‘My father was a ‘gorgeous’ monarch’

Thirty-five years after, Prince Aderounmu Ishola Aderemi speaks to Taiwo Abiodun on the myths and legends surrounding his father, the late Ooni of Ife, Sir Titus Martins Tadeniawo Adesoji Aderemi. He also spoke on other critical issues of the time, including the location of the Western Nigeria University in Ife, the relationship amongst obas and elites of the time, their children and his Christian belief.

For lovers and followers of Nigerian politics and history, the name, Oba (Sir) Adesoji Aderemi, Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), first African Governor of Western Nigeria (1960) and the late Ooni of Ife, reputed to be the origin and source of the Yoruba race, can never be forgotten. Last week, precisely July 3rd, made it 35 years since the iconic traditional ruler joined his ancestors, and his children and entire royal family spared no cost at celebrating him yet again.

The late monarch, Sir Titus Martins Tadeniawo Adesoji Aderemi, was a member of Nigeria’s first Federal Legislative Council convened in 1947. He was a member of the Nigerian delegates to the first African Conference at Lancaster House, London in 1948. He was also a member of Nigeria’s first Cabinet in 1951, and a delegate to all Constitutional Conferences until the attainment of independence in 1960.

His last moments

Prince Aderounmu Ishola Aderemi, one of the elderly male children of the late monarch and the family’s spokesman, described his late father as the longest reigning Yoruba monarch, having ruled for 50 years (1930-1980). Said Prince Aderounmu (now in his 70s), “I was very close to him while he was on the throne before I went to England and also when I came back. I also stayed with him until he died – I was by his bedside when he breathed his last. It happened suddenly that day after he had had his lunch. He just had an attack and passed on. That is why I have over 5,500 portraits of him in my compound here.

Aderounmi continued; “My father had premonitions of his death. Two strange things happened to him. He was on his sick bed, when the news came to him that one of his executors had died. The man was a very prominent person in the town and was like a son to my father, so he was not happy. He wondered how a man like that could die, while he was still alive. My father was old and he was fond of the proverb, ‘If somebody stays too long in the toilet, different kinds of flies would perch on him.’ At times he would mock death, and say: Where is thy power, death?

“In the early 1970s, there was also a case of somebody whose child was kidnapped right in his presence. He was told to release one of his children; otherwise they (the kidnappers) would kill all of them. Although the matter was quickly reported to the police and the kidnappers were apprehended, my father, though still in government, felt that was too brazen and wondered what the world was turning to.

“Those two episodes perplexed him and made him feel strongly that he had seen it all.”

The gorgeous monarch

When reminded that the late Ooni was one of the very flamboyant Obas of his time, Prince Aderounmu took serious exception. He said “That word is derogatory. What do you mean by flamboyant? You use the word gorgeous. That has more respect. Flamboyant is to throw yourself. I will show you his picture before he became an Oba. He had been dressing like a king. And he was fabulously rich. He was the first Nigerian to be appointed Instructor of Railways (Signal); he was a big merchant of cocoa, gold and transport, before he became the Oba. He was popular, gorgeous and loved by people.”

On the many myths about him

Asked to comment on the many myths surrounding the personality of his late father, some of which claimed that he had metaphysical powers to transform into wild animals like lion, cat and other animals in the face of danger, and also look young even in old age, the prince burst into a big laughter and said, “It is all rumours.”

He continued: “People say it before me too. If he was using ajidewe (a magical power that makes one look young even in old age), I would know. Our father loved us and he had no hidden agenda. He was open to all of us and dressed before us. In fact, his bedroom was open 24 hours, so I can tell you authoritatively that he did not use anything. People just feared and respected him because of his position, charisma and frankness. If I respect you and I’m sitting before you, I may not rest my back on the chair. Hardly would you see any Oba of his time, rest their back on the chair, while sitting with my father; except the late Alake, Oba Ademola Oladapo, who was very close to my father and older. They loved each other and my father called him Baba.”

Crisis of locating the University to Ife

Regarding the rumoured controversy over the location of the University of Ife, which the late Olowo of Owo, Sir Olateru Olagbegi II had wanted the Western Nigerian Government to locate in Owo, (now Ondo State) and which the late Ooni was said to have hijacked for his domain, Prince Aderounmu said “There was no crisis. It was a disagreement or mixed up. Owo was not even on the list of places to site the university. Three places were suggested then: Akure, Ekiti and Ijebu. Ijebu was automatically knocked off because of its closeness to Ibadan. Don’t forget that there was already one university in Ibadan. The two remaining towns were Ekiti and Akure; and the people fighting over it were those in the Executive Council: Akindeko, Osuntokun and others. So Owo was not among the towns being considered.”

