Ayodele Fagbohun

The life and times of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi  III, the Alaafin of Oyo who recently joined his ancestors marked a great revolutionary and epock-making watershed in the annals of monarchical institution in contemporary Africa. And a sharp departure from the old order of prestine tradition changeth or yielding to experience progressive  culture of  western education and modern outlook.

Oba Lamidi Adeymi ascended the throne of his forefathers in March 1971 amazingly exploded the old myth of some detractors and implacable foes opposed to his candidature and enthronement based on the critics of his father, ex-Alafin of Oyo, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi to the Action Group (AG) led government in the Western  Region.

This ostensibly provoked  the ire of Nigerian Tribune in an editorial condemning  Prince Lamidi Adeyemi as the new Alafin. The editorial entitled, “We  Shall Be Back To Square One.”

Contrary to expectation, unlike his father, ex-Alafin who personified the old style of antiquity for lack of western education. After his coronation, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III put the doubting  Thomases wrong.  He hit the ground running as a special “sui generis” rare breed of monarch, fully utilized his scholastic attainment  versed in the history of Oyo.

He practically and in figurative terms traversed between the labyrinthine old and new terrains and frontier  of knowledge imbued  with  “Solemonic” wisdom. This undoubtedly placed him on strategic platform as the most frontline monarch in Yoruba next in rank and status to Ooni of Ife.

By virtue  of his donkey years on the throne, Oba Adeyemi III was an encyclopedia of knowledge well versed and accustomed in political vicissitudes which have engulfed the nation since Nigerian independence on October 1960. As  a nationalist Oba, he could not have meaningfully detached himself from the politics of his country knowing fully well and conscious of his position as an Oba without  tarnishing  or soiling the royal apparel on partisan politics.

Prior to his sudden demise, Oba Lamidi evinced a great concern and worry over the despicable, immoral, frivolous and wanton  manner and clamour  some leading Yoruba political actors are going about seeking presidential ambition all over the place.

Are they really out to serve the nation, put into shape the muddled and heavily pillaged economy for effective  and efficient service delivery? Before changing mortality for immortality, Oba Adeyemi seemed set canvassing unity in the warring Oduduwa house, put their house in order and perform God given role to rescue the  country from the iron grip of the interlopers striving hard illegally before our very eyes to  corrode and trample on our sovereignty with impunity

In sharp contrast to the radical outlook of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III  who imbibed and empirically demonstrated progressive traits and bright ideas as a panacea for good governance in all its ramifications for the country to grow and take right decisions at the crossroads.

On the other hand, his father, Alhaji Adeniran Adeyemi II was not favourably disposed to the founders of Egbe  Omo  Oduduwa who eventually formed the government of  Western Region under a new political party known as Action Group (AG).

In 1952 to be precise, Alafin was sympathetic to the rival NCNC and  evinced lack of appreciation for a new  political order. Alafin Adeniran clashed with Chief Bode Thomas, Deputy  Leader  of AG, central minister of Transport and Chairman Oyo Divisional Council on the question of supremacy in Oyo Council. The relationship between the Alafin and Bode Thomas worsened, escalated into political tension violence and mayhem in Oyo.

Action Group controlled Divisional Council overwhelmingly voted and reduced Alafin’s salary as punitive measure for allegedly committing breach of public peace and sundry offences, viz: venality on the bestowal of chieftaincy titles; interfering in the proceedings of native courts and having  undermined tax collection within his jurisdiction.

In November 1953, Chief Bode Thomas died suddenly under undisclosed and strange ailment at the age 34. His death was mortal blow which deprived AG, a resourceful and discerning leader whose counsel would be sorely missed.

Events moved rapidly. On 6 September by  1954, a committee of seven Western Obas including Alafin of Oyo met with 14 leaders of Egbe Omo  Oduduwa in the Western House of Assembly in Ibadan.

Alafin was charged with conspiracy against the government and the party in power. The Premier, Obafemi Awolowo spoke with strong feeling with all vehemence,  Awo explained that his administration had been patient with the Alafin only in deference to the sensibilities of the Obas.

However, Awo said there was a limit to what a responsible government could tolerate and thereby allowed appropriate recommendation for justice to take its normal  course.

There upon, the government suspended the Alafin from office and banished him from his domain;   evnntually he was deposed and died in exile.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned tragic episode, it is irony of fate that his son, His Royal majesty Iku Baba Yeye Ekeji Orisa, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III finally appeared on the royal scene to undo whatever under the sun his late father Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II had done amiss in his 52 years’ reign (1971-2022) in Oyo. And after 17 years  (1954) his father was deposed  an unfavourable circumstances of which political undertone could not be ruled out.

Not withstanding again, the fallen heroic Oba  did not allow the unedifying past and  circumstances that trailed his coronation to blindfold him in treading path of revenge mission  against perceived foes and adversaries. He could have been  a pawn in the chessboard of the military government of Brigadier Robert Adeyinka Adebayo who was favourably disposed to his choice and eventual  coronation as Alafia of  Oyo.

Rather, Alafin  Lamidi Adeyemi III forgot and threw the past into oblivion. He was a well focused, large hearted, intellectual and likeable personality whose sense of mission to transform Oyo from rustic traditional setting to modernity was electric, non negotiable and knew no bounds.

He exuded aura of  a great and invisible monarch. His word is law and infinite having scrupulously avoided  the pitfalls of his forbear and moved far ahead in the unique  and arduous assignment of governance whatever it connotes.

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III was a devout Muslim regardless of the fact that Oyo steeped in tradition and deity of Sango (god of thunder)  and its worshippers performed rites on his remains before burial. His reign was no doubt a great significant milestone golden age in Oyo town, blessings, great asset to the Yoruba and entire black race.

May Allah forgive his earthly foibles and grant him aljanah fidausi!