14/01/2021
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His Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola
Atanda Adeyemi III, J.P, CFR, LL.D
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his imperial
Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a monarch not
with only wit but also with class. To say he
is an enigma by every standard is an
understatement, as many who had an
interaction with him testify that “a moment
with him is like an exploratory adventure
through the school of history”.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III, no
doubt, one of Africa’s most powerful and
most influential kings, has lived two
decades and over half a century into
decades of heeding the natural call of the
gods and his people.
Here is an X-ray into the life of the great
Traditional Icon, who has held the Oyo
Empire together in response to the
covenant he made with his people and the
gods.
Like the saying goes, uneasy lies the head
that wears the crown.
The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, His imperial
Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi III, would not agree any less to
this saying. As an insurance officer who
became the Alaafin of
Oyo. The contest to his emergence began in
1968, when he was invited along with ten
others from his ruling house to contest for
the vacant stool of the Oyo Empire. As it
was the custom of the land, there were
three parameters with which the
contestants were judged.
First was eligibility,
second was popularity and
third, the stamina for the huge
responsibilities of the office of the Alaafin
of Oyo.
Oba Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi emerged
the first; defeating ten others after a
vigorous screening exercise.
However, due to what observer attested to
be a political interference, the then
government “refused to endorse my
appointment, saying the procedure was not
right” were the words of this great monarch
during one of the numerous interviews he
granted. So the process started over again
with the same result the second and the
third time. Interestingly, despite the
immense pressure upon the Oyomesi
‘against his candidature by the government,
the Oyomesi stood it ground. Thus the
process was put in abeyance until after the
civil war, when the whole process started
all over again. To the relief of many and
chagrin of the opposition, Oba Adeyemi III
was elected the winner and was finally
chosen by the kingmakers on November 18,
1970 and then moved into the palace after
completing the necessary rites under the
tulelage of the Oyomesi. In the process, he
was inducted into the mysteries of various
gods like the Ifa mysteries, and the Sango
mysteries. He was also made to undergo
these inductions in order to be the direct
representative of these deities on earth. He
was taken through these processes so as to
know all the chants, the proverbs, oriki of
all the past Obas.
More so, it was during the various
purification and cleansing processes, at the
hallowed grounds of Yoruba ancient shrine
that Oba Adeyemi III made a covenant with
the illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he
would defend, protect and add glamour to
the Yoruba norms and tradition; vowing to
be the icon, the embodiment of Yoruba
culture, And, he had since then taken his
covenant seriously and had delivered the
dividends of his covenant.
At an impressive ceremony at the Durbar
Stadium, Oyo town, Oba Adeyemi III was
presented with the staff of office as the
Alaafin of Oyo in the presence of thousand
of witnesses from all works of life by the
then military Governor of the Western
State, Colonel (now retired General)
Adeyinka Adebayo.
Then began the journey laden with a huge
responsibility to protect, defend, project
the cherished values of Yoruba customs
and traditions with the zeal and if need be
to lay down his life defending those values.
Fortunately, and much to the relief of the
Oyo Empire and the world, the need to lay
down his life to defend Yoruba values
never arose, hence h is 70 birthday
celebration, with 38 out of those years
spent on the throne of his forefathers.
The philosophy behind the Alaafinate as an
institution “is duty for service and service to
humanity”. This translates that: once
someone becomes the Alaafin, the totality
of his life is service to the people and
humanity in general. The Alaafin has no life
of his own; day and night he is for the
service of the Yoruba race, nay humanity. In
the cause of these many years, Oba
Adeyemi III had striven to work strictly in
accordance with the oath he took in the
presence of the Oyomesi, on behalf of his
people.
Being a self conscientious perfectionist, we
make bold to say that he has worked
assiduously and tirelessly with many
governments both at the state and federal
levels.
Beginning with 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 first elected
governor, (1979-83); Dr. Victor Omololu
Olunloyo second elected governor
(October- December 1983); Colonel
Oladayo Popoola, military governor
(1984-85); Colonel Adetunji Idowu Olurin,
military governor (1985-88); the late
Colonel Sasaeniyan Oresanya, military
governor (1988-90); late Colonel
Abdulkareem Adisa, military governor
(1990-92); Chief Kolapo Ishola, third elected
governor (1992-93); Naval Capitan Adetoye
Sode, military administrator (1993-94);
Colonolen Chinyere Ike Nwosu, military
administrator (1994-96); Colonel Ahmed
Usman, military administrator, (1996-98);
Compol Amen Edore Oyakhire, military
administrator (1998-99); Alhaji Lam
Adeshina fourth 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 first 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 state creation
in 1975, the Alaafin was first to fire the
salvo, coupled with the efforts of others,
the old Oyo, Ogun and Old Ondo States
were created. In recognition of his priceless
and modest contributions to national
development, he was invited as the only
Oba from Yoruba land to perform the holy
pilgrimage to Mecca with General Muritala
Muhammed. Other traditional rulers on the
trip were the late Emir of Gwandu and the
Otaru of Auchi, late Momodu Ikelebe II.
