The Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr.) David Victor Olateru-Olagbegi III (CFR) who joined his ancestors recently was buried few days ago. Taiwo Abiodun who reported him for 15years pays tribute.
I WOULD have loved to be an Abobaku (He who dies with the King) – for I would have gladly accompanied the Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr.) David Victor Olateru-Olagbegi III (CFR), as he journeys to reunite with his ancestors.
But civilisation does not permit. In the days of yore, there were voluntary Abobakus in Yoruba land, people who loved the king so dearly, they voluntarily die with him. There were also slaves who were forced to commit suicide or killed and buried with the king. The Yoruba believed that these are the people who would run errands for the monarch as he journeyed to the great beyond.
I therefore quote Thomas De Quincey’s (1785 -1859) words ‘Everlasting farewells! and again, and yet again reverberated -everlasting farewells! Goodnight Kabiyesi.
How I would have loved to serve His Imperial Majesty as his pressman, as he joined the gods or the Saints as Christians would say.
My relationship the Late Olowo
For over 15 years, I literally became an unofficial staff of the Olowo’s palace, strolling in and out, like it was my father’s house. My then medium, The Nation, also became his favourite newspaper.
And it all started with that first interview – a two-hour interaction, after which he gave me his three cell phone numbers. I can vividly recall the Olowo calling out, as he sighted me from the upper floor of his palace: ”Tola! Tola!! Tell Taiwo to come upstairs.” Pa Tola later became Chief Tola Ogwatowose, theOgwamodun of Owo Kingdom.
Last December when I wrote the story of the late Dele Udoh’s daughter, whom I met in America, published in The Nation newspaper, I called the monarch, who was then in the United Kingdom. He was excited about the story and told me to call High Chief Niran Osuporu to buy copies, so he could read in hard copy on his return.
Earlier, in August of same year, he had also called to personally thank me for my coverage of the World Council of Owo Associations , America ( WOCOA) held in St Louis, Missouri , USA. We were so, so close and spoke at least twice a week. In fact, we spoke two days (Sunday) before his demise on Tuesday. His chiefs, including Tola Ogwatowose, Ogwamodun of Owo, Chief Olusola Ogunseye, the Olubola of Owo and Chief Babatunde Olugbade, would always tell me, “Your father is upstairs, go and meet him.” I became a big boy in town, who dined and wined with the king.
What kabiyesi told me
The late Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru-Olagbegi III meant many things to me. He was a good historian, with great retentive memory. He told me many things; some confidential , some off the record, some for my consumption for my life’s journey. He told me how uneasy the seat of Obaship was and his efforts to make sure peace reigned. He told me stories of his youth and why he had many wives; of his unflinching love and appreciation for his beautiful wife, Yeyesa Ololade, whom he regarded as his pillar of support.
He told me of how he was disappointed by some people he trusted and how he had forgiven them. He told me his defence during his father, the late Sir Olateru-Olagbegi II’s case; of how loyal the late High Chief Elerewe Ojo was, and how he [the monarch] sought God’s face and prayed over it and God told him that his son, Chief Ilori Tunde Elerewe would bring peace and development to Owo and make it great . He told me about the church he was attending before joining the Redeemed Christian Church. He trusted me and called me his ”adopted son”.
Wiseacre king
The late Olowo was a soft spoken and complete gentleman with great finesse.
He was renowned as a wiseacre – with his Solomonic wisdom, while I called him Socrates and Solon. He told me the untold stories of the tussle for the Obaship and how he escaped death several times. He also told me about his book, The Wilderness of Life even before it was published in 2013.
Cat with nine lives
Three times he was rumoured dead while away in the United Kingdom, and three times, I had to debunk it, with single calls to his majesty. Often, we laughed over it. However, now that the symbolic tree has been felled according to tradition, and while the King’s market (Oja Oba) has been relocated to Ogwata until another king is crowned, it is confirmed and no longer a rumour. His remains were interred last Thursday with his forefathers in Ugha Moron Courtyard.
