The Traditional ruler of Epe community in Lagos, Oba Kamarudeen Ishola Animashaun, has reigned for 13 years. Within this period, he has overseen the transformation of Epe from a sleepy community into an urban settlement. In this interview with OKORIE UGURU, the monarch speaks about his experience as a royal father. He also recalls how he almost ran away to avoid becoming king when he was initially chosen. Excerpts:
For 13 years, you have been the Oba of Epe. Could you share your experience so far?
Yes, this is my 13th year on the throne and we have crossed so many hurdles. But at the same time, I have enjoyed the interaction with my people. This is in the sense that Epe is the fishing basket of Lagos State.
There has been a lot of improvement since I came to the throne. The Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the Lagos airport project and many others. The FTZ has opened up our community more in the area of industrialisation. It has also helped in enlightening our people in terms of how the project is being done and what it means. It has been a very big experience for me.
Then, there is the modernisation of Lagos State, which has brought a lot of things for the Epe people. There has been more enlightenment, industrialisation and development in terms of roads and provision of basic infrastructure for the people. We also know that the government listens to our requests to make life easier than before.
One thing I can say in all is that I am really enjoying my people. They are happy with me and I am happy with them.
Did you envisage some of the challenges you have had since you became the king?
The challenges are more than I had envisaged. To be a traditional ruler is not an easy task because you have to deal with different kinds of people. You have to oversee a community with different tribes and ethnic groups. You know, we have many tribes in Epe. We have the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw and many other tribes. You have to look after these people. You are not supposed to treat them as outsiders.
You would like to develop your area. You would like to see that your people are not cheated both in the government and the parastatals. And when a matter is brought before you, you have to think very well before you know the judgment to pass. The role of the royal father in the community is very important because he is a kind of bridge between the government and the people.
Has being a traditional ruler inhibited your ability to do certain things or given you the freedom to do a lot of things?
As a royal father, there are so many things you can do now that you could not do before, just as there are so many things you could do before that you cannot do now. I can do more, but this is in certain areas. In some areas, I cannot, because the way you used to move with people, play with people here and there, play outside, you may not be able to do that. You have to put yourself in the position of a royal father. You also have to admonish yourself that there were some things you saw as fun in the past which you cannot do any more. You have to look after many things and many people. You would want to take care of the people and control them.
How was growing up like?
I was born in Epe and I did my primary and secondary schools here. I proceeded to YABATECH, Lagos. Even after I left, there was no year I wouldn’t be in my home town.
Any special reason for that?
My parents were here and there is nothing like home. If I was so far away from home, I would not be in this position. It is because I move and interact with my people. Even this position, I never thought that I was going to be there. I was thinking of another person.
Another person?
Yes. Because I did not know how they were going to do it. I was thinking that the late Prof. Agbalajobi would become the next royal father and I would give him all the support. I did not know that all the while, the elders were just laughing. They knew what to do. They had to consult the Ifa oracle. They said they sent about 38 names and I was the one picked.
Were you surprised?
I was surprised because I never wanted it.
Why?
I was a business man. I had my workshop; a big machine shop. I was selling machine parts to companies like the Nigerian Breweries, Guinness, Flour Mills and so on. I have equipment and they are still intact. I believe in business because I did not work for anyone, I was on my own.
You never worked for anybody?
Nobody would say he paid me salary. I have always been on my own. I have many children I have to look after. So, my whole mind was centred on my business. When I spoke to one of the elders who is about 97 years old, Baba Daudu, although somebody from my family had hinted me, and he said I had been picked, I just laughed. I wanted to run away.
Run away?
Yes, I am telling you. If not for Baba, I would be in Cotonou (Benin Republic). I am telling you the truth. You may not believe it. All my family members were aware of this. I started making arrangement on how I would run away. That was before I saw the elderly man.
So, what did he say that convinced you to stay?
He told me, ‘Kabiyesi, please I know you want to run away.’ How the man knew I wanted to run away is what is still baffling me up till today, because I had not discussed it with anybody except two of my wives. I knew they were not also interested in the position then. The old man referred me to my mother. He said I should go and ask her and let her confirm or otherwise whether at my younger age, the thing had not been mentioned to her.
That was many years before when I had an accident on the Epe water. I was then about eight or nine years old. It was a ghastly accident and I spent over a year at the Ijebu Ode General Hospital. The day Dr. Adefowope came back from London to work at the hospital was the day I was discharged. It was then that they had already known this and nobody told me.
Did your mum confirm this?
I went back to my mum and told her I saw Baba Daudu and he mentioned so, so and so to me. My mum said yes. That was why when they gave me chieftaincy titles, I did not reject them. This is because they were always giving me chieftaincy titles, and when I asked her whether I should accept or reject them, she would tell me to accept.
She told me Baba Daudu was an Ifa priest. He was among the people who had seen and mentioned this thing in the past. She told me to accept it. She then gave me the Ifa oracle’s name and asked me to go and ask anybody.
I consulted the churches and they set up prayer groups for me. They told me I had to accept it; that I should not run away. I consulted a Muslim cleric and it was the same thing. I went to Ososa, Hubert Ogunde’s town, and it was confirmed. It was then I surrendered myself.
Let me be frank, before all these, I never wanted to be the king. I surrendered to lead my people and I must say that I don’t regret it.
You talked glowingly about your mum, what was her influence on your life?
Why I talk about my mum is that my father died before some of these things came up. So, it was my mother that I was relating with. I was very close to my mum. A woman who gave birth to 12 children and had only three left, you know how it would be. I was the first born. On what I told you earlier about my accident on the water, she slept under my bed for one year in the hospital, looking after me and not sure whether I would survive or not. My mother and I were close.
Could you recall one advice your father gave that you would always remember?
He said: ‘You must be straightforward in whatever you do. Don’t tell lies. Whatever you are doing, be honest with people. No matter what the situation is, don’t deceive people; don’t tell lies’. I took it. If I tell you the truth now and you don’t believe it, I don’t care. I will tell you I have said my own. I know that my mind is clear.