While the tussle continued, the prince said news got to his father, who then called to tell the late Chief Awolowo that he was interested in having the university located in Ile-Ife. “My father was the governor then, while Akintola was the premier and Chief Awolowo was the Leader of the Opposition; so Chief Awolowo called the premier that kabiyesi wanted the institution in Ife, and Akintola simply said ‘No problem sir.’ So Akintola simply announced at the next Executive Council meeting that there had been another development, and that the university Ekiti and Akure were fighting for would now be located in Ile-Ife.

“Naturally that sparked off another confusion, with the Ijebus saying ‘Why Ife?’ And that it was the same distance from Ibadan to Ife and Ijebu-Ode, but Akintola simply replied that ‘Baba Ooni wanted it, Baba Ooni has taken it.”

Interestingly, Prince Aderounmu revealed that the well documented squabbles and political disagreement amongst these principal characters of the time never really affected the relationship of their children. “The Late Chief Wole Awolowo was my classmate; he was my very good friend even till his last days on his sick bed. When we were at Ibadan Grammar School, I used to go to their house to eat. His sister, Tola Oyediran, was my sister’s friend, while the late Segun Awolowo was my brother’s classmate at Igbobi College, Lagos. We were also very close to Papa Awolowo; he loved us so much; my father also loved Chief Awolowo as if there was nobody else in this world. But we weren’t so close to the Akintolas; although we knew each other. I knew Yomi and Modele; and Ladi was my very good friend in England.

“We were very close to the Olagbegis as well. I know Dr. Fola, who is now the Olowo; and also Yanju. Even the crisis that led to the exile of their father didn’t affect both our fathers’ relationship with each other. He (the late Sir Olateru Olagbegi II) used to say ‘Baba feran mi pupo,’ meaning ‘Daddy (the late Ooni) loved me so much.’ He was like a son to my late father.”

Knocks for today’s royal fathers

Prince Aderounmu is not happy with the present crop of royal fathers, whom he says have degraded the royal stool and also lack the charisma of royal fathers of yesteryears, like his late father, the late Olowo of Owo, Sir Olateru Olagbegi II, the Alafin Ladigbolu, Oba Akenzua of Benin, King Jaja of Opobo, the late Emir of Kano, and the Sardauna of Sokoto. The Prince admonished the royal fathers of today, whom he said, are busy chasing after contracts. “How can you, an Oba, be chasing after contracts?’ He asked. My father did not run after contract. Chief Awolowo said it; even Chief Akintola once wondered why my father went for the royal stool, because he was already very successful in business. He was the first Oba to use Rose Royce in Nigeria.”

Would he like to become the Ooni in the future?

“Every prince automatically wants to become an Oba, because they have the blue blood and had seen their fathers perform,” said the prince. “But the choice is of the royal house and the council of chiefs. However, it is not in my interest. Most of my friends wish I would become Oba someday; one even told me he would spend billions of naira on the course, if need be; but I always say that I am not interested because I am a born again Christian. I am not sure my Christianity will allow me to go in line with it.”

He however added “If by destiny or by the wish of God I become the Ooni, I will push for development, because a lot of things are happening in Ile-Ife that brings backwardness. This idol worshipping of a thing is bringing backwardness. Can we say we don’t want light now and that what we want is the oil lamp? You can’t make something with your hand and start worshiping it. It is stupid and does not make any sense. Most of the things that they used to do that can bring backwardness to the town must be stopped,” he said.

Spreading the gospel among royal fathers

The Prince revealed that he has also extended the gospel to some royal fathers, who have also become born again on account of his preaching. He said: “Most of them became Christians because I was going round, and giving testimonies of my new birth. Some even speak in tongue now. But one has to be very careful as well. Take for example the case of the Oba of Irun Akoko, who is a good Christian. There was crisis when his people told him he either continued the idol worship or leave the throne some years ago. The man said ‘No, I have the right to worship what I like.’ It got to a level where they wanted to kill him; so I went to see him in his palace. When I got to Irun, the whole town was deserted. I went to Governor Bamidele Olumilua and explained the situation to him, and in the end, the town was told that everybody is free to practice his own religion, and that nobody should be forced to perform any worship against their wish.

“My father was a devoted Christian too; he built the St. Peter’s Anglican Church (aka Church Oba) and prayed three times daily. My father also built the first palace in 1937. The palace is in the new palace till the present moment.”