God I didn't ask for this much,before you gave me this much and in all I am very grateful.
Your gift, you said are without repentance, you have been true to your word,which is a reflection in my woman,and for her I can only be grateful.
He that findeth a (good) wife,findeth a good thing. For a fact I found a rare gem.
For a man to love is to show it,and the evidence of a man in love is the show of loyalty and respect.

Nothingness

What is it about life and existence, which goes beyond our immediate reasonings and understanding. It goes beyond our physical presence and all. In our quest for unasked answers,our attributes was formed and which gives birth to greed and the race for personal aggrandizement in all forms. The death of brotherly love and the eradication of extended arm of friendship with good intent and the purposeful elimination of trust in all facets. Which are not given anymore rather demanded,brutally or in a beneficial or reciprocal form. In all life and existence is all about getting served whatever you dished out.

PREFACE

  With profound thanks and gratitude to the Almighty for his prominence and his eminent and as looking ahead for his preeminence purpose. In all this I give him all adoration and references in all. I will sound ungrateful if my adorable wife is not mentioned,with her total support and dedication. I owe it all to you and our wonderful children. With a deep sense of gratitude to those who are involved from the birth of the idea,to the process and through to completion, you all know yourselves. The antagonists and the protagonists you've all contributed your own quota in ways you never imagined. Thanks and God bless you all.

Press Release: The Legislature and its Self-Indictment

In the First Republic, the then Legislature, that is the Senate and the House of Representatives, failed to play its role as the custodian of democracy and defender of the Constitution as well as being the vehicle for socio-economic development by acquiescing to the military’s takeover of power albeit anchored on the prevailing Ethno-National contradictions brought to the fore by that military action. Likewise, its re-establishment as the National Assembly in 1979 eventually exhibited this inability to resist the attempt at truncating the will of the people as witnessed in 1983 and remained in limbo, with the exception of its feeble resistance in the aftermath of the “June 12” crisis, until resuscitated again in 1999. 

This background provides the backdrop for the Legislature now being the vehicle for the entrenchment of Nigeria’s socio-economic underdevelopment and resistance to Change, being an avenue for its members to showcase their lack of purpose, reveling in jostling for what they always refer to as juicy positions without having the faintest idea on how to produce the juice itself.

It has so far  ensconced  itself within the anti-Change paradigm via a combined conspiracy of sorts anchored on hampering of the Change Administration’s efforts  not only in governance but also in its socio-economic thrust as now being witnessed through legislative blackmail on the budget and contrived scarcity of fuel combined with the shenanigans of the Judiciary with legal professionals cavorting with attempts at ensuring  denial of justice through all forms of legal shenanigans and a lackadaisical  approach to peoples’ security manifested in the various  conflicts exemplified by the age-long herdsmen terrorism, long left to fester over time by the State Apparatus, including the Legislature, which all pointed to attempts at  stampeding  the people  into a frenzied expectation of an immediate solution to a long-standing problematic through some form of precipitate action against the Change Agenda.

All routes towards any form of Change as well as sustenance of any status quo depend on their legitimacy. The Change Administration and the Legislature are both legitimized by their electoral mandates, hence the full expression of legitimacy by each side would either ensure compatibility of expectations or automatic opposition of one against the other; in this instance, it is  the Legislature  against the Change Administration through  its attempts to truncate Change efforts under the assumption that the expectations of Change would fizzle out and Nigeria would revert to the status quo ante with Nigeria’s continued over-reliance on rent collection as the basis for her economic fortunes and misfortunes and upon which the entire political edifice of the country rests, with the Legislature being the prime beneficiary, yet without living up to its responsibilities as the front line of the Change Agenda. 

