- Reveals Why His People Voted For Akeredolu Last Month
In this interview with EMMANUEL ADENIRAN, the Oliyere Of Iyere Kingdom, Oba Omotunde Alaba Ebiyanmi Adako, the Iresin II recounts his ten (10) years’ experience on the throne of his forefathers, some of the Sacrileges of the Iyere Kingdom as well as his future plans for the growth and development of Iyere Kingdom in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State… Excerpts:
Can our readers meet you Sir?
My name is His Royal Majesty, Omotunde Alaba Ebiyanmi Adako, Iresin II, the Oliyere of Iyere Kingdom in Owo Local Government Area.
When exactly did you ascend the throne?
To the Glory of God, I ascended the throne of my forefathers on November 27th, 2010. That was when God chose me and since then, He has been awesome and faithful. Exactly on the 27th November, 2020 I will be 10 years on the throne by the Grace of God.
Since your ascension to the throne, what has your experience been like?
I have had different experiences ranging from the bad times, sweet times. We are on assignment because the Bible says no one becomes anything good on earth except it is given to him from above. And when I was coming in, I dedicated the throne and community to God. So, God has been the one piloting my movements and directing all my affairs, coupled with the kind of chiefs that I am privileged to work with – they are trustworthy and hardworking. The youths in the community are not left out; they trust and believe in me. Some of the times, things have been sweet and some other times, they have been rough. But putting all those rough times and challenges together, by the Grace of God, we have been able to combat them with the help of God.
Since your ascension, what are your achievements and contributions to the development of Iyere Kingdom?
Well, to me, whenever I am asked that question, my response has always been that I can’t even recollect what my achievements are. I just believe that God is with me and I am moving on. My belief is that whatever might have happened positively in Iyere Kingdom and the community has been the Grace of God and nothing more. Regardless of whatever achievements they are, I can’t ascribe the glory to myself at all but to God alone. So, I can’t really say these are what I have been able to achieve. Whatever it is, I want to believe it is God Almighty who has been at work and who will continue to be at work over the affairs of Iyere Kingdom at large.
Kabiyesi Sir, what can you say about the historical background of Iyere Kingdom?
We actually migrated from Ile-Ife which is the cradle of the Yoruba Race. We came in with Iyere Oladere and when he was coming, he left with Adanigbo Aboba to Owo. And when they came, trying to look for where to sojourn, Adanigbo Aboba sojourned in Iloro quarters in Owo town but Oliyere Oladere kept going forward trying to look for a very good place to sojourn. So, at the end, he got a place under a very big tree called (Ayere tree) and he found peace under the tree. That name of the tree called Ayere was what now metamorphosed into Iyere. So, they found ‘Iye’ which means peace under Ayere tree. So, that was how we got the name Iyere till today. And that’s how we also migrated to this place and till today it has been our dwelling place. To the Glory of God, Iyere Kingdom turned 1000 years old in the year 2015 from the records of what I met on ground when I ascended the throne of my forefathers. That’s what I got from the history book of Iyere Kingdom.
And thereafter, we were like 15 years older than Owo Kingdom. This same Owo Kingdom was founded in the year 1030 AD while Iyere Kingdom was founded in the year 1015 AD going by the records contained in the history book that I met on ground when I ascended the throne of my forefathers.
To the Glory of God, I am the 30th Oba in the history of the Iyere Kingdom that ever ruled. Presently, we had over 213 quarters and hamlets within the Iyere Kingdom and in each of the quarters; we have heads controlling each of them for proper administration. And these quarters are made up of the Iyere Kingdom. So, that’s the details of how we migrated from Ile-Ife to sojourn at our present location till date. So, no doubt, our source in Iyere Kingdom is from Ile-Ife.
Since the existence of Iyere Kingdom, how can you describe your relationship with Owo people?
Yes, we have been together. You know in those days, if you are very powerful and go out to fight war or capture slaves or take over their territories, it shows such person is really powerful. Though we have relationship with the Owo people and we have co-existed among ourselves for a long time. We never had any reason to clash or engage in war. We have been having good times together since inception. Then, we had Olowo Ajaka and we have Oliyere Asamaju who is from my own lineage. There was no war that Olowo Ajaka would want to go, if Oliyere Asamaju did not go with him, he would not succeed in such war. But according to the history book, there is a place here at the Oliyere’s Palace whenever Olowo Ajaka comes to visit; he is the only one who is allowed to seat there.