The Federal Government honoured this
great achiever with the national honour of
CFR at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos,
in 1979.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointed
Kabiyesi Oba Adeyemi as the pioneering
Chancellor of then newly established
University of Sokoto, now Uthman Dan
Fodio University, Sokoto, for a first four-
year tenure. At the expiration of that first
tenure, the senate and council of the
University recommended him for another
term. The president and visitor to the
university graciously approved the request,
thus he was appointed for a second term.
And at the expiration of the second term, in
an unprecedented manner, has was
appointed for yet another term, the third
term, thus giving him a total of 12 years as
the Chancellor of the university, a feat yet
to be matched by anybody in the annals of
chancellorship of university of Nigeria. It
must be noted that for the period of those
years, Oba Adeyemi III presented several
academic and reasoned memoranda on the
university education and on contemporary
issues published both nationally and
internationally.
The university, in appreciation to his
contributions and achievements, honoured
him with the Degree of Doctor of Letters
(LL.D), Honoris Causa. At the time of Oba’s
Chancellor, the university recorded
absolute peace as normal calendar was
never disrupted for a day.
The monarch, in January 1988, installed
Chief MKO Abiola as the Aare Ona Kankanfo
in recognition of Abiola’s contributions to
the social, economic, cultural and political
development of Yoruba land and Nigeria at
large. Two years later, the Federal
Government under the administration of
General Ibrahim Babangida, appointed the
Alaafin as the Amiru Hajj operation to lead
the Muslim faithful in the 21 states of the
federation. The report of that year’s Hajj
operation remained the yardstick of
measuring the success of Hajj operations in
the country till date.
At his primary constituency as a Paramount
foremost traditional ruler in Yoruba land,
Oba Adeyemi III used his position to better
the lots of many Obas, lifting many non-
crown wearing Obas to the status of
beaded crown wearers, not to mention his
consistent fight for the improvement of
their (the Obas’) welfare at all times. These
Obas spread through Oyo, Osun and Ogun.
Some of those who benefited from this
gesture were the Olubadan of Ibadan
Adebimpe and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba
Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade. “Following
the powerful motion I moved at the floor of
the Old Oyo State house of Chiefs, the
government approved the beaded crown of
the two traditional in 1976”. The monarch
said.
In 1975, the Onjo of Okeho got elevated. In
1977, the Onitede of Tede, Oba Olulokun
too got the beaded crown. In 1979, the
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Mashood Osuola, also
got the beaded crown. Timi of Ede, the late
Oba Oyelusi Tijani Agbaran II, also got
elevated. In 1980 and 1981, Oba of Kisi, Oba
Yusuf Ariwajoye and Okere of Saki, Oba
Abimbola Oyedokun, and Sabi Iganna got
promoted respectively. Others were the
Baale of Ile-Ogbo, who got elevated to the
status of an Oba to Olu of Ile-Ogbo in
1995, Olubu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye
Olaniyan who got his own in 1986. alayegun
of Ode-Omu, Akire of Ikire-Ile, Akirun of
Ikirun, Aree of Ire, Olunisa of Inisha, all in
Osun State also got beaded crown, courtesy
of the Alaafin. Baale of Igboora, Jacob
Oyerogba got elevated as a crown wearing
Oba with the title of Olu of Igboora in 2001.
In Ogun State, the Oba of Ipokia got the
beaded crown got elevated at the instance
of the Alaafin. Last but not the least, Baale
of Igangan, Lasisi-Aribiyan got elevated to
the status of an Oba as Oba Lasisi Aribiyan,
the Asigangan of Igangan and was awarded
beaded crown in 2002. As a matter of fact,
Oba Adeyemi III presented the crown to all
of them at various towns with pump and
pageantry.
In the exercise of his power as the
Chairman of the Council of Obas and
Chiefs, in 1977, he caused meeting of the
Council to be moved and be held in his
palace in Oyo.
