Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the introduce Alaafin of Oyo from Adeyemi branch of Alowolodu family, was born on Oct 15, 1938. He is the electrical current Alaafin of Oyo the acclaimed traditional empire of Yoruba dry ground situates inwards the electrical current Oyo State of Nigeria. During his belatedly childhood stage, he lived briefly at Iseyin where he learnt the basic rudiments of Islamic.
The Old Oyo Empire has been said to receive got existed without pause for a catamenia of virtually 600 years. In the olden days, the Alaafin was an absolute ruler. He is also called past times other names which include Kabiyesi (the King Who No One Can Question), Iku Baba Yeye (The One Who Can Command Death or Pronounce Same Upon His Father or Mother Or He Who Is Parent To Death), Alashe (He Who Wields Authority), Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-Command to gods).
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III is the boy of Oba Adeyemi II, the old Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed too sent into exile inwards the twelvemonth 1954 for having sympathy for the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Oba Adeyemi II had come upwardly into conflict amongst the too so deputy leader of the Action Group. It was inwards the twelvemonth 1971 that Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II. This happened presently after the cease of the Nigerian civil war, when Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo was the governor. Then, he was working every bit an insurance clerk. Ascension to the Throne
As the commons practise inwards the selection of the novel Alaafin, after the expire of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to go the Alaafin. He too so called for a coming together inside Alowolodu royal family. He informed them of his coming together amongst Oyomesi too that he suggested his son, Sanda ‘Ladepo. All the members of the identify unit of measurement agreed to this except Baba Salami Dudu. Baba Salami Dudu suggested Prince Lamidi Adeyemi a boy to Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll. The argument for the throne of the Alaafin became to a greater extent than intense to the extent that around of the princes from the larger royal families inwards Oyo became contenders. Among these were Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin, Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Prince Lamidi Adeyemi, too Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola.
After all the intrigues, the introduce Alaafin (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Olayiwola III) emerged the Alaafin of Oyo inwards 1970 too was crowned on the 14th January, 1971. He had married 2 of his wives Alhaja Olori Abibat Adeyemi (Iya Dodo) too Alhaja Olori Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi (Iya Ilekoto) earlier his ascent to the throne of his forebears. Some of his notable children are Late Alhaja Kudirat Akofade Erediuwa, Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi, Princess Folasade Arewaomoba, Princess Taibat Adeyemi, Prince Nurudeen Adesegun Adeyemi,Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi (Skimeh), Prince Adebayo Fatai Adeyemi amid other
His Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, J.P, CFR, LL.D. The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a monarch non amongst alone merely also amongst class. To say he is an enigma past times every criterion is an
understatement, every bit many who had an interaction amongst him prove that “a 2d amongst him is similar a exploratory adventure through the schoolhouse of history”.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III, no doubt, 1 of Africa’s most powerful too most influential kings, has lived 2 decades too over one-half a century into decades of heeding the natural telephone call upwardly of the gods too his people.
Here is an X-ray into the life of the non bad Traditional Icon, who has held the Oyo Empire together inwards answer to the covenant he made amongst his people too the gods. Like the saying goes, uneasy lies the caput that wears the crown.
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, His royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, would non care whatever less to this saying. As an insurance officeholder who became the Alaafin of Oyo. The competitor to his emergence began inwards 1968, when he was invited along amongst 10 others from his ruling draw of piece of job solid to competitor for the vacant stool of the Oyo Empire. As it was the custom of the land, at that topographic point were 3 parameters amongst which the were judged. First was eligibility, 2d was popularity too third, the stamina for the huge
responsibilities of the component subdivision of the Alaafinof Oyo.
Oba Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi emerged the first; defeating 10 others after a vigorous screening exercise. However, due to what observer attested to live a political interference, the too so authorities “refused to endorse my appointment, saying the physical care for was non right” were the words of this non bad monarch during 1 of the numerous interviews he granted. So the physical care for started over in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than amongst the same final result the 2d too the 3rd time. Interestingly, despite the immense pressure level upon the Oyomesi ‘against his candidature past times the government, the Oyomesi stood it ground. Thus the physical care for was set inwards abeyance until after the civil war, when the whole physical care for started all over again. To the relief of many too chagrin of the opposition, Oba Adeyemi III was elected the winner too was in conclusion chosen past times the kingmakers on Nov 18, 1970 too and so moved into the palace after completing the necessary rites nether the tutelage of the Oyomesi.