Death’s a debt; his mandamus binds all alike – no bail, no demurrer said Richard Brinsley Sheridan, [1751-1816]. OOO, as he was fondly called by his friends, has paid death’s debt.
What’s more! Kabiyesi did not die in a foreign land.
Who is Olowo of Owo?
Professor Rowland Abiodun in his book, Yoruba Art and Language (SEEKING THE AFRICAN IN AFRICAN ART) wrote on page 94:
Okun aragbarigbi
Akata-ila bori Ogho male
Ogede so too-too
(The mighty expansive ocean,
The great white umbrella-like shelter of Owo
The prolific banana tree that bears so much fruits).
The late Olowo of Owo was a king among kings! He had finesse with international clout. He had charisma, was powerful, with robust curriculum vitae, but never abused the power he wielded. His sterling and enviable qualities were simply unrivalled.
His humility knew no bounds, and at 77, when some of his age mates would have gone senile, his brain was still active and alert, loaded with great sense of humour and sense of sound judgement.
The prophet king
The late Oba Olateru-Olagbegi III was a devoted Christian; he never missed the Holy Ghost service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God ( RCCG) along Lagos – Ibadan express way. He loved God and always played his tambourine in church. He was also a prayer warrior, little wonder he bore names of the Biblical David and Victor, two people God loved dearly in the Bible. The Olowo was always with his Holy Bible, one of the reasons some erroneously believed he had jettisoned culture; but he always maintained that culture is different from religion.
Once I asked why he always took off his crown/cap in church and his reply was ”It is mark of respect for God, as God is the only King.”
When I informed him of my exit from The Nation newspaper, he prayed and prophesied for me. To the glory of God, all what he told me came to pass. Not only that, he once told me that the ‘guy’ who took The Nation newspaper to court over a story I wrote some years ago would fail. His words again came to pass, as he lost both in High Court and Court of Appeal. He also upheld that there is power in prayer than in juju.
He loved peace and was a peace maker, for throughout his reign the ancient town of Owo was peaceful. The town witnessed a lot of development as the roads were dualised and a number of banks opened their branch in the town. Recently he requested for University of Technology from the Vice President Osinbajo when the latter came to campaign few months ago in Owo; and once told me that Owo will one day become like Ikoyi.
He also used his connection to equip the General Hospital with medical equipment through Dr. Esther Lambo (nee Aragbaiye).
The late monarch was simple to a fault. Contrary to opinions in some quarters that he never listened to advice, he once asked me, ”How can I listen to advice that I should be vindictive?”
Man of honour
Kabiyesi proved to me that though journalism may not make one rich, it sure brings honour to one who is diligent at his duty. From calling me his ‘adopted son’, to people calling me ‘Omo Olowo,’ I literally amassed so much accolades and honour.
In 2010 during the remembrance of my grandmother, Kabiyesi sent a high powered delegation with the royal staff of office to St. John’ s Anglican Church, Iyere -Owo. Ditto when my mother was buried. The St Patrick’s Church congregation was delighted to receive the Olowo’s representatives with the royal staff of office. He called to commiserate with me from London when he heard the sudden demise of my late wife and was represented by one of the most senior chiefs with the royal staff of office. This is the highest honour any son of Olowo could get from a first class royal father.
Though his departure remains painful and seemingly untimely, but according to Margaret Mitchell [1900-1949]: ”Death and Taxes and Childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them.”
Call him a griot, archivist, historian, legal luminary, teacher, prophet or visionary leader, and you’re right on point. Born on June 26,1941 in Owo, Ondo State, his father was the late Sir Olateru-Olagbegi II. He studied Law in England and attended Law school in Lagos in 1968. He practised for many years and in 1975 joined the Nigerian Law School as a lecturer, rising to the position of Reader in 1991. He was given the staff of Olowo of Owo in 2003.