According to history, there was a time when Olowo Ajaka and Oliyere Asamaju just came back from war and after two days, Olowo Ajaka told Oliyere Asamaju again that they should go for another war and the Oliyere Asamaju turned down the request, saying he has prayed traditionally, and had been instructed not to go for the war. But Olowo Ajaka was offended that the Oliyere Asamaju was not willing to go for another war, he took offence immediately.
Thereafter, the Oliyere Asamaju persuaded and warned Olowo Ajaka that he should not go to the war but he refused and insisted that he was going to go. Then, the Oliyere Asamaju told the Olowo Ajaka, that if he insisted on going for the war, that he won’t return to meet him and that Olowo Ajaka would be killed in the process. Olowo Ajaka also told the Oliyere Asamaju that he will go to the war alone and if he Oliyere Asamaju will not follow him, he will go and come back alive while Olowo Ajaka also pronounced that he will not also meet the Oliyere Asamaju by the time he comes back from the war.
But earlier, the Oliyere Asamaju had offended one of his servants named Gbagbaya. After Olowo Ajaka had left, there was a day that Oliyere Asamaju had removed all his powers to allow him to take his birth, immediately his servant called Gbagbaya knew about it, he went inside and removed all the powers belonging to Oliyere Asamaju and hid them, and went back inside to meet Oliyere Asamaju and killed him with the sword.
When Olowo Ajaka was on his way to the warfront, his enemies knew he was coming alone. So, they had prepared to kill him. Eventually Olowo Ajaka was killed as earlier predicted by Oliyere Asamaju and he did not return home the warfront. Olowo Ajaka was specifically killed at Ipesi Akoko. That’s why they used to say that Olowo Ajaka Elaye Epesin, Oliyere Asamaju Elaye Ogungbagbaya. Because of the traditional curse they placed on one another, it really affected both of them because they were both powerful. So, that was the only time that I knew that Olowo Ajaka and the Oliyere Asamaju had issues.
Looking at the society today, how do you think the relationship has transcended into physical development in terms of infrastructure?
Yes, it has. Like now, if any development like factory, Industry is coming to our town now, we usually liaise together and see where we can place them. In Owo local government, Olowo of Owo is the Chairman of the Traditional Council and we meet every last Tuesday of every month. We have a very good relationship. We are always looking up to something big coming to Owo Local Government Area.
Our relationship has yielded and attracted lots of developmentse into Iyere Kingdom. If we are not living in peace, the Olowo might not want it to come but because of the good relationship that exists between Iyere and Owo Kingdoms, our people go to Owo township and the Owo people also come to Iyere and we transact businesses together. This relationship is part of the good development we have seen here.
On the Cultural Values of the Iyere Kingdom, how much of it have you been able to tap into Tourism?
We as a Community in Iyere Kingdom are trying to open up some cultural heritages that we have. This is because in the Community, we have two major festivals and they are Ero festival, which is presently going on in Owo Kingdom. It is always celebrated every seven years, and it is an age grade festival. The people that attend are those from the ages of 65 to 70. It’s like the retirement age where everybody will come together, and go to Church or Mosque to pray. The second festival is the Ogun festival which is our traditional festival usually celebrated every six years. So, we are trying to make that age grade festival to evolve. The last one we had was a very memorable one that was well attended by folks from all over the world. In fact, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) came to broadcast it. So, we are trying to bring ourselves together to see how we can make these two festivals a global celebration.
When I ascended the throne, I was the one who started the Iyere Kingdom day. Then, we tried to pattern it in form of Ojude–Oba, but we did it for some times and we had some issues and stopped it. But now, we have decided to go back and re-organise it. Hopefully, after my 10th Year Coronation Anniversary by the Grace of God, we will try and commence it again. We have gotten our structures very well now for it to take off unhindered. And as we will be doing that, we will be bringing some cultural heritage that we will want everyone to behold every year.
Now, as regards your 10th Year Anniversary Coronation, I will like you to talk extensively about the preparation and the arrangements ahead?
The date is already fixed. The main date is on the 27th of November, 2020 and it will be a low-key celebration. But the actual celebration will be coming up on the 19th of December, 2020. It is going to be a mixed celebration. It is a Community programme and we are really getting ready for it. We have a Committee that has been set up towards the 10th year Coronation Anniversary and it is headed by our renowned Barrister, Chief Abiola Osho, he is the Balogun of Iyere Kingdom as well as the Chairman of the Committee. He is also the Chairman of the Iyere Advisory Council and we have different Committees already set up under him for the purpose of achieving our goals towards the Anniversary. So, we are on top of it. We are getting ready. And I know that by the Grace of God, God on our side, we will not go wrong.
