In this exclusive interview held with His Royal Highness, Oba Gabriel Oluwole Sunday Ajayi, Modupe Eledalase 1, The Owa Ateju Of Iro Ayeteju Ekiti by EMMANUEL ADENIRAN, our Ekiti State Correspondent solicited for the Ekiti State Government’s support for social infrastructure in his domain. Below are the excerpts:
Kindly introduce yourself for our readers sir?
I’m His Royal Highness, Oba Gabriel Oluwole Sunday Ajayi, Modupe Eledalase 1, the Owa Ateju of Iro- Ayeteju Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government, Ekiti State.
Your Highness, what can you say about your town from inception?
Well, Iro emanated from Okejan in Ile-Ife, the source of Yoruba race. From time immemorial, our ancestral home was at Okero due to fear of Yoruba civil war. This area was hilly and rocky and not good for farming and building houses. While in 1957, we relocated to a plain area, Ora Ayeteju, in order to build houses.
Why did you relocate to the environment sir?
I told you earlier that the place was hilly and rocky, we relocated because of motorable roads, farming and to be a part of the exposure going on in the world.
Sir, can you tell us the criteria that earned you this throne being the first king recognized by the government?
Well, that’s an interesting question! That should be traceable to some of my personal moves on some issues relating to my people that I treated with utmost priority and various positions that I have held in the State and beyond.
Kabiyesi, does that mean you are the people’s choice?
Well, you may say that.
Can you give us a brief account of your career before you got to the throne?
Well, I worked with the Nigerian Army in Bauchi as well as Ibadan in 1975. When I came back home, I was the Secretary to the Local Government in the year 2011-2012 and served as member of Board of Schools. I also worked at Ikere College of Education. I retired from Service in 2007. I graduated with a 2:1 in Social Studies with outstanding performances in the State and beyond.
That’s interesting
Yes. In fact, I am one of the Elders at the Christ Apostolic Church.
What will you say you have achieved so far as a monarch? Â
Unlike where we were then, now we have Primary and Secondary Schools for our Children, heath center for our people, civic center, motorable roads and electricity among other people-oriented services.
So, you believe you are now a civilized community sir?
We are civilized! What you are supposed to ask is the state of social amenities in our area and I can proudly tell you that we are being carried along in the state. In fact, Egbe water will soon be extended to us here.
Sir, what is the major challenge you face here?
Thank you for this question. Our major problem is electricity. For the past eight years now we have not been having light since it got spoilt and it has seriously affected the economy of our community here.
Have you forwarded your complaints to the appropriate quarters?
Yes, we did several times. There was a time we were invited to Ado Ekiti, the state capital and we sent our representatives to the Ministry of Public Utilities to make our challenges known to them there.
Have you received any response since then?
Yes, they promised us that necessary action would be taken to address it. Meanwhile, the road leading to our town was commissioned by His Excellency, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi recently.
What is the States of Security in your area sir?
I can say it is improving. I need to commend my people for their cooperation because they have been very supportive. Our local hunters and traditional soldiers are doing excellently well.
Do you have a Police Station in your domain?
No, we look forward to having one. Many issues need police attention but we could not have one. We call on Government to help us look into this and recruit more people into police force for the protection of lives and properties of our people.
Do you have issues with Herdsmen?
Yes, we have some of them that will come at night with their animals when we are asleep. They destroy our farms, leaving us with nothing.
What’s your take on Southwest Governors’ move of introducing Western Nigeria Security Network called Amotekun?
To me, it is a welcome idea, it is for the protection of southwestern part of Nigeria and they need the support of all and sundry for effective performance.
Do you have any advice for Yorubas on the issue of Amotekun?
Yes, my advice is that, the warlords of Yorubaland should not be discouraged with the issues surrounding Amotekun’s existence because other regions also have different security outfits. It is only people with hidden agenda that will go against the move since it is mainly to provide security for our people.
