecturer in the then Oyo State College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife, and I taught for 9-10 years. I ended my career at St Andrews College of Education as a Lecturer 1. Thereafter, I moved into practice. I was with S.A. Onadele & Co for about a year or two before I started my practice as Dokun Abolarin & Co in Ibadan, which I did in Lagos until I moved to Abuja when I was appointed as the Special Adviser on Legal and Legislative Matters to the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, between 2000 and 2003. I was in the National Assembly as a lobbyist, as a legislative attorney between 2003 and 2006 until the clarion call came in 2006 and I became the Orangun of Oke-Ila in December 2006.
What inspired you to go into the legal profession?
I had always wished to read Law. But probably because of my background, as a Seventh Day Adventist, my parents didn’t want me to be a lawyer because they believed that lawyers are liars and bad people. But I thank God that eventually, I saw that it is an honourable thing to be a lawyer, and that it is an institution. It is a profession where you defend the interests of the weak, the poor, and that’s exactly what I am doing here.
For all that I do on the throne, I thank God that as a political scientist, as a lawyer, as a scholar of International Relations, I am able to merge all together and resolve a lot of issues that people think are so difficult to handle. But with accountability, with purposefulness, with determination to make a change in people’s lives, I always make reference to my ideological disposition. I’ve always been a lover of the weak. So, being here is just to continue to do the work of serving the poor in another way.
But it appears you also would have loved to be a lobbyist…
Oh, but I was a lobbyist. I had wished to be a lobbyist way back in my political science class, when my political science lecturer, C.S. Fields or Professor Oyewole taught us who a lobbyist is, and I fitted into everything about lobbying. And it is a profession, it is a career, and it is necessary in a democracy.
What are the principles? The major two kernels are to promote participation and at the same time openness. While you are trying to do this, you make the system accountable. And that is the greatest thing that we need in a democracy. We don’t need a fascist. We need people that we can check; people we can give contrary opinions in order to build institutions.
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As a university student, I wanted to be a career diplomat. This was because of what I saw with career diplomats like Chief Afolabi from Ibadan, Chief Saanu from Ibadan and many career diplomats like Chief Nwokedi. Later in life, I distinguished myself as a lawyer, especially as a lobbyist, and that is what we do on the throne.
Next year, you will be 20 years on the throne. How has the journey been?
It is going to be 20 years since my predecessor joined his ancestors. If you want to get the latest gist in any community, ask those men playing talking drums. I call them the chronicler of history. They are the chief security officers in any society. They know many things. In my case, these people appeared to have been aware that I would soon assume monarchy status.
I had followed my father to the village for a social occasion. Immediately they saw me, they prostrated and asked that I give them money. That form of prostration was unusual, and that got me thinking. While everybody was enjoying themselves on the field, I was ruminating over the encounter I had with the drummers. When I made further enquiries, they urged me to relocate to Oke-Ila and live here. My immediate response was to discard them.
There were other instances pointing to the fact that I would one day make Oke-Ila my home. Hmn! It was much later I realised becoming a king was an answered prayer, because I’ve always prayed to God to take my life and let it be consecrated to Him by serving humanity. And to the glory of God, though it’s been tough, the journey, I can say, has been beautiful since I ascended the throne.
Conclusively, I can say that, for me, being a king is a ministry. Monarchs are servants of their people. If you don’t have the mindset of serving, if you have the mindset of self-aggrandizement, if your appetite as a king is to acquire wealth, this institution is not meant for you.
Can you confirm that you didn’t as a career lobbyist lobby your way to become the Kabiyesi?
No, I didn’t lobby. That is why they always refer to me as Atobatele, meaning someone that doesn’t lobby. It was just God that decided to put me through and I heeded the call.
As an exposed person, how would you describe what you met here 19 years ago?
I met complacent, non-agile people who I would have to push. Due to no fault of theirs, you have to push them before they do a lot of things even though they are brilliant, proud of themselves and their heritage. They are good people and they work so hard. They are not dependent on anybody. They believe that it is good to be a farmer.
I believe you have seen it since you came here. The only thing is that many of them don’t know how to turn their hard work into good money.
So, how have you been changing the narrative?
My brother, it has not been easy. But I have been engaging them and encouraging them to think beyond subsistence farming. And, I am happy many of them are doing better now.
But there are reports that your people are controversial…
No, no, no! We are not controversial. Here at Oke-Ila, we have all Nigerians. And, as a king, I have been at the vanguard of ensuring they all peacefully co-exist.
When you walked into this school, Abolarin College, what did you meet me doing? I was teaching my students political culture and political socialization. In terms of culture, it’s a traditional culture we have here. You respect people who are older than you irrespective of colour or tribe. You don’t question authority. If you are given something, you must learn to share with others. That’s what development is all about.