When President Buhari wondered why the First Republic was able to create working infrastructure for the country but not so in the over sixteen years of civilian rule, with all the financial resources at its disposal, it should be pointed out that the First Republic was, to a large extent and as the circumstances of the period permitted, characterized by its dependence on, and recognition of the Peoples it represented; its Legislative functions  being derived from and reflecting the economic, social, cultural and political expectations of the Peoples; neither distancing  nor leeching from the peoples thus being actually responsible to its constituents which formed the basis for its legitimacy in spite of its failure  to re-establish it  based on these  imperatives when confronted with its negation by the military.
The issue to be resolved with today’s Legislature has nothing to do with efficiency or making it more productive through any sort of means but with its negation, its re-establishment, more so when it has fallen short of the expectations of its own legitimacy by making itself a vehicle for a political paradigm incongruent with economic or social development where its anti-development nature is a consequence of the failure of the socio-political environment that gave rise to it in the first instance and must necessarily lead to its negation; this not being a function of a more      robust activity on the part of some members but in ensuring the reflection of  the will of the people as the Legislature’s raison d’etre, the ultimate in legitimacy.
The will of the People is anchored on their extant peculiarities manifested in, for example, the age-long Niger Delta disaster and its leaders’ acquiescence or otherwise to this politically-induced economic malaise; the contradictions within the East on the Biafran question; the continuous attempt by hunters in the NE to be involved in anti-Boko Haram efforts, the various Ethno-National resistance to herdsmen terrorism, all of which are intertwined with the necessity for Change and none of which had ever  been made an issue of  Legislative debate  in spite of the recent introduction of a “Grazing Bill” as if the entire problematic of herdsmen terrorism is simply about grazing opportunities.

Not only is herdsmen terrorism not a recent phenomenon to which the Nigerian State apparatus, with the Legislature as a prominent player, had over time, turned a blind eye, it is also not only applicable to Nigeria as it spreads across the West and Central African Regions thus setting it at par with the Region’s experience with political terrorism as exemplified by Boko Haram as well as the Islamic State in West Africa.  These terrorists operate as herdsmen, roaming all over West and Central Africa such that the current attempt at a “Grazing Bill” will not only formalize their land-grabbing intentions but also affect the structure of the Nigerian State in the long run, an act tantamount to treason on the part of the Legislature.
Based on the legislature’s failure to recognize these phenomena, thus obviating its legitimacy, the Change Administration must now take the lead by utilizing its own legitimacy to re-create the Legislature without being encumbered by the Constitution.
Since 1999 and up till this moment, the Legislature had been on a merry-go-round of amending the  Constitution, which shows not only the defectiveness of the Constitution but also a consistent inability by the Legislature to arrive at a plausible Constitutional paradigm for Nigeria and this on-going effort, while not  expected to materialize until 2018, is an expression of the Legislature’s self de-legitimization with this 2018 time-table being very close to new elections definitely affecting the amendment exercise, thus showing that the National Assembly is completely disconnected with the Peoples of Nigeria and in dissonance with the Change Agenda thereby making this attempt another  self-repudiation of its legitimacy.
  
How then should this needed Change be effected? It is a well-known fact that the 1999 Constitution was based on a false premise, to wit: “We, the People”. In legal terms, this premise does not, by itself, grant any powers and rights not specified in the Constitution; just as it cannot itself, being a statement of the principles in this Constitution, be based on a false premise, a situation which has now given room for its operators to act the way they had always been acting. 
That such a premise as “We The People” is false implies that the entire principles, powers and rights it purports to embody are also false since “We, The People” had no hand in its making, directly or indirectly, being a product of military fiat which was not acting and did not act on behalf of “We, The People”, even as by so doing, its producers unwittingly affirmed the Peoples’ sovereignty. This false preamble only means, on the one hand, not binding on “We, The People” on whose behalf such an assumption was made, and on the other, “We, The People” need to exercise our right to correct this anomaly by ensuring that the Constitution is indeed a product of “We, The People”, the only guarantee of its legitimacy and anchor for the Change Administration.

With the Legislature having frittered away its legitimacy by its own free will, Egbe Omo Oduduwa proposes that the Change Administration should  utilize its own electoral legitimacy by substituting its proposed Town Halls with Regional or Ethno-National Conventions, with or without central funding, as deliberative platforms on Nigeria’s Political Economy whose outcomes would be ratified in Regional/Ethno-National Referendums; culminating in a Constitutional Convention with the express purpose of re-creating the Legislature as well as formally setting the foundation for socio-economic development of the Nigerian Peoples while also addressing errors of omission or commission of the past.  The existing Legislature will have no choice but to go along with this Peoples-based process or try to negate it; either way, the question of legitimacy would have been tabled and its resolution will be anchored on the expectations of the Peoples of Nigeria in tandem with all of their cultural, economic, social and political paradigms in whatever manner they manifest. 