In the process, he was inducted into the mysteries of diverse gods similar the Ifa mysteries, too the Sango mysteries. He was also made to undergo these inductions inwards gild to live the at in 1 lawsuit representative of these deities on earth. He was taken through these processes so every bit to know all the chants, the proverbs, oriki of all the past times Obas. More so, it was during the diverse purification too cleansing processes, at the hallowed grounds of Yoruba ancient shrine that Oba Adeyemi III made a covenant amongst the illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect too add together glamour to the Yoruba norms too tradition; vowing to live the icon, the embodiment of Yoruba culture, And, he had since too so taken his covenant seriously too had delivered the
dividends of his covenant.
At an impressive ceremony at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo town, Oba Adeyemi III was presented amongst the staff of component subdivision every bit the Alaafin of Oyo inwards the presence of chiliad of witnesses from all industrial plant of life past times the too so armed forces Governor of the Western State, Colonel (now retired General)Adeyinka Adebayo. Then began the journeying laden amongst a huge responsibleness to protect, defend, projection the cherished values of Yoruba customs too traditions amongst the zeal too if ask live to lay downward his life defending those values.
Fortunately, too much to the relief of the Oyo Empire too the world, the ask to lay downward his life to defend Yoruba values never arose, thence his lxx birthday celebration, amongst 38 out of those years spent on the throne of his forefathers. The philosophy behind the Alaafinate every bit an establishment “is duty for service too service to humanity”. This translates that: in 1 lawsuit someone becomes the Alaafin, the totality of his life is service to the people and
humanity inwards general. The Alaafin has no life of his own; twenty-four hours too nighttime he is for the service of the Yoruba race, nay humanity.
In the motion of these many years, Oba Adeyemi III had striven to go strictly inwards accordance amongst the oath he took inwards the presence of the Oyomesi, on behalf of his
people. Being a self conscientious perfectionist, nosotros brand bold to say that he has worked assiduously too tirelessly amongst many
governments both at the province too federal levels:
Beginning amongst General Adeyinka Adebayo
(1971); Colonel Christopher Oluwole Rotimi,
(1971-75); Navy Captain Akintunde
Akinyoye, Aduwo, (August – September,
1975-83); Colonel David Mediaysese
Jemibewon (1975-78); Colonel Paul Tarfa
(1978-79); Chief Bola Ige the outset elected
governor, (1979-83); medico Victor Omololu
Olunloyo 2d elected governor
(October- Dec 1983); Colonel
Oladayo Popoola, armed forces governor
(1984-85); Colonel Adetunji Idowu Olurin,
military governor (1985-88); the late
Colonel Sasaeniyan Oresanya, military
governor (1988-90); belatedly Colonel
Abdulkareem Adisa, armed forces governor
(1990-92); Chief Kolapo Ishola, 3rd elected
governor (1992-93); Naval Capitan Adetoye
Sode, armed forces administrator (1993-94);
Colonolen Chinyere Ike Nwosu, military
administrator (1994-96); Colonel Ahmed
Usman, armed forces administrator, (1996-98);
Compol Amen Edore Oyakhire, military
administrator (1998-99); Alhaji Lam
Adeshina quaternary elected governor
(1999-2003); Senator Adewolu Ladoja
(2003-2007); Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala
(the incumbent governor).
At the federal level, he was worked with
General Yakubu Gowon, (1971-75); General
Muritala Mohammed (1977-76); General
Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979); Alhaji
Shehu Shagari, the outset executive president(1979-83); General Muhammed Buhari
(1984-85); General Ibrahim Badamosi
Babangida (1985-93); General Sani Abacha
(1998-99); General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); and
President Umaru Yar’Adua
During the agitation for the province creation inwards 1975, the Alaafin was outset to plough over notice the salvo, coupled amongst the efforts of others, the old Oyo, Ogun too Old Ondo U.S. were created. In recognition of his priceless too little contributions to national development, he was invited every bit the alone Oba from Yoruba dry ground to perform the holy pilgrimage to Mecca amongst General Muritala
Muhammed. Other traditional rulers on the trip were the belatedly Emir of Gwandu too the Otaru of Auchi, belatedly Momodu Ikelebe II. The Federal Government honoured this
great achiever amongst the national honour of CFR at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, inwards 1979.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointed Kabiyesi Oba Adeyemi every bit the pioneering Chancellor of too so newly established University of Sokoto, at nowadays Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, for a outset four-
year tenure. At the expiration of that outset tenure, the senate too council of the University recommended him for around other term. The president too visitor to the academy graciously approved the request,thus he was appointed for a 2d term. And at the expiration of the 2d term, in
an unprecedented manner, has was
appointed for yet around other term, the 3rd term, thus giving him a full of 12 years every bit the Chancellor of the university, a feat yet to live matched past times anybody inwards the annals of
chancellorship of academy of Nigeria.
