The destiny of a brilliant and physically challenged 16-year-old boy might soon be disrupted or terminated entirely if the quest of his grandfather, to become a traditional ruler gets fulfilled.
Oluwatosin Oyebola Oyedeji, a SS3 student of Unique High Grade, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State has his fate hanging as tradition, is about to clash with the destiny of the innocent boy.
Investigation revealed that Oluwatosin, the first of the three children of his parents is suffering from “Cerebral Palsy”.
This medical condition has greatly inhibited his movements, with slight deformity on his wrists, ankles and waist. In spite of this, Oluwatosin enjoys robust intelligence, high mental alertness, burning desire for knowledge with a high retentive memory. His brilliance cuts across all the subjects he takes in his class.
He is versatile on computers, and he has become inseparable with his computer notebook. He loves football, and he is an ardent supporter of Britain’s Arsenal Football Club.
The present looming predicament stems from the quest of his grandfather, Prince Olubisi Oyedeji, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Osun State Civil Service to vie for the stool of the Ogunsua of Modakeke in Ife East Local Government, Osun State.
ParrotXtra learnt from family sources that the fate of any child, or grandchild, that is physically challenged “is tied to the success” of such “quests”, such that without expressing it, “the destiny of such a child, or grandchild is automatically sacrificed spiritually and unconditionally in consonance with the agelong tradition of the family”.
This situation, we learnt has existed from time immemorial but would never be discussed nor expressed openly. An elder in the family, 82-year-old farmer, who craves anonymity informed “it might be funny to young people but it is risky to undermine our agelong tradition”. Referring to Oluwatosin`s case, the old man emphatically said, ” If the grandfather per chance becomes an Oba, the boy must be whisked out of vicinity. No more, no less”.
It was the leakage of this agelong tradition, that has drawn “cold sweats” from the parents of Oluwatosin. His father, Oyewole Oyedeji is a middle-aged business man in Ibadan.
Though the quest of Oluwatosin`s grandfather – Olubisi Oyedeji to become an “Ogunsua”, is for now a subject of litigation at a State High Court, the mere possibility of his chances sends shivers down the spines of those who are aware of what could become the fate of the poor Oluwatosin.
As the case is, those who know what is in the offing for Oluwatosin, should his grandfather become an Oba or not, are of the view that the best option for Oyewole – the father – is to ferry this boy out of the reach of the traditionalists who would see nothing wrong in terminating the destiny of this brilliant young boy who is obviously oblivious of the fate that lies ahead of him should his grandfather`s dream come through. Till then, Oluwatosin`s fate hangs in the balance.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