Childhood
Crown prince Lamidi Atanda Olayiwola
Adeyemi’s father Late Oba (Alhaji) Adeniran
Adeyemi II, being a staunch Muslim,
mapped out his son’s journey into
education, starting from the Quranic School
in Iseyin. He (Prince lamidi) later went back
to Oyo but not into the palace. Rather, he
stayed with the head master, St. Andrews
Primary School (now St. Andrews College),
proceeding thereafter to live with the Alake
of Egba, Oba Oladepo Ademola, in his
palace. Prince Atanda’s education met a
dead end following the 1947-48
demonstration of Egba women against “tax
without representation” led by Mrs.
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti. The effect forced
Oba Ademola to abdicate his throne to live
in exile at Osogbo. That period was Prince
Adeyemi’s introduction into the other side
of life he had never imagined to have
existed. Mosquitos, home chores and lots
more became his duty. But as they say,
hardship only makes one tougher.
His father sent for him in 1948 and later
sent him to live with Sir Kofoworola
Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos.
While in Keffi, he attended Obalende
Modern School, owned by Pa Domingo;
father of the renowned musician Adeyomi
Domingo. He later attended Tinubu
Methodist School overlooking the famed
fountain, the first General Bank.
Oba Adeyemi came second in his Entrance
Examination into secondary schools in
Lagos Island and was offered places at two
great schools Igbobi College and St.
Gregory’s College, Obalende. He chose to
attend St. Gregory’s College Obalende in
accordance to his guardian’s wish.
Obalende was a cross-cultural settlement
and living in there required wit and will,
otherwise one will be walked over. Oba
Adeyemi III lived in tough areas of Lagos
Island. Places like Faji, Olowogbowo and
the famed Ojuolomokoto.
His Sport Life
All work and no play they say, makes Jack a
dull boy. The ruler as many may have
known and as many will find incredulous, is
a sportsman. Before his ascension on to
the throne of his forefathers, he trained
and still trains as a boxer. He runs; jogs
and plays football. Typically of him if time
permits, he does as much as six kilometres
and skips the rope.
His Growing Up
The Crown Prince Atanda Adeyemi could
have grown in luxury and affluence as a
royal son should, but his growing was a far
cry to what could have been. His father
though not read appreciated the value of
education through the contact he had with
the British Administrative Officers that came
to the Old Oyo Empire. Consequently, he
lived to fight tooth and nail to see that his
son was well read.
Needless to say, Oba Adeyemi III left St.
Gregory’s College with very good grade and
had the choice to study Law, Economics or
Public Relations. He chose to study Law
because he majored in English doing both
narrative and descriptive essays; coupled
with a good retentive memory and a
fantastic ability to remember dates and
people, he felt his future in Law was
secured. Little did he know that fate has
other plans in stock for him. His quest for
Law changed when his father was deposed
on February 14 , 1946 two days to the
planned travel abroad. He was offered a
job at the Royal Exchange Assurance,
Marina, Lagos. Despite the fact that he had
landed where his dreams could not carry
him, he made the best of every situation
fate presented him. He wrote articles under
pen names in newspapers, writing about
himself and his experience.
One of his numerous articles was entitled I
SHALL BE GREAT in 1968 and a year later,
he wrote yet another one: I shall be the
next Alaafin. He wrote critiques of how the
Nigerian teachers were treated, having
been inspired by the state in which he saw
one of his old teachers in a tattered shirt
and tie. He wrote yet another entitled.
Women Liberation: A misnomer in
Yoruba land. This may not be unrelated to
his view that women in the Oyo Empire
were, in his words, “at least very active”.
Shortly after his stay at the Royal Exchange
Assurance, he was promoted into the 14
Floor into specialist area of obligatory
Facultative Insurance and Internal memo
drafting. He began to earn lots of money
but his father gave a strict instruction that
the must invest every penny that came his
way.
Consequently, Oba Adeyemi III ventured
into business buying wrecked cars to repair
and resell.
Oba Adeyemi’s journey had not been on a
smooth path, rather he rode on the high
stormy sea, sun-burnt mountains and
many times on rock hilly parts. Having lost
his mother, Ibironke, at an early age, he
had little or no motherly touch and never
had to stay for a long while with his father.
He was almost always a lonely man. But his
dreams and determination for success
drove him heeding the calls of the gods,
forgetting his own personal life for the sake
of others, he has become an Icon,
undoubtedly an Iroko tree: where all birds
from the universe find their rest.
- Culled from the maiden edition of THE
IMPERIAL MAGAZINE published October
2008.
HAPPY 50TH YEARS ON THIS GREAT THRONE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS 💖💞