Sir, what is your message to the people of Iyere Kingdom as they prepare for your 10th year coronation anniversary?
My message to my people is that we started together, and 10 years is a milestone and we have to come together and appreciate God Almighty who has sustained us for the last ten (10) years on the throne. Also, my message to them is that I want them to know that ‘agbajowo lafi nsoya’; I urge my people to please cooperate with me to allow all of us to develop our own community. There is no other place we can call our own. This is our own. I cannot go and claim Ondo town, or go and claim Oka Akoko, this is the place that God Almighty has placed and destined us to be together and lift up our own Community. We can develop our own Children and Family and the entire Community. So together, we can achieve our goals.
Kabiyesi, is there any taboo in Iyere Kingdom? And if there is, we will like you to shed light on it?
Yes, there is. Masquerade does not come to Iyere Kingdom. If any Masquerade comes to Iyere Kingdom, it’s a sacrilege and a known fact. “Egungun onimo ko kin to ilu”. So, it’s a taboo. It’s a sacrilege to do so. That is one of the main things that we have, then, apart from this, we also have a place a visitor cannot go into except he or she is an indigene. Then, apart from this, we also have a place in Iyere Kingdom where a visitor cannot enter except somebody is an indigene of the town. There are some ‘oro’, rites which only some privileged family can perform for the entire Community. So, it’s a normal sacrilege. But the main one that I said is that Masquerade must not come to Iyere Kingdom. It’s a taboo and a sacrilege.
Kabiyesi, what is your stand and that of the Iyere Kingdom on the political issues in Ondo State?
Well, no doubt about that. We have spoken to our people on the need to maintain peace before and after the gubernatorial election in Ondo State. We are one family in Iyere Kingdom. Although people in Iyere Kingdom might belong to different political parties, but we have been one family before and during the election and even after the election, we have all remained one big family in Iyere Kingdom. We don’t fight each other here for any reason. Our own is if party A wins, let’s celebrate them. And if it is party B that wins, let’s also celebrate them. As one big family, it is our idea that we should always celebrate ourselves here.
But first, what Governor Akeredolu has done for us in Iyere Kingdom, I will tell you with all modesty, that he deserves our total support and cooperation. And as a Community, we have all come together to give him our support now that he has been re-elected as the Governor of Ondo State. We are giving him our assurance that Iyere Kingdom people will continue to cooperate and also pray for him to succeed in his second coming as the Governor of the Sunshine State. And we will always appreciate him for all he has done for us in Iyere Kingdom.
On the present administration of Governor Akeredolu, what are his achievements in terms of Infrastructures and developmental strides for the Iyere Community?
What we really need, the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu has done for us. Look at the double carriage way here. When it is 7pm now, Iyere is usually as bright as the New York City. And secondly, there is a road called Igbe road, I never thought that road will come to see the rays of light in the next 20/30 years to come. But the Governor came on board and did a massive job that can stand the test of time. So, that roads are even enough for us in Iyere as achievements we have gotten from the Governor in four years.
And there are so many other things like that I may not remember now, that he has also done for us in Iyere. The Governor has done well. He has done well for the Iyere Kingdom and we also want to appreciate him, and that is the reason the people of Iyere Kingdom decided to vote him again for a second term in office. And we thank God that he emerged as the winner.
And now, that he has been re-elected again for a second term in office, we the people of Iyere Kingdom are very happy and we are looking forward to get more developmental projects in Iyere Kingdom courtesy of Governor Akeredolu’s government. We want to tell him that we are looking ahead and earnestly waiting for him to fulfill his promises to us in Iyere Kingdom.
Finally, Kabiyesi, what are your expectations and future plans for your people?
On my expectations and future plans for Iyere Kingdom, most especially for another ten (10) years to come because my target in the first ten (10) years of being on the throne of my forefathers has already been achieved. I thank God Almighty for this.
And on my plans for the next ten (10) years to come, I want to see and ensure that I double my achievements and the developments in my first ten years on the throne for the benefits of all the sons and daughters and all the unborn generations of Iyere Kingdom.
I want Iyere Kingdom to attract global attention. I am hoping that very soon that all the natural resources that Nigeria depends on and use as sources of income will be produced out of Iyere Kingdom by the Grace of God Almighty.
I also hope that all countries in the world will want to be associated and reckon with Iyere Kingdom, many will want to become the friend of Iyere. That is how it shall be for us in Jesus name.
