A few years ago, Omokayode Idowu Esuleke created a mild drama of sort during his swearing-in ceremony along with other public officers and Councillors in Oshogbo, Osun State, when he rejected the Holy Bible and Holy Koran and instead opted to take his oath by swearing by Ogun, the god of Iron, symbolised by a cutlass. He recalled the big stir and amazement that followed, as other political officers, had toed the conventional line of swearing by the two imported Semitic religions. “Even the audience were not left out,” he recalled.
Asked why he chose to be different, the septuagenarian, who is now the Baale Esu of Osogbo said “I believe in the Yoruba gods that are effective, unlike Holy Books that are slow to react, punish or easily forgive. That is why I demanded to swear by Ogun, the god of Iron and was given a cutlass.”
Speaking further, Esuleke said “that is why throughout my tenure in the Council in Osogbo, I did not steal a kobo and my action forced other officers to be honest, hence no money went missing. You can confirm the records.”
On his nickname, ‘The Boy’
Septuagenarian Esuleke, whose deliberate bushy beard has covered his tribal marks, said he spent 25 years in the civil service and earned the nickname ‘The Boy’ because of his humility and penchant to relate with all irrespective of age. “Anyone looking for his mate should go to the cemetery,” he stated.
His powerful parents
Esuleke revealed that his parents were traditional worshipers: “My father was powerful physically and spiritually. He too was the Baale Esuleke, he worshipped Esu and married 23 wives. My mother was the last wife and I am her first and only child. My late father was so powerful that if he sent any of his wives on errands to fetch water and the woman felt reluctant, she would have a miscarriage. They wouldn’t even dare to annoy him, knowing the possible consequences. When they got pregnant, a powerful Juju man was always consulted, who revealed the nature and future of the child. It was this same juju man who told my parents to give me the name Esuleke. So I inherited the Esu worship from my father. He was the (Spiritual head) Baale Esu.”
Worshipping Esu
Inside his mud-bricks bungalow are burning oil lamps that he claims will never quench. “This is one of the shrines of Esu; we also have that of masquerades, while we have other pots where we prepare our herbs too. I am the Baale of Esu Osogbo. Esu is a powerful god, which only the faithful can worship, because he does not entertain liars and a liar cannot worship him. Worshipping of Esu god is like worshipping other deities; like the babalawos (traditional priests) have Araba as their leader or head worshipper; so also am I the head of those worshipping Esu here. It’s just like having an Imam or pastor. So what stops me from answering to my name and faith?” He asked rhetorically.
Although Esuleke did not go beyond Standard Six and Modern School in his education, he says he has been able to achieve what many university graduates may never achieve. “In 1955, when I was very young, I read the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation; I also read the Qur’an. After digesting both books, I told myself that nobody can come from a foreign land and tell me that his religion is better than mine. So I have no regrets being an Esu devotee.”
His Clients
Esuleke says he receives clients on a daily basis, who come to inquire about their future and seek solutions to their problems. “I find solutions to their problems and that is how helpful the African traditional religion is. I also get invited to give talks and deliver lectures and seminars on the Yoruba culture. I have been to University of Ilorin, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and other foreign countries to deliver lectures. Different people from kids to the elderly visit me as well as those who are sick and in need of healing. Even Muslims and Christians come here.”
Esuleke said Christians and Muslims come to him under the cover of the night. He said before the advent of orthodox medicine, traditional methods were used in treating snake bites, falls from trees, and even gunshot wounds, and admonished pastors, whom he says deceive their followers. “There is this head of a Church in Osogbo, who used to tell his church members not take medicine when they fall sick, but was seen receiving treatment at a hospital.”
On native priests who have been caught assisting robbers or using human beings for sacrifice, Esuleke said, “Don’t they always end up in terrible death? Is there any religion that asks you to go and steal?”
On why native priests and herbalist always look unkempt, he said “In those days, it used to be a non profit vocation. They did not take it as profession but assistance.”
On Thunder Balogun
Esuleke who claims he was once a footballer said “I was captain of Araromi All Stars. The legendary Teslim Thunder Balogun was one of my coaches then. We were together in IjebuOde and Olu Onagoruwa was part of us. I could also play Table Tennis very well.”
Asked to confirm the mythical story around Thunder Balogun that his shot once ripped through the tummy of a goalkeeper, Esuleke gave a loud laugh and said “That is not true.”