For 19 years, what are specific landmarks you would say you have made?
I don’t always like listing; I don’t always like doing that.
Okay, what has God helped you to do?
The Lord has helped us to be here. The Lord has assisted us tremendously to heal many afflicted souls. Yes, I am the paramount ruler at Oke-Ila, but I can tell you that God has been helping us to reach out to souls outside this town. I have many children who are in various higher institutions whose parents I don’t know.
The striking information that prompted me to seek an audience with you is that you run a tuition-free school. Is this a personal project?
No, it is God’s project, through me though.
Can we talk about ‘God’s project’?
By God’s grace, we started this in 2014. That is 11 years now. One of my first set of students is rounding off her youth service in Abuja. About 10 others are going for their youth service any moment from now. One of them graduated about five weeks ago from the University of IIorin, Kwara State. About eight of them graduated from Adeleke University.
But what prompted you to start this project?
I didn’t go to school to become a king. So, for me to be here, it must be for a purpose. I see poverty all around me. In 2013, I had the opportunity of traveling to Tanzania, where I saw a school like this. I interviewed both the school authority and some of their students.
The Tanzania environment is very similar to Oke-Ila Orangun. Yet, there was a five-star hotel in that neighborhood and a good school having students with vision. That encounter struck me. I wondered what those students would become and how they’ll be instruments of change. I asked myself: why will I sit here complaining and fighting over rubbish like supremacy battle when we need to start to prepare young ones for leadership? I think the most important thing for us to lay emphasis on is what the future of Nigeria is going to be.
Upon my return from that trip, I went to Babcock High School. And the school principal then, Elder Adetayo, was able to create a group for me. With that group, we worked day and night, brainstorming. When I informed people that I was going to start a school where no dime would be collected, many people, including my late brother, didn’t believe me. Many couldn’t see the dream coming true. I did not blame them, because it was not a shared vision. But to the glory of God, this is the 11th year. Thank God.
What’s the land size?
It is about eight acres.
Do you mean enrollees don’t pay for anything here?
Yes, to the glory of God. It is a free school. But they are paying back, because there is no free lunch. I say this all the time. They must pay back. That is the essence of having this school. They must pay back to the Nigerian society. They must be kind. They must have a vision of where Nigeria at that time would be. And that is why in our Abolarin College, the senior prefect is from Borno State. I have children from Borno, Plateau, Benue, Cross-River and Rivers states. I have students from Kwara State because I am conscious of the fact that I am an Igbomina man. We have children from Ijebu here. We are building, using the Constitution. I’m someone who believes that nation building is not a thing you get done overnight; I believe that it is a process, and all hands must be on deck.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria, probably because we don’t have leaders to encourage all of us to be participatory in the nation-building process, probably because few of our leaders are fascists, they don’t know what participation means. But in a democracy, we should try as much as possible to make the system open and participatory.
So, we train these children to be leaders of tomorrow. And I tell them that tomorrow is almost here. So, I’m not one of those that would tell you that Nigeria is jaga-jaga. Well, some say I share this view probably because I’m a scholar of the political process.
Can you speak to your scholarly voyage?
I’m a scholar of history. I’m a scholar of comparative studies. I can compare what happened in the United States of America in the 17th Century, the 18th Century and probably what is happening now. They still complain about the system in America. They are complaining about America. So, why must Nigeria be different? It’s a process.
How do you expect your students to pay back?
They pay back when it is good for them. Some of them are back in Abolarin College, teaching, and that is one way of paying back. They must give back to the society. It is a conscious effort that this is not a fee-paying school. We are just trying to give them opportunities to excel in life.
I prophesy to their lives as a monarch regularly that they are going to be great, and greater than Aliko Dangote, Kabiyesi, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, my friends who are benefactors of this institution – Dr. Deji Adeleke, Dr. Wale Babalakin, and thousands of my friends, who assist us to do the little we are doing here. And this school, I was able to affirm and establish that Nigerians are kind all over the world. They are just looking for the greatness of Nigerian society.
How do you combine your monarchical tasks with teaching the students?
Why wouldn’t I teach when I want the students to be greater than me? And I know the importance of education being the key to liberation and development. If you had met me in the palace, I usually have sessions early in the morning. I’ve had sessions with my chiefs and my people today. I’ve done what I think I ought to do today. So, the rest of the day, what do I do? I’m not in Abuja. I’m not in Lagos. I’m not in the big cities of the world when I have a lot to do for my people here.
Before I came here today, for instance, a daughter of mine sent some gifts to me, which I’ll be distributing to the less privileged, especially the disabled. The disabled have the right to live. Don’t they? They do!
Can you quantify the investments in money terms?
