His Imperial Majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Deji of Akure Kingdom in this interview with the Features Editor, BISI OLOMINU, speaks on why Akure is peaceful, relationship with Ooni Ogunwusi, why Obas in Ondo State adopted Governor Akeredolu, among other sundry issues. Excerpts:

You have been on the throne of your forefathers for five years, how has it been?

I thank God Almighty for keeping me on the throne up to this moment, it is only by his grace that I am still living. I will always appreciate Akure people too for their support. I have been here for five years, I can’t say I regret it. Akure has been progressing since I mounted the throne of my forefathers. You can see and witness development everywhere, the town has been expanding, Akure sons and daughters in diaspora are now coming home to establish industries which have not happened before. So, a lot of developments have happened within this short period. We look ahead to a better future and great development in the town.

Akure has been in existence for many years with monumental edifices adorning the landscape. What are you doing to improve on them?

One festival I really want to talk about is Ulefunta Festival. This can be compared with other festivals like Ojude Oba festival in Ijebuode. I want to appreciate Akure people for starting Ulefunta Festival to showcase the tourism potential of the ancient town. There are other developmental strives in the town, we are just praying that God should give us power to transform the town.

How are you planning to improve on the tourism potential of Akure Kingdom?

Before I was chosen by my people, I was asked if I would uphold the culture and traditions of the land. I said yes. Since I came on board, I have been trying to uphold that. All the customs and traditions of the town I will make sure that they are more pronounced, that they don’t go into extinction, make them more universal, so that, when they hear about Akure, we can easily be identified with our culture and traditions. You know that in Akure we don’t have status, we are trying to create some in the town, mostly that of Asodeboyede. Within a short moment, you shall see the status springing up in Akure.

Since you ascended the throne, there have been relative peace in the town. What’s the magic?

There is no magic, it has been God Almighty. With God and the cooperation of youth leader, the police, other security agents in Akure, that is why we have peace in the town. Anytime I call on them, they are ready to cooperate with me. Like the case of cultists that renounced their membership, we put them on oath and over one thousand of them renounced cultism. Other neighbouring towns are now trying to emulate us, using the same method to bring peace to their towns. I am ready to do anything that will make Akure Kingdom to be peaceful. If the town is peaceful, many people will come to the town to do business, thereby the town will progress and the inhabitants will progress. That is why you hear some indigenes in the town saying ”Akure sanmi”.
You seems to have a cordial relationship with Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
Ooni of Ife is a very, very jolly Oba. I have a very good and cordial relationship with Ooni. Ooni Enitan Ogunwusi seems to me as a father. He’s very humble, doesn’t brag, very respective to fellow Obas. Anywhere he wants to go, he always call on me to join him and this I have done several times. We bond and have cordial relationship. I see him as a father and I as the son.

Before the present Ooni of Ife ascended the throne, there seemed to be disunity among Obas in Yoruba land, but he came with peace message by visiting some Obas including the Deji. What does this portend for the Yoruba race?

That’s is sign of a good leader and it has restored peace in the land. Ooni wants peace among Obas in Yoruba land and we now have peace. Before he ascended the throne of his forefathers, there was bickering among Obas in Yoruba land, there was no peace in the land, but he erased that by saying that he wanted peace among traditional rulers in Yoruba land, and I think he has done extremely well in that aspect.
Since Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yoruba race, other Obas in the land must respect that stool. I am not the oldest person in Akure, but they still call me father because of this seat of Deji of Akure Kingdom. Anybody that sit on that seat as the Ooni of Ife must be respected because that was the seat Oduduwa sat when he was on the throne. Ooni of Ife is doing everything to make the Yoruba race to speak with one voice and I want to thank him for this.

In your own assessment what do you think is actually causing frictions among Yoruba Obas?

Where you have a society where everyone wants to be president, it can’t work. Even in the National Assembly among the equals, you have one presiding. Let us take Ondo State as an example, you will hear an Oba saying Oba is Oba, it can’t work like that. Even where everybody is at the same level, they will still have the head. Anybody can’t be at the same level. When they see that division, the government will take that advantage and bring in divide and rule.

Is there unity among Obas in Ondo State?

No. I can’t lie to you, because we have what they called 130 Crowns. We have some called first class Obas, some Super First Class. In an association where we have another association within, it can’t work. What is 130 Crowns? We are one, but there should be class. During the Western Region, we have only four first class Obas: the Osemawe of Ondo, Owa of Idanre, Deji of Akure and Olowo of Owo. I am not saying that we should not have more first class Obas, but there should be hierarchy, there should be seniors. If I give someone consent to be an Oba and he is telling me that we are equal, then something is wrong.
Like I said earlier, Ooni of Ife is a first class Oba, Deji of Akure is also a first class Oba, but I can’t see Ooni of Ife as my equal going by history. There is first class and also we have first class. Quite funny that in Ondo State, some Obas don’t take that, they want everybody to be equal.

What cause the rift among Obas in Ondo State?

It is the government. See what is happening in Lagos, Osun and Oyo States, they have paramount in the states. This can be done too in Ondo State with the government saying these are the first class paramount rulers. Now we have eliminated grade D Obas, which I like and support. We now have grade A, B, C.
As the Deji of Akure Kingdom, I brought first class from Ile-Ife, not that a governor made me grade A Oba, and I have been on the throne more than 1,000 years as a first class Oba. We now have some Plus and Obas in first class and they want me to be in the same cadre with them. No, it is not done that way.

Recently, Obas in Ondo State endorsed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for second term. What’s your motive for doing this?

Obas should not been seen playing politics. We should be apolitical. We are to support the government of the day, anybody that is the Governor of the state, Obas are to support him, pray for him, so that, he will continue to do his best for the state.

Kabiyesi, should traditional rulers be given constitutional roles to play in governance?

Yes they should be given constitutional roles to play in government. In Western Region era, Obas were given constitutional roles to appoint local government chairmen. But now if we want to travel outside our domains, we have to get approval. We should have roles like that of the Queen of England too in Nigeria. We should have role to play in our local government area.

Election in Ondo State is slated for October, what’s your advice to the people of Akure?

This coming election, they should vote their conscience. Obas don’t campaign for anybody or party, we saw what happened to the deposed Emir of Kano. So, my people should vote for their conscience in the coming governorship election.

What should Akure people be expecting from you in years ahead?

Akure people should expect more developmental projects, peace and tranquility in the ancient town. If Akure is peaceful and Akure sons and daughters of the town are progressing, that will be my major happiness. Anything that my people want from me, I am ready to do it.