Shenge Rahman Akanbi, Femi Odedeyi
For and on behalf of Egbe Omo Oduduwa
(egbeomooduduwa1945@gmail.com)

--- On Sun, 4/17/16, Egbe Omo Oduduwa <egbeomooduduwa1945@gmail.com> wrote:

FREEDOM FOR ALL By Obafemi Awolowo First Address of Chief Obafemi Awolowo As President of the Action Group On 28th April, 1951 To the Conference of Party Members at Owo

Gentlemen,

The pleasant duty of introducing the Action Group has been entrusted to me.

 

On the 21^st March of this year, the Action Group was introduced to the public through the Press, and its aims and objectives were clearly set out.

 

Since then the Action Group has been unfolding itself and fulfilling its aims and objectives more by action than by words.  The most eloquent tribute to the growing strength of this young organization is that all those who are gathered here this morning – accredited representatives of the entire Western Region – are members of the Action Group.

 

The aims and objectives of the Action Group have not only been published as I said, but are contained in the Draft Constitution, copies of which have been forwarded to you.  I will not, therefore, take your time by repeating them.

 

There are, however, two items in the aims and objectives which I should like to emphasise, since they are the very basis of the Action Group.  I refer to items (1) and (3).  The two are complementary and they read as follows:

 

(1)    To bring and organize within its fold nationalists in the Western Region, so that they may work together as a united group, and submit themselves to party loyalty and discipline        

(2)    To prepare and present to the public programmes for all Departments of Government, and to strive faithfully to ensure the effectuation of such programmes through those of its members that are elected into the Western House of Assembly and the Federal Legislature.

 

The attainment of these two aims implies [identification] of adherence to basic principles, and [identification] of methods in the application of the principles.

 

If any group of people fail to agree as to basic principles and as to the methods to be adopted in applying those principles, it is impossible for them to work within the same fold, and to submit themselves to party loyalty and discipline.

 

The basic principles which have brought the members of the Action Group together are summarized in the following motto:

 

                        LIFE MORE ABUNDANT

                        FREEDOM FOR ALL

 

It is our belief that the people of Western Nigeria in particular, and of Nigeria in general would have life more abundant when they enjoy:

 

(i)                  Freedom from British Rule

(ii)                Freedom from Ignorance

(iii)               Freedom from Disease and

(iv)              Freedom from Want.

 

In our view, the rule of one nation by another is unnatural and unjust.  It is maintained either by might or by complete subordination, through crafty means, of the will and self-respect of the subject people to the political self-aggrandisement of the tutelary power.  There can be no satisfactory substitute for self-rule.

 

Therefore, British tutelage is to be denounced without any reservation.  In principles,  it is indefensible.  In practice, it has been characterized by extreme planlessness and disregard for the vital interests of the people.

 

After almost 100 years of British Rule, our land is still riddle with unspeakable ignorance, disease and want.

 

An ignorant and poverty-stricken people are the easiest preys to political enslavement and economic exploitation.  Diseases of all kinds follow in the wake of ignorance and want.

 

The basic principles which, therefore, have brought us together within the fold of the Action Group may be stated in the following words:

 

1)      The immediate termination of British Rule in every phase of our political life.

2)      The education of all children of school-going age, and the general enlightenment of all illiterate adults and all illiterate children above the school-going age.

3)      The provision of health and general welfare for all our people.

4)      The total abolition of want in our society by means of any economic polity which is both expedient and effective.

 

Having agreed on these basic principles, it becomes necessary to take the next step, namely:  to agree as to common methods in the application of those principles.  This is a very important step:  because, even though people may agree as to principles, if they don’t agree as to methods of application it would not be possible for them to work together.

 

It is in order to evolve those common methods that some members of the Action Group were commissioned to prepare papers not only on Government Departmental subjects but also on the organizational problems of the Action Group.

 

It will be our duty at this at this Conference to declare our irrevocable adherence to the principles already enunciated and to fashion out from the papers which are already submitted on various subjects what our common methods of application shall be.

 

Once we have succeeded in doing these two things the fulfillment of our aims and objectives is well-nigh achieved.  All that we would need in addition would be persistence and consistency in the pursuit of our principles, and resolution and discipline in the execution of our common methods of application.