Ah, again, I don’t like doing that. I’m not even interested in that, because you can’t value human capital. But we just thank God for what we are doing. I have two of my students who recently got admitted into University of Ilorin to study Vet Medicine. I have a lot of them. I have five of them already in Adeleke University because through the SAN, the university gives us five slots every year. In that school alone, I have close to 60 of my children there on scholarships. And one this year, from a correctional centre, is studying Law. And they don’t give students scholarships to study Law. But to the largeness of art, this student is undertaking his study through my foundation. For me being a monarch is answering a call. Can you imagine if I refused the call?
Free tuition school, yet your staff must be well taken care of. How do you maintain them?
It’s the greatness of God. You see, this school, the foundation of this school is on God. And the principles are encapsulated in the book of Isaiah 58, 10 and 11. Read it. Isaiah 58: 10 – 11. And if thou draw out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise in obscurity and your darkness be as the noon day. And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy your soul in droughts and make your bones fat. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. God’s project can’t fail!
You’re a scholar in the political process. The National Assembly is in the process of reviewing the 1999 Constitution as amended. Do you agree with calls for constitutional roles for monarchs?
The constitution is a rigid document. We need to make it dynamic. Our constitution is too rigid. This is why I keep saying that history cannot be static. You don’t look at the Orangun eyeball to eyeball, but you are looking at me eyeball to eyeball. And I’m prophesying to your life that you are going to be greater than me. So, why must culture be static?
I’m not saying that culture, history, should be static, for God’s sake, I’m saying that let us make the constitution to be dynamic and not static. So, within the gamut of gaps that we have in the 1999 Constitution, let us make it a working document.
We established the Abolarin College based on the 1999 Constitution. We are trying to promote the principles of the Constitution, as well as encapsulating in the greatest instrument that we are trying to work on in Oke-Ila, Orangun. It’s in the book of Isaiah 58:10-12 where you read earlier. Verse 12 says: And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places. Thou shalt build foundations of many generations. And thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach. Is that not the clarion call? Why must I be complaining that Oke-Ila is not good? Why can’t I put people together and tell them that it’s important for us to be responsible?
You’ve talked about some of your people not being business conscious. I can see that Oke-Ila Orangun has lots of cocoa, plantain, banana and many other cash crops. Do you have any plan to change the narrative?
Yes, and we are gradually getting that done. There’s one thing I’ve been trying to do. I want to remove all the goats and sheep roaming the streets of communities. It’s been so difficult for me in the last five years. And I don’t want to just give instructions. I want my people to have a place where they can take care of their animals, something like a ranch. I want a town where people can make good use of land spaces around their houses to plant trees and flowers, and some crops, before going to the main farm. If we do this, we can make more money.
But it’s difficult driving this. Though you’re the king, you have to lobby the people to share your view, else whatever good ideas you’re introducing may not work. That is the difference between a 21st Century monarch and an ancient monarch. You have to dialogue with the people and reach a consensus. You cannot be a fascist on the throne.
Kabiyesi, what’s your enrollment in this school?
We are about 140. By the help of God through some kind-hearted people, we give all of them everything.
What are the yardsticks for admission?
We conduct examinations for them. Principally, they must be from the public school system. We take forms to them. We don’t publicise it because if we do, we won’t be able to contain population surge. We know our limitations. The catchment area principally is the old Osun Northeast, but this school is meant for all Nigerians who are domiciled in this area. And to the glory of God, that’s what we have.
I have children from many parts of the country here. How can someone say those from Igbo, Fulani, Ogoja, Hausa tribes are not my children? Some of my Igbo children are Gift, Chisom, Purity, Miracle, Chigozie, among others. There are challenges in the land. But the elite must come around all this and build a unified, prosperous future for our children. We are trying to do that here.
The senior boy of Abolarin College is Bulus, from Borno State. And Bulus, my son, is always happy when he’s with sheep, goats. That’s his habitat. And I’ve been advising him to read Vet Medicine. Here, we teach our students to blend with ethnic peculiarities. Our diversities are great assets we are not seeing. How can we take advantage? There is prosperity in diversity.
Any advice for our political leaders?
Our leaders must be up and doing. Although I may not be able to see the greatness of Nigeria in my lifetime, I have hope that it is going to be better. I say this all the time that everybody should fix the issues in his or her little corner. Our leaders must be sincere with the people. Our leaders must promote unity in diversity. They must appreciate what that means. That is why it is key preparing our young ones for leadership.
Is this why you are engaging in any supremacy battle with your brother king of Ila-Orangun?
I don’t do anything of such. I’m a historian. I know that Oke-Ila Orangun and Ila-Orangun people are from the same source – the first seven of Oduduwa’s children, of which Oranmiyan was the last, but the most blessed. That happens in life that your younger is more blessed than the elder. For me, no supremacy battle; it is needless. Why can’t we come together and think of how to turn Yoruba land to another Silicon Valley? Nigeria is blessed with so many talents.
