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In mapping pre-colonial Nigeria’s existence, empires such as those of Oyo, Benin, Kanem-Bornu and Sokoto had monumental control over large expanses of areas. Like these monarchies, the Oyo Empire encapsulated large domains spread beyond what is today geographically referred to as Nigeria. The stool of the Alaafin of Oyo has remained one of the most formidable, influential and respected among the Yoruba people spread across the globe. In modern times, the Alaafin has remained critical in mediating between the people and the state, enhancing national identity, resolving conflicts and providing an institutional safety-valve for often inadequate state bureaucracies.
Considering the immense role often played by the occupier of that throne, the indispensability of the tasks assigned to the Alaafin has never been in doubt. This is why the succession to the throne has been of fundamental significance to the people of Oyo, Nigeria and the larger Yoruba race. Since the death of the last Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the race to fill the stool has been one of particular interest to all and sundry. This is understandably so. However, it has become incumbent that caution be applied in the selection process.
It is without doubt that both far and recent histories, validated by the constitution, have streamlined the ascendancy to the Alaafin throne to two very prominent ruling houses in Oyo: the Agunloye ruling house and that of the Alawolodu. These ruling houses are a long offshoot of an admirable list of Alaafins of Oyo. The list, which traces the occupiers from Ajaka down to the late Oba Adeyemi III, strengthens the assertion that now is the auspicious moment for the Agunloye Ruling House to produce the next Alaafin of Oyo. From Abiodun Atiba, popularly referred to as the founder of modern Oyo (1837-1859, to Adelu (1858-1875), Adeyemi I (1875-1905), Lawani Agogo-Ija (1905-1911), Ladigbolu (Jan. 15, 1911-Dec. 19, 1944), Adeniran Adeyemi II (Jan. 5, 1945-Sept. 20, 1955), Bello Gbadegesin -(Ladigbolu II) (July 20, 1956-1968), and Lamidi Adeyemi III, nothing more concrete solidifies the place of the Agunloye ruling house in giving the Yoruba race the next Alaafin of Oyo.
In a widely read and celebrated interview, Pa Samuel Adeladan, head of the Agunloye ruling house, reaffirmed his position of the pride of place that the ruling house occupies, when he stated without any iota of uncertainty that “There are about 48 people who have submitted their names to me, indicating their interest to be the next Alaafin of Oyo. These include Ladigbolu. As the Mogaji of Agunloye, I also have to append my signature on all their letters of expression of interest. After this, I will take the names to Baba Iyaji. We have been very careful so that nobody is left out. Many of those who isolated themselves have also returned to us. As the head of the Agunloye ruling house, I have accepted them all. Baba Iyaji is the head of the princes. His role is to pick all the names of those interested and take them to the Oyomesi through the Basorun. The Basorun is the prime minister at the moment.” The strength of the Agunloye ruling house rests on its historical place in the Alaafin stool trajectory, which has constitutional legitimacy.
Speaking further on the history of the stool, Pa Adeladan stated thus: “Oba Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija was the son of Alaafin Adelu Agunloye. Agunloye ascended the throne of Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of Alaafin Atiba, and with that, Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija became the Aremo Oba.
“However, a certain rift/misunderstanding that came up in Oyo made him to go and settle at Ibadan. His friend, Aare Latoosa, gave him a parcel of land at Igbo-Agala where he built his palace and the palace was called Oke-Aremo. There, Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija also stayed for while. After the demise of his father, he was recalled to Oyo to ascend the throne and became the Alaafin of Oyo.
“He, Agogo-Ija, was referred to as ‘Ogbe Aremo re’badan, O gbe Alaafin bo wale. He ruled for six years. That was 1905 to 1911. Alaafin Lawani Amubieya gave birth to Ladigbolu, Lawuwo, Owoade, Agboin, Tella and other children.
“Coming to Lawuwo, he is the second son to Alaafin Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija. He moved from Afin to establish himself and his descendants at Ilaka. When I say Ilaka, we always refer to Ilaka Lawuwo. There are two Ilakas in Oyo. Ilaka Lawuwo is our own; Ilaka Olokuta is also there. All families in Ilaka are the descendants of Lawuwo, the son of Alaafin Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija. It is only the descendants of Ilaka that the traditional drummers describe as ‘Omo Lawani Amubieya Agogo-Ija.’ The traditional drummers are historians. They know what is going on. When it gets to that stage, people who don’t know would then understand that the Ilaka descendants are of the Agunloye family. They belong to Amubieya Agogo-Ija. I want to say now that it is our turn, the Agunloye royal family, to present the next Alaafin of Oyo after the demise of Iku Baba Yeye, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.”
He equally cautioned that it is high time Oyo got an Alaafin who is forward-looking and intent on transforming Oyo, building on the potential of the larger Yoruba race and humanity. While it is commendable that the Agunloye ruling house parades an array of competent aspirants who can ascend the throne, Prince Dr. Ajibade Adeladan dwarfs them all. He combines in himself all the desirable attributes that the Oyomesi, Oyo people and the larger Yoruba stock seek in the next Alaafin. Without stretching the narrative any further, Oyo and the Yoruba people have all to gain by making Prince Dr. Ajibade Adeladan the next Alaafin of Oyo.
Born to the family of Prince Samuel and Mrs Rachel Adelada in Oyo town on January 4, 1961, Prince Dr Ajibade Adedayo Aremu Adeladan spent his growing-up years in Lagos, where his parents resided at the time.
His father, who worked as the national manager of Pfizer at some point, travelled a lot. During one of his trips, he came across an elementary school in Ibonwon, Epe, where Prince Adeladan and his siblings were later enrolled. After graduation from the elementary school, the Prince then started secondary education at the Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo town in 1973, and was there till 1977. Afterwards, he proceeded to the Federal Government College in Ijanikin area of Lagos State, which he attended in 1977, after which he got his Higher School Certificate (Advanced Level).
Upon getting his Higher School Certificate, he got admission into the University of Ibadan in 1979, and was there till 1984 when he graduated as a medical doctor. He had his housemanship (internship) training at Adeoyo Hospital in Ibadan between 1984 and 1985, after which he went to Borno State for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. For the NYSC programme, he served at the Kukawa Community Hospital located in Kukawa LGA and was the only doctor in the Local Government Area at some point during the service year.
As a doctor, the Prince has worked across hospitals in Lagos, including the Ajayi Memorial Hospital and Alalade Memorial Hospital. He afterwards went for training as a specialist in General Surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). In 1995, he became a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.
Between 1995 and 2003, he worked in several countries, including Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands, after which he moved to the United States and got a specialist training in Psychiatry at Columbia University, Manhattan, New York. He was later named a Chief Resident at this medical institution.
Prince Adeladan got his board certification in Psychiatry and Neurology in April 2009, while his certification for Addiction Medicine was in 2012. Among states in the US where he has worked include New York, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, and California.
Oyo deserves an Alaafin who stands above the shortcomings that plague leadership today. Prince Dr. Ajibade Adeladan parades a rich blend of integrity, communication, self-awareness, gratitude, learning agility, influence, and empathy. With Prince Dr. Adeladan as the next Alaafin of Oyo, the job of the Oyomesi is done.
Written by Jide Olorunfemi.
Olorunfemi is an accomplished independent researcher and an indigene of Oyo town