 

I would like to say that this, in my humble opinion, is the first time in the annals of Nigeria that a political party is reared on a really scientific basis.  For if all the leading members in the Action Group have more or less identical conceptions as to the principles which shall guide their activities, and jointly evolve common methods of applying those principles, it is my firm conviction that the organization will be successful and lasting.

 

Only we must make sure about two things, namely:  that our principles are just, and that our methods are practical.  For nothing defeats their own ends so easily as unjust principles and impractical methods of approach.

 

With these few remarks, I believe that I have succeeded in portraying to you the rock-sure foundation on which the Action Group is erected.  We are here in this historic Conference to reinforce and to add to the superstructure already built, by the pledge of the leaders inhabiting the two Zones (YORUBA AND MIDWESTERN or WESTERN AND EASTERN) of the Western Region.

 

It is true we speak different languages;  but it does not require any laborious research to discover that, broadly speaking, we originated from common stock; and that in any event our political and cultural associations have been of such long standing as to make us look upon one another as close relations.  And above all, we are Nigerians whom both Nature and Constitution have joined together.  It is within our power to remain together.

 

In the first release of the Action Group it  has been made abundantly clear both in item (5) of the aims and objectives and in the body of the release that it is not the intention of the Action Group to embark on Regional politics exclusively.  It is sheer necessity that has compelled us to decide to get together to put our own house in order.

 

As an earnest of our good faith, the subjects on which policy papers have been prepared are not confined to Regional subjects but cover Central subjects as well.

 

Furthermore, the Action Group is not meant to be an ad-hoc or temporary organization.  It has come to stay and it will live forever.

 

We have promised, and we mean to abide by our word, that if a countrywide organization acceptable to all is established, we would not hesitate to become the Western Regional Working Committee of such an organization.  But it is clear now from all accounts that such an organization will not emerge before the general elections under the new Constitution.

 

It must, therefore, be our hope and our endeavour that as soon as we have duly consolidated and strengthened our position throughout the Western Region, we should, in cooperation with nationalists in other Regions, influence the formation of a countrywide organization on the same realistic and scientific lines as the Action Group.

 

I have no doubt that we all know that the realization of all our aims and objectives depends chiefly on our having a substantial majority in the Western House of Assembly.  With unity, determination and hard work, it should not be difficult for us to get all our candidates elected into that Assembly.

 

We are not fighting for seats in the House of Assembly because we desire power for its sake.  We believe that, in a partial sense though, the new Constitution affords us an opportunity to be of better service to our people.  We are a party – in fact the only party in Nigeria definite ideas and practical programmes for the advancement of Nigeria towards early freedom and prosperity.

 

Our enemies and detractors are already at work.  They are seeking to dwarf our stature in order to delude the public that they are taller than we are.  They are also seeking to divert us from our noble and constructive courses in to the barren land of petty strife and fruitless controversy.

 

I believe I am voicing your sentiments, when I say that we do not  grudge other parties their professed popularity and excellence.

 

But it is mean and cowardly, and an evidence of weakness and utter demerit, for any group of people to attempt to commend themselves to the public by the negative process of belittling and condemning others.  Strong, courageous, resourceful and self-confident people are never afraid of rivals or competitors.

 

It is not an easy matter to resist the temptation of being dragged down the drains of bitter recriminations and press war.  But if we are to attain our objectives we must resolve to pursue our course unflinchingly without paying the slightest heed ‘to the envious, and the asses that bray.’

 

What our people want to know above all things else is not the defect or incapacity of this or that organization, but the plans and programmes which we have for improving their lots and the relative merits of such plans and programmes. 

 

Such plans and programmes we have;  and what is more they are plans and programmes which could be put into execution within a period of five years.

 

Our line of action is therefore clear.  Whilst our enemies and detractors busy themselves with abusing and decrying us, we should direct all the machinery of our publicity towards the propagation of the excellence and the relative superiority of our programmes and the suitability of the men who will put forward to execute them.

 

In this way we would succeed in commending ourselves to the public by our sheer merits and our merits only.  This in my view is a nobler attitude;  and if we remain true to it, we are bound to succeed where our detractors fail.

