In this interview with EMMANUEL ADENIRAN, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon (FCTI), Adetila Ilufemiloye 1, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti Kingdom shares his experience on the attainment of his golden jubilee, his achievements, his difficult childhood and his rise to the top among other issues… Excerpts
Can our readers meet you Sir?
My name is His Royal Majesty, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon (FCTI), Adetila Ilufemiloye 1, the Onisan of Isan Ekiti Kingdom.
It was reported that you will be celebrating your birthday ceremony; can you give an insight to your new age?
By the Grace of God, I am celebrating the faithfulness of Almighty God in my life. This is my golden jubilee birthday anniversary.
Can you recount your experience in the last 50 years, can you talk about your experience?
At least, all I can say is that I survived through the Grace of God. I lost my father when I was just five years old and after that, like became a matter of struggle. It was my mother who singlehandedly nurtured me with the help of God because I was from a humble background -I had to struggle to survive and to become somebody in life. I can recollect from my primary School to higher institution level that it was a life of struggle. But I thank God for His Grace that has made me what I am today.
We will really like to know more about your educational background?
I started my Primary School Education at St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Isan Ekiti from 1975 / 1976 session. Thereafter, I proceeded for my Secondary School Education in the year 1982 and I graduated in 1987 but retook my WAEC Exams in the year 1988. So, in the year 1990, I got admission into the Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo now Rufus Giwa Polytechnic where I bagged my OND – Ordinary National Diploma in Business Administration. Thereafter, I proceeded for my HND in the year 1995, also in Business Administration. In the year 1999 to 2000, I went ahead to have my Postgraduate Diploma in Financial management from Adekunle Ajasin University. In the year 2002, I bagged my Masters in Business Administration with option in Finance from Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba Akoko. I also have some professional qualifications too and presently I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxations of Nigeria (CITN).
What were exactly were you engaged in before your ascension on to the throne of your forefathers?
I was working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) before I ascended the throne on January 11th, 2017. Specifically, I was given my instrument of office on the 13th January, 2017. I was with the Federal Inland Revenue Service before I was officially installed as the Onisan of Isan Ekiti Kingdom.
How will you assess your experience since you became the Onisan?
I give glory to the Almighty God – since I have been on the throne, we have passed through a lot of challenges though some of our people brought a lot of challenges and instituted court cases against us. We thank God Almighty that He has taken absolute control and now we are experiencing peace and progress in Isan Ekiti.
During my reign, a true son of our land was re-elected as the Governor of Ekiti State in person of Dr John Kayode Fayemi. Many progressive developments have occurred within my short stay as the king and even this palace was commissioned on 14th December, 2019. Formerly, there was no palace in Isan Ekiti, the building project of the palace started in August 2017 and it is on record that Isan Ekiti has one of the most befitting palace structures in the state.
So the building of the Palace is that symbolic to you sir?
I cannot wait to express how happy I am to have this type of Palace. At least, I have been going to different Palaces, I am happy that I am privileged to have this type of building and it is worthy of emulation. And I want to thank the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi for making the building of this edifice possible and achievable during my own time. Worthy of mention are notable sons and daughters of this land who contributed immensely to the building of this edifice. They have all done very well.
We will you like you to recount one or two things that always give you joy?
I will always remember the day I met my wife, the Olori of Isan Ekiti Kingdom. I thank God He gave me such a woman to be my wife because she has been playing the role of a mother and that of a wife and she is everything to me. And she has been an encourager even on this particular throne. She has always been supportive in everything. Every day I see her, I always feel happy and always thank God that He gave me the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh.
The other example I want to give has to do with the day I was enthroned as a King in Isan Ekiti Kingdom; it was a day I cannot forget, most especially the day of my selection as the monarch.
Can you recollect your challenging experiences while you were growing up?
Before I got married, during that particular period, I always felt lonely. I am not the type of person that associates with people very well because of the challenges I had when I lost my father. I was careful not to misbehave because if I did, nobody would come to my aid, that was why I decided to live a low-key life at that time and a life of humility. Even that period, I thank God that I was able to attend tertiary institution which is one of my happiest moments.
In fact, I found it difficult to get money to make my own school locker but to the Glory of God, He did everything in a spectacular way I did not even know. Everything that happened can be said to be God’s doings.
Can you share with our readers you lowest moment in life?
That was the period that my mother died, I did not expect it at such a moment. My thought was that she would still be alive to enjoy the fruits of her labour over my life. But she departed this world on August 11th, 2003. At that period, I really struggled to build a small apartment for her despite the fact I was living in a very small room and parlor. I did that for my mother because I wanted her to be fulfilled and that why I struggled very hard with my wife to be able to achieve this for her during her lifetime. It was shortly thereafter that she died suddenly; she entered the new house built for her in August 2002 and she passed away on August 11th, 2003. That period saddened my heart. I only give glory to God for my life because it was a privilege that I knew God from my Primary 4, and had even joined the choir since then at the Anglican Church. These are some of the bad experiences that I can recollect.
Similarly, the financial difficulties I used to face then was also part of the bad times. I got admission into the University but there was no money to attend so I decided to attend the Polytechnic.
Can you highlight some of your contributions to the development of the Isan Ekiti Kingdom?
The first thing that is paramount to any place that we call a community or a town, is that there must be peace and unity and progress. I think since I ascended the throne, good things have been happening in every quarter of Isan Ekiti because I have visited nearly all our sons and daughters within and outside Isan Ekiti such as those in Lagos, Kwara and Ondo.
As I said earlier, this palace is a great edifice that has never happened in Isan Ekiti Kingdom before like the Isan Ekiti central palace. During my tenure, we have produced the Governor from this town and the Solicitor General of the Federation, Barrister Dayo Apata and many other eminent personalities who have attained the peak of their career in their professions. In addition, we have two Professors at the Ekiti State College of Agriculture which is now in operation in Ekiti State. Also, in this Community, we had one market before, but we now have another market called the Oba’s Market- the Oja Oba which is close to this Palace.
Furthermore, we also have more Primary Schools in Isan Ekiti now. Other developments include the establishment of a micro-finance bank and the establishment of the College of Agriculture located here in Isan Ekiti. All of these achievements and infrastructures have elevated our town and made our town to become a reference point.
You ascended the throne in 2017 and by January 2021 you will be celebrating four years on throne. How do you intend to celebrate it?
I will just give glory to God Almighty. I don’t have any ceremony or arrangement for any special programme. Just to give God the glory. That’s all.
What message do you have for the people of Isan Ekiti Kingdom as you prepare to celebrate your golden jubilee?
All I can do is to pray for them. I will pray that Isan Ekiti will continue to experience and witness more development and progress during my own time. Our people will continue to flourish and do exploits. I pray for God’s protection on all our sons and daughters.
I want to specifically continue to thank our Governor and his wife because both of them have been so good to me and the community. Also, to our sons and daughters in Nigeria and in the diaspora, I pray for them for more of God’s blessings, guidance and protection in all their undertakings.
And to all my community people resident here in Isan Ekiti presently, I want to charge them to allow peace and unity to continue to reign in the community. Where there is disunity and trouble, there can’t be progress and developments. Where there is love and unity that is where you can experience development. And I want them all to be patient in everything they do and wherever they find themselves in life. Whatever is not enough now, can still be in abundance in the nearest future. They should love their King from their hearts and all the people in the community for the progress of Isan Ekiti.