It must live noted that for the catamenia of those years, Oba Adeyemi III presented several academic too reasoned memoranda on the
university teaching too on contemporary issues published both nationally too internationally. The university, inwards appreciation to his contributions too achievements, honoured him amongst the Degree of Doctor of Letters (LL.D), Honoris Causa. At the fourth dimension of Oba’s
Chancellor, the academy recorded
absolute peace every bit normal calendar was never disrupted for a day.
The monarch, inwards Jan 1988, installed. Chief MKO Abiola every bit the Aare Ona Kankanfo inwards recognition of Abiola’s contributions to the social, economic, cultural too political evolution of Yoruba dry ground too Nigeria at large. Two years later, the Federal Government nether the direction of General Ibrahim Babangida, appointed the Alaafin every bit the Amiru Hajj performance to lead
the Muslim faithful inwards the 21 states of the federation. The study of that year’s Hajj performance remained the yardstick of measure the success of Hajj operations inwards the province till date.
At his primary constituency every bit a Paramount foremost traditional ruler inwards Yoruba land, Oba Adeyemi III used his seat to amend the lots of many Obas, lifting many non crown wearing Obas to the condition of
beaded crown wearers, non to nurture his consistent combat for the improvement of their (the Obas’) welfare at all times. These Obas spread through Oyo, Osun too Ogun. Some of those who benefited from this gesture were the Olubadan of Ibadan Adebimpe too the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade. “Following
the powerful displace I moved at the flooring of the Old Oyo State draw of piece of job solid of Chiefs, the authorities approved the beaded crown of the 2 traditional inwards 1976”. The monarch
said.
In 1975, the Onjo of Okeho got elevated. In1977, the Onitede of Tede, Oba Olulokuntoo got the beaded crown. In 1979, the
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Mashood Osuola, alsogot the beaded crown. Timi of Ede, the belatedly Oba Oyelusi Tijani Agbaran II, also got
elevated. In 1980 too 1981, Oba of Kisi, Oba Yusuf Ariwajoye too Okere of Saki, Oba Abimbola Oyedokun, too Sabi Iganna got promoted respectively. Others were the
Baale of Ile-Ogbo, who got elevated to the condition of an Oba to Olu of Ile-Ogbo in1995, Olubu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye Olaniyan who got his ain inwards 1986. Alayegun of Ode-Omu, Akire of Ikire-Ile, Akirun of
Ikirun, Aree of Ire, Olunisa of Inisha, all inwards Osun State also got beaded crown, courtesy of the Alaafin. Baale of Igboora, Jacob Oyerogba got elevated every bit a crown wearing
Oba amongst the championship of Olu of Igboora inwards 2001. In Ogun State, the Oba of Ipokia got the beaded crown got elevated at the instance
of the Alaafin. Last merely non the least, Baale of Igangan, Lasisi-Aribiyan got elevated to the condition of an Oba every bit Oba Lasisi Aribiyan, the Asigangan of Igangan too was awarded
beaded crown inwards 2002.
As a affair of fact, Oba Adeyemi III presented the crown to allof them at diverse towns amongst catch too pageantry. In the exercise of his mightiness every bit the Chairman of the Council of Obas too Chiefs, inwards 1977, he caused coming together of the Council to live moved too live held inwards his
palace inwards Oyo. Childhood Crown Prince Lamidi Atanda Olayiwola Adeyemi’s manful someone parent Late Oba (Alhaji) Adeniran Adeyemi II, existence a staunch Muslim, mapped out his son’s journeying into education, starting from the Quranic Schoolin Iseyin. He (Prince Lamidi) after went back
to Oyo merely non into the palace. Rather, hestayed amongst the caput master, St. Andrews Primary School (now St. Andrews College), proceeding thereafter to alive amongst the Alakeof Egba, Oba Oladepo Ademola, inwards his
palace. Prince Atanda’s teaching met a dead cease next the 1947-48 demonstration of Egba women against “tax without representation” led past times Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti. The number forced Oba Ademola to abdicate his throne to alive inwards exile at Osogbo.That catamenia was Prince Adeyemi’s introduction into the other side of life he had never imagined to receive got existed. Mosquitos, habitation chores too lots to a greater extent than became his duty. But every bit they say, hardship alone makes 1 tougher.
