Head of the Agunloye Ruling House of Oyo, Pa Samuel Ademola Adeladan has re-asserted the need for the ruling house to produce an Alaafin of Oyo who possesses the wherewithal to attract sustainable investments for the development of the ancient town and by extension, Oyo State.
It will be recalled that the Agunloye Royal Family is scheduled to produce the next Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of the last occupier of the stool, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Pa Adeladan stated this in an interaction with newsmen in his country home of Oyo town in Oyo State.
While speaking on the history behind the Alaafin stool, he revealed that “I belong to the Agunloye royal family and presently,I am the head of Agunloye royal family. The entire Agunloye family recognised me and ratified my position as Mogaji of Agunloye family. Oba Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija was the son of Alaafin Adelu Agunloye. Agunloye ascended the throne of Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of Alaafin Atiba, and with that, Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija became the Aremo Oba.
“However, a certain rift/misunderstanding that came up in Oyo made him go and settle at Ibadan. His friend, Aare Latoosa, gave him a parcel of land at Igbo-Agala where he built his palace and the palace was called Oke-Aremo. There, Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija also stayed for a while. After the demise of his father, he was recalled to Oyo to ascend the throne and became the Alaafin of Oyo.
He, Agogo-Ija, was referred to as ‘Ogbe Aremo re’badan, O gbe Alaafin bo wale. He ruled for six years. That was 1905 to 1911. Alaafin Lawani Amubieya gave birth to Ladigbolu, Lawuwo, Owoade, Agboin, Tella and other children.
Coming to Lawuwo, he is the second son to Alaafin Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija. He moved from Afin to establish himself and his descendants at Ilaka. When I say Ilaka, we always refer to IlakaLawuwo. There are two Ilakas in Oyo. Ilaka Lawuwo is our own; Ilaka Olokuta is also there. All families in Ilaka are the descendants of Lawuwo, the son of Alaafin Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija. It is only the descendants of Ilaka that the traditional drummers describe as ‘Omo Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija.’ The traditional drummers are historians. They know what is going on. When it gets to that stage, people who don’t know would then understand that the Ilaka descendants are of the Agunloye family. They belong to Amubieya Agogo-Ija.
“I want to say now that it is our turn, the Agunloye royal family, to present the next Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of Iku Baba Yeye, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. Right now, about 50 people have signified their interest to become the next Alaafin of Oyo.”
He, however, stated that the ancient town of Oyo needs a new Alaafin that will be selected “based on sound educational background, knowledge, wisdom understanding, and the capability to develop the entire Yoruba race. The next Alaafin should be able to promote unity and co-existence of the entire state and Nigeria. He should be able as a person to show that he would always ensure proper development of Oyo town, Oyo State and the country. He should be a person that would invite investors to establish companies in order that our people will have good employment opportunities. He should bring efforts to be a solution to stop robbery, banditry, and other crimes.
“He should be a person that can always listen and go over discussions to come out with best solutions. He should be a listening person that will be open to working with knowledgeable people. Eligibility depends on how qualified a person should be. As long as you belong to the Agunloye ruling house, that qualifies you as someone to listen to. And if you are interested, you must be learned. You must be a person with high intelligence. You must be a person that is able to invite investors into the town. You must also be in a position to make it pleasurable for all and sundry to have opportunities for employment. If a person is gainfully employed, the idea of robbery, kidnapping, banditry will not come to his or her mind. I consider all these as solution to insecurity in the country.
“We want a person that will transform this town. Oyo town is backward. For instance during one of our meetings, one of us said when they see people outside Oyo town and they try to find out where the fellow is from, the moment the person says ‘from Oyo’, they carry him or her with respect, high dignity. Such people would have never been to Oyo town., but all they had heard about Oyo would make them respect people from Oyo. But if they have the opportunity to visit Oyo town, they are usually disappointed. There are no developmental efforts. It is this backwardness that we want to eradicate. The next Alaafin must be able to transform this Oyo town in the proper manner.”
He equally charged the Oyo State government to cooperate with the incoming Alaafin so as to ensure that the desired progress is made. “What I expect the government to do is to be sure that the person that will occupy that throne will be a person of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and to help Oyo in whatever the Alaafin is trying to discuss with him, and to try all efforts to make sure those things are carried out: developments,” he said.