A woman ascending the throne as an oba in some parts of Yorubaland, especially Ondo State, is not new, but among the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta, such has never happened. That has now changed with the
installation of Princess Joyce Ibimidun Adesola Oladiran-Ebiseni as the Regent of the throne of Kalasuwe of Apoi land. DAMISI OJO was at the palace in Sabomi, the traditional headquarters of Ijaw-Apoi in the Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State and spoke with the Regent
Kabiyesi, Give us an insight into the history of the Apoi?
Apoi is an ancient African civilis-ation which consists of nine clans of Kiribo, Sabomi, Oboro, Igbobini, Inikorogha, Ojuala, Igbekebo and Ipoke spreading contiguously from the Apoi Creek in Bayelsa State through Delta State, Okomu in Edo State and the Ese Odo Local Government of Ondo State. The largest concentration of the Apoi is in Ondo State, the seat of the ancient throne of its paramount ruler – the Kalasuwe which in Ijaw-Apoi means “God among humans.’’ It’s a first class traditional institution in Ondo State. Oborowei, the strongest of the Ijaw deities is in Igbobini in Apoiland. Contacts between Apoi and the Europeans particularly the Portuguese dated back to the 15th century. Next to Badagry and Lagos, Christianity took root in Apoiland in the 19th century. The Igbobini Archdiocese of the Methodist Church covers Ondo, Delta and Edo States. Lord Luggard visited Oba Jubo, the Kalasuwe in the year of Nigerian amalgamation in 1914. Igbekebo had a provincial court in 1915.
Apoiland is oil producing. Apoi are hard working people with integrity and honour. It is a taboo to associate an Apoi person with social vices. It is unthinkable that an Apoi will be a beggar. ‘Iku ya ju esin lo’. (He will rather die).
What is the relationship between the Apoi and its neighbours?
Very cordial. Our neighbours are the Arogbo-Ijaw with whom we share the same Ese Odo Local Government, the Ilaje and Ikale both of which are Yoruba. We are Ijaw evidenced by several aspects of our culture, tradition, deity and festivals and no less deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and culture so much that the language we speak is Yoruba. You may be correct if you say Apoi are Yoruba speaking Ijaws. We are the only Ijaw whose traditional rulers are called Oba. Thus, in 1924, when colonial authorities first gazzetted traditional rulers in Nigeria, the Kalasuwe was listed as Oba of Ijaws in the Ondo province in the same category with other Obas as Osemawe of Ondo, Amapetu of Mahin, Abodi of Ikale, Ewi of Ado–Ekiti and others.
Kabiyesi, Apoi names, festivals and language appear totally Yoruba. What is responsible for this total loss of Ijaw language, does it have to do with Apoi’s origin?
Apoi is an interesting nation of cultural hybridism. As earlier said, most of our family names are distinctively Ijaw, our traditional festival songs of Oborowei or Boabo or when we conjure the spirits of our forebears through Ipatagha to discover the truth are clearly Ijaw practices. In equal measures are Umale or Egungun, Ifa and our language which are unmistakably Yoruba. Language is not static, it evolves and is influenced by several factors so I may not buy the idea of loss tongue. Even among the Ijaw, there are several tongues and we hardly understand one another. I have attended several Ijaw meetings, English is the Lingua Franca.
The origin of Apoi like other ancient Africa ethnic nationalities like Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Bini etc is shrouded in the bowel of history and in the process of academic reconstruction and discovery. I have read several accounts about Apoi including that of Professor Alagoa which are stories reconstructed, influenced by the prejudices of the authors. We have now assembled Apoi scholars in the continued task of our history and nation building.
Let us know about your father who was the immediate past Kalasuwe.
My father, Oba Samuel Adetimehin Oladiran, Ogele dumu III, was recalled home from his position as a manager at the UAC in Osogbo and crowned the Kalasuwe in 1955 at the age of 35. While on the throne, he was elected member of the Action Group as the first representative of the Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in the First Republic. In recognition of his paramount position, he was also president of the Ese Odo District Council comprising the present Ese Odo and part of Irele Local Government. He was also president of the Ese Odo Customary Court. He occupied several other positions including membership of the Western State Committee on Local Government Restructuring in 1974, Chairman, Ilaje/Ese Odo Traditional Council among others. Under him, Ese Odo Local Government was created in 1996, more schools were built, Apoi towns connected with roads and electricity. Traditional head of the nine Apoi clans were upgraded and approved as Obas. Apoi produced more prominent national figures like Mrs Mobolaji Osomo as Minister, Chief Zebulon Otokunrin Oboto of the House of Representatives, Professor Akere at the University of Lagos and later first Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University among several others. He gloriously joined our ancestors in 2007 having reigned for 52 years.
How prepared were you for your present position?
In our culture, only men are deliberately trained for the throne. However, I was born on the throne, here in Sabomi and had my Primary and Secondary Education in Apoiland and Irele around here. We all watched Kabiyesi as he presided over the affairs of the kingdom. I later lived with our eldest son in Lagos from where I gained admission to the Federal Polytechnic, Ado–Ekiti and after my OND went to the University of Lagos, where I had a degree in Political Science. Between 2001–2003, I was appointed Special Adviser on Women Affairs and Special Duties to the Chairman of Ese Odo Local Government. I am the Executive Director of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Exceptional Persons (CREP), which caters for the less-privileged in the society. I am a sports lover, matron of special sports in the state and also serving in a committee for talent hunt of the Ondo State Football Agency. I am an Arsenal fan. I was appointed regent in March 2011, four years after my father joined our ancestors. I am the first female traditional ruler in the history of Apoi and the Ijaw nation. I learn a lot also from my husband.
Since you said you are the first female regent, at what point did the culture change?
Culture is dynamic, influenced by several factors and experiences. In his life time, my father as paramount ruler together with other Apoi Obas agreed to introduce the system of female regency to honour the princesses and probably to prevent self perpetuation which may be the case with men. The Regent would be any of the daughters of the immediate past Oba presented by the ruling family to the Apoi Council of Obas. The local and state governments are thereafter so notified. The practice of female regency occurs in other places especially Ondo, Ekiti and part of Osun state among the Yoruba.
But only a male can be substantive Kalasuwe?
Yes of course. The process of appointing a Kalasuwe is more complex. It is guided by our tradition and the Kalasuwe Chieftaincy Declaration. The crown is rotated between two Ruling Houses – Ogeledumu and Ebelidumu of Sabomi and Oboro respectively. The last Kalasuwe my father was of the Ogeledumu, the next one will be from Ebelidumu. The process would have been concluded but for court cases among the contestants. Prominent sons and daughters of our land are already involved in the process of reconciliation which will produce a new Oba and I will happily rejoin my family.
How do you cope with these large numbers of chiefs, men and women that mill around you?
The relationship is what tradition dictates, even when as a younger person I try to dissuade them from prostrating or kneeling, they insist.
How does your husband relate to you?
My husband is a wonderful person, a lawyer, politician, historian, roundly resourceful. He is my inestimable pillar of support. He gives me all the freedom my new position demands, traveling all over Nigeria particularly the Niger Delta. Whenever I visit our matrimonial home, I still cook for him. He addresses me as Kabiyesi.
At the end of your regency what will you want to be remembered by?
That Apoiland and people are more united, nationally celebrated and developed; that the Irele – Sabomi – Igbotu Road which is a gateway to Apoiland and presently abandoned by the NDDC is done. Above all, that I do not disappoint my creator, body of Christ, my kingdom, my lineage and family, that I may discharge my royal assignment with due honour and integrity and leave with the dignity for which Apoi people are known.