 

 

Taken from  “Voice of Reason:  Selected Speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo” Vol. 1, Fagbamigbe Publishers (1981) Pages 195-200

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Yoruba history (Alaafin of Oyo)

The Alaafin of Oyo.Iku baba yeye alase keji
Orisa.
REIGNS OF THE ALAAFINS OF OYO and SOME
HISTORICAL MARKS
892 Oranyan – Oyo-Ile was found
1042 Ajaka Dada
1077 Tella Oko –known as Sango Afonja
1137 Ajaka
1177 Aganju Sola
1300 Kori – Osogbo and Ede were found
1357 Oluaso
1471 Portugal 1st contact with Yoruba cities
1472 Eko is named LAGOS by the Portuguese
1530 – 1542 Onigbogi
1512 Ofinran – Saki was found
1534 Egungun Oju – Igboho was found
Nupe occupied Oyo- Ile
1554 Orompoto
1562 Ajiboye
1570 Abipa – Oyo-Ile rebuilt
1588 Obalokun – salt (Sodium Cloride)
introduced in domestic use into Yoruba Land
Alaafin set envoys to court in Portugal
1600 Aja
1658 Odarawu
1660 Karan
1665 Jayin – 1 st Awujale of Ijebu appointed
1676 Ayibi – Oyo spanned 150.00 km2
1690 Osiyago – 1728 Oyo stats invade Dahomey
1732 Gberu
1738 Amuniwaye
1742 Onisile - 1748 subjugating the Dahomey
1750 Labisi – spent in the throne only 15 days
committed suicide because of Basorun Gaha
1750 Awonbioju – spent 130 days in the throne
1750 Agboluaje - 1754 stars decline in the
Empire with intrigues of Basorun Gaha
1772 Majeogbe
1774-1789 Abiodun
1789-1796 Awole
1796-1797 Adebo
1797-1798 Maku
1801-1827 Majeotu – Fulani seized Ilorin + 1823
Dahomey revolt
1827-1834 Amodo
1834-1837 Oluewu - 1835 Empire collapse,
razed by the Fulani Jihad
Are-Ona Kakanfo Afonja , master of Illorin,
invited a Fulani scholar of Islam called Alim al
Salih into his ranks. He hoped to secure the
support of Yoruba Muslims and volunteers from
the Hausa-Fulani north in keeping Ilorin
independent, but no succeed and Oyo collapse.
1838-1858 Atiba Atobatele– 1838 Ago d’Oyo -
New Oyo founded
The center of Yoruba power moved to Ibadan ,
a Yoruba war camp settled by Oyo commanders
in 1830.
1859-1875 Adelu agunloye – 1857 Britain
abolish slavery
1864 Alaafin stopped Batedo War in the name
of Sango between Ijebu + Egbas
1876-1905 Adeyemi I
1888 Oyo became a protectorate of Great
Britain
1905-1911 Agogo Ija Amubieya Lawani
1911-1944 Ladigbolu I
1914 Amalgation Frederik Lugard united north
and south as colony + Protectorate Nigeria
The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger
River . Given by Flora Shaw who later married
Lugard
1945-1954 Adeyemi II
1956-1968 Ladigbolu II
1971 Adeyemi III

OBA ADEYEYE ENITAN OGUNWUSI

The Ile-Ife and Yoruba of my dream, by Ooni-elect, Adeyeye Ogunwusi 

I have a story to tell the world   and most importantly the people of  Ile-Ife.  About 40 years ago, I was born into the Giesi Ruling House, Ojaja Royal Compound in the ancient city of Ile-Ife.

From birth, my life has been a journey; one that I embarked on, saddled with great conscientiousness when I became a responsible father at the age of 19, which shaped and groomed me for greater challenges ahead.

To cater for my family as a young father, I became very enterprising with the knack of building something out of nothing. This certainly increased my temperament for being successful in all my endeavours, as well as towing the right path as a responsible father.

Thus, in the following years, I was able to build a consortia of companies with a team of well-versed, highly skilled and unskilled professionals from scratch and with hard work and God’s providence. This has made me a huge employer of labour and a captain of industries. The story of Ile-Ife begins as the cradle of civilization and has spread its tentacles beyond Black Africa.

The Ooni stool is highly revered and exalted and as the world looks on; our strength and