Chief Olusegun Idowu Oladosu is today the Obajoko of Ila Orangun, one of the highest chieftaincy titles in Ila Orangun (Osun State) and an evangelist. But it has not always been rosy, as he tells Taiwo Abiodun in this interview how he once worked as an escort rider for Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade in his hay days, his (KSA) impact on his life, plus his religious faith, marriage belief, amongst others.
Tall, dark-complexioned Chief Olusegun Idowu Oladosu is a man of few words. He is also soft-spoken but self-assured in a manner that attracts both the high and the low. The beads on his neck, representing his royal lineage and chieftaincy title, dangled as he spoke, giving him that dignifying look.
This conversation began on the note of his magnanimous nature. He explained the rationale behind his commitment to assisting and counselling the younger ones, saying they should be focused and constructive in their thinking. According to him, they should never shy away from little beginning, adding that they need to start from small to attain success in life. “That,” he said, “is the only way one can be successful and maintain it.”
Working with KSA
Going down memory lane, Chief Oladosu said he started his early life as a motor mechanic in the early 70s, but jettisoned the profession when he learnt that the juju maestro, King Sunny Ade was looking for an escort rider cum mechanic. He sort of liked the idea and went for it. “When my friends told me that KSA was looking for escort riders. I quickly jumped at it because I remembered how fascinated I always was every time I saw those escort riders escorting the former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, and even the state governors whenever they went on state functions. The riders were usually well-kitted, and I found them really fanciful and interesting spectacle. So it was like a dream come true for me.”
“I remember the day of the interview in 1977; I was among the five selected riders; and when KSA asked how much we would take as salary, we bargained for 70 naira per month. But we were surprised when he said he would pay us more. He said he would pay us double the amount, and that meant we would be taking home 140 naira per month. We were excited, for it was a big money then, and we all prostrated and thanked him.”
That undoubtedly is a rare gesture from an employer, so this reporter sought to know why. Was that the way of employers of labour in those days?
Chief Oladosu said “KSA gave us the reason. He said if he (KSA) went to an Aladura to pray and they prayed for him and demanded for 100 naira, he said he would pay double to let him pray very well. He then implored us to take good care of his machines. Thereafter Suzuki 500 motorcycles with four silencers were distributed to us. It was a class act. Going to occasions with KSA was super, interesting and one was proud to be among the KSA team. While in a convoy with KSA, an escort rider machine would follow a Land Rover jeep, then Sunny’s Mercedes 280 with number WKL will follow, while another vehicle will come behind with another escort rider on a Suzuki 500. We used to go places, it was great, it was fun! I was like a king too! “
Lessons from KSA
According to the Obajoko of Ila Orangun, he would never forget the juju star, who at that time was at his peak and enjoying widespread popularity. He said KSA contributed a lot to his life and influenced his lifestyle tremendously.
“I learnt a lot from King Sunny Ade, and I took after his lifestyle. He is generous, humble, unassuming, a go-getter, godly and will never cheat anybody. He used to advise us to save for the rainy day. He hated cheating and I will recall an instance.”
As he said this, he scratched his head, looked up as if in a trance, shook his head, then continued. “I will never forget what he did on this occasion till Jesus Christ comes back. There was this day when KSA came back from an overseas tour; we had not been paid at the time and it was our belief that he came back with money. I went to his house and waited till after 10 o’clock in the evening. When I got tired and was about leaving, I saw him on the way and stopped him. He asked what we were looking for, and I told him we had not been paid by his manager; he felt really bad. He then turned and called one Abayomi Ajiroba and asked why our salary was delayed. That was in 1977. He then ordered that we be paid. He took me back home and again gave me 120 naira. It was a lot of money then. Sometime ago, I saw Brother Abayomi in Osogbo and went to meet him in White House in Osogbo. He was the one who used to give us money for petrol and other things. He can testify to this story.”
The king never smoked
Unlike most musicians who were in the habit of using drug to feel high on stage, Chief Oladosu said King Sunny Ade never smoked nor took alcohol. He said ‘Oga never smoked nor took alcohol. And I never saw him with a cigarette or any hard drink. I am now an evangelist and a church leader, and I will never lie. I used to tell my children to learn from KSA; I learnt from him too. His two legs are his gift; he would dance and dance and dance. He was also very hardworking; he would rehearse with all his energy. He was a stage wizard still is, and his songs are like Hymns. King Sunny Ade is a great composer with a flexible body. Although I left him a long time ago, but I used to pray for him for the opportunity to work with him and for moulding my life. It is when one is still young that he can have a role model, not when one is old and unbendable. I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke. I am a church leader and in fact I use some of KSA’s songs to preach in church.
Why I left KSA’s band
While many would leave their former place of work with acrimony, Oladosu said he left King Sunny Ade’s band with happiness and glory. He said “I wanted to become a driver driving cars because drivers’ dressing attracted me. They were always clean. So I went to tell KSA that I was leaving. He was not offended and did not complain. He asked whether I could drive, I said yes but that I had no driver’s license. KSA then demanded for three copies of my passport photographs and that evening, he called somebody that he had somebody who needed a driver’s license. He paid and I was asked to come to Alausa on a Friday. KSA personally took me there in his car. And when I was asked which address I would use, I said I would use his (KSA) address, which was then 9, Adeleye Street, Bariga, Lagos. In a nutshell, it was Sunny Ade who got me my first driver’s license. It was that license that I used to drive for 17 years at the Save Our Soul, SOS organisation in Isolo. It was that license that I used to feed my family until I retired. So it is not out of place to say that King Sunny Ade made me. I thank God his status is no longer King but Emperor; I learnt that an emperor is bigger than a king.”
Combining traditional chieftaincy with evangelism
According to the Chief Oladosu, “I am a Prince; I became the Obajoko of Ila Orangun on February 15, 2014. This traditional title does not disturb my Christian faith. I am an evangelist and a church leader (Alagba). I own a church; the Oba of Ila Orangun, Wahab Oyedotun himself is a religious man. He is a devoted Moslem and this does not affect his being a traditional ruler. He believes in the almighty God or Allah; and yet he does the necessary things in the town. So being a traditionalist does not mean that one is a pagan, as many erroneously believe.”
On the rituals and other fetish processes that candidates for traditional titles and thrones are expected to go through, the high chief said: “True there are rituals to be performed, which are compulsory, but that does not mean that one is a pagan. Even when you are in the church, you must pay some money for the development of the church and perform some rituals which they camouflage as prayer, liturgy etc. But all these do not disturb one’s belief in God.”
On his monogamist nature
As the Obajoko of Ila Orangun, Chief Olusegun Idowu Oladosu has only one wife, which is a bit rare among traditional title holders. When this reporter asked why he does not keep a harem of wives, he explained that “I am neither in support of many wives nor an apostle of one wife. If you can take care of many wife, all well and good; but you should not deny them food and sex. If you have a wife and you don’t have sex with her, then what is she doing in your house? A woman wants a man who is able to do the two. So the question is: ‘Can you satisfy them at the same time? That is why I have stuck to one wife.”