His manful someone parent sent for him inwards 1948 too after sent him to alive amongst Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi inwards Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos. While inwards Keffi, he attended Obalende Modern School, owned past times Pa Domingo; manful someone parent of the renowned participant Adeyomi Domingo. He after attended Tinubu Methodist School overlooking the famed fountain, the outset General Bank. Oba Adeyemi came 2d inwards his Entrance Examination into secondary schools inLagos Island too was offered places at two
great schools Igbobi College too St. Gregory’s College, Obalende. He chose to attend St. Gregory’s College Obalende inwards accordance to his guardian’s wish. Obalende was a cross-cultural village too living inwards at that topographic point required wit too will, otherwise 1 volition live walked over.
Oba Adeyemi III lived inwards tough areas of Lagos Island. Places similar Faji, Olowogbowo too the famed Ojuolomokoto. His Sport Life
All go too no play they say, makes Jack a slowly boy. The ruler every bit many may receive got known too every bit many volition give away incredulous, is a sportsman. Before his ascent on to the throne of his forefathers, he trained too even so trains every bit a boxer. He runs; jogs too plays football. Typically of him if fourth dimension permits, he does every bit much every bit 6 kilometres too skips the rope. His Growing Up The Crown Prince Atanda Adeyemi could receive got grown inwards luxury too affluence every bit a royal boy should, merely his growing was a far outcry to what could receive got been.
His manful someone parent though non read appreciated the value of
education through the contact he had amongst the British Administrative Officers that came to the Old Oyo Empire. Consequently, helived to combat molar too blast to reckon that his boy was good read. Needless to say, Oba Adeyemi III left St. Gregory’s College amongst rattling skillful degree too had the choice to study Law, Economics or Public Relations. He chose to study Law because he majored inwards English linguistic communication doing both narrative too descriptive essays; coupled amongst a skillful retentive retention too a fantastic mightiness to call upwardly dates too people, he felt his hereafter inwards Law was secured. Little did he know that fate has other plans inwards stock for him. His quest for Law changed when his manful someone parent was deposed on Feb fourteen , 1946 2 days to the planned locomote abroad. He was offered a chore at the Royal Exchange Assurance, Marina, Lagos. Despite the fact that he had landed where his dreams could non send him, he made the best of every province of affairs fate presented him. He wrote articles nether pen names inwards newspapers, writing virtually himself too his experience.
One of his numerous articles was entitled" I SHALL BE GREAT" inwards 1968 too a twelvemonth later, he wrote yet around other one: "I shall live the side past times side Alaafin". He wrote critiques of how the Nigerian teachers were treated, having been inspired past times the province inwards which he saw 1 of his old teachers inwards a tattered shirt too tie. He wrote yet around other entitled. "Women Liberation: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 misnomer inwards Yoruba land". This may non live unrelated to his stance that women inwards the Oyo Empire were, inwards his words, “at to the lowest degree rattling active”.
Shortly after his remain at the Royal Exchange Assurance, he was promoted into the fourteen Floor into specialist expanse of obligatory
Facultative Insurance too Internal memo drafting. He began to earn lots of coin merely his manful someone parent gave a strict instruction that the must invest every penny that came his
way. Consequently, Oba Adeyemi III ventured into draw of piece of job organisation buying wrecked cars to repair
and resell. Oba Adeyemi’s journeying had non been on a smoothen path, rather he rode on the high stormy sea, sun-burnt mountains and
many times on stone hilly parts. Having lost his mother, Ibironke, at an early on age, he had niggling or no motherly impact too never had to remain for a long spell amongst his father. He was almost ever a lonely man. But his dreams too conclusion for success drove him heeding the calls of the gods, forgetting his ain personal life for the sake of others, he has go an Icon, undoubtedly an Iroko tree: where all birds from the universe give away their rest.
- Culled from the Maiden Edition of
