Our Parrots have been busy sniffing around despite the prevalence of COVID-19 in the land – and this time around, they are talking about how a one-time governor of Old Oyo State, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo helped to crown the present Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in 1970.
Hope Parrots will not run into trouble with this gist sha…Anyway, trust them – they were able to confirm that Dr Olunloyo was then the Commissioner in Charge of Special Duties, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Governor Robert Adeyinka Adebayo.
According to one of our Parrots “Dr Olunloyo was at that time charged with the assignment of installing a king in Oyo Town after the demise of Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu. And he felt it was a yeoman’s job he was being asked to do.
“At that time, the sentiment within the circles of the power brokers with late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the arrow-head was that Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi must not be allowed to become the Alaafin.
“The reason for this was because it was generally believed that it was Lamidi Adeyemi’s father, Adeniran Adeyemi II that was ‘responsible for the demise of prominent lawyer, Bode Thomas’ who was a beloved of the power brokers (this is another story for another day).
“Meanwhile, Lamidi Adeyemi’s backer, Chief Ashamu of Igbeti felt unperturbed with the opposition against his candidate. He and others kept pushing for Prince Lamidi”
It was at this point that Olunloyo knew that it would be more than ‘solomonic’ for him to consult ‘elders’ before he would make his move.
Continued our Parrot, “Olunloyo was then led by the ‘spirit’ to consult key elders and one of the most important was the then Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.
“Before visiting the Ooni, Dr Olunloyo knew the position of the first-class monarch on the issue. The Ile Ife king was a close ally of Obafemi Awolowo and was likely not going to support Lamidi Adeyemi.
“Olunloyo, upon getting to the Palace of Oba Aderemi narrated why he was there. The monarch, instead of allowing his personal sentiment to becloud his sense of reasoning took the best step he believed he should take. He sought Olunloyo’s permission to consult the oracles and the spirits. He retreated to his inner chambers for several minutes.
“When he returned to address the expectant Olunloyo, he told the Commssioner the oracles said the son of past Alaafin Adeyemi (referring to Lamidi Adeyemi) should be the next monarch.”
The great Mathematician then proceeded back to Ibadan to prepare his report that he forwarded to the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and Governor Adebayo.
Another Parrot added this “Crowning Oba Lamidi Adeyemi was not exactly easy for Dr Olunloyo. He was asked not to sleep a day before the installation ceremony. He had to stand all night so that he would not mistakenly fall asleep!
“He was on his feet till the new king, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III was crowned before he had peace.
“In addition, rumour had it that a dramatic dimension was introduced…Olunloyo was told that he had enemies who wanted to kill him after the installation. So, when he got to the office after the ceremony, he refused to seat on his official chair. He called on those he suspected among his staff to seat on the chair first…none of them agreed to sit…Olunloyo reportedly stormed out of the office on that day…”
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Packaged by Alice Egbedele
