By Brown Chimezie
The annual reunion of the Ayoloye Ruling House, the family of one of the longest-reigning kings of Owu Kingdom, the late Oba Salami Adewunmi Ajibola, Gbadela II, Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State, comes up on Saturday November 25, 2023.
Secretary, Oba Salami Adewunmi Ajibola Descendants Family Organisation and assistant general secretary, Ayoloye Ruling House, Prince Adetunji Ajibola, said Oba Ajibola, was crowned in 1949, and joined his ancestors on November 15, 1972: “Ever since his demise, the family has been celebrating his virtues and exemplary leadership.
“We usually converge on Abeokuta, annually, to commemorate the death of our grandfather, an epitome of wisdom, a unifier and a pragmatic leader. Our iconic father worked in the Nigeria Police during the colonial era for 32 years. He retired as Police Inspector in 1947 and became Olowu of Owu in 1949.
“As a police officer, he contributed to the peace and orderliness of society. In 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II was on her way to Ibadan, the capital of the old Western Region, our father was one of the Obas who received her in Abeokuta.
“During his reign, the community witnessed many developmental projects. Our father loved his people with a passion, which he exhibited by his kindness and generosity. This was attested to by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the current Balogun of Owu, in his recent letter to the Oba Ajibola’s descendants on the the 50th anniversary.
“Our family is a very large one, with members domiciled all over the world. It is important that we meet annually and document our genealogy for the coming generations.
Our departed fathers and mothers institutionalised the annual family anniversary, a time we reunite as family members to celebrate living life and then to remember our founding fathers.
“A great family will definitely make a great society and enviable country. He was a practising Muslim. Nevertheless, he loved his people. He had 23 years of peaceful reign. Even during the Western Region’s political crisis, he maintained his neutrality as father to all.
“It was to his credit that the declaration under Section 4 (3) of the Chieftaincy Law, 1957, setting out customary law regulating the selection of ruling houses in the Owu section of Abeokuta became effective. The first private hospital, built by the late Akin Olugbade, an illustrious son of Owu and frontline Nigerian politician, was inaugurated during the reign of our father. He facilitated many other projects, such as access to education and employment.
“In those days, an Oba lived perpetually in the palace. Our grandfather turned his palace into a home for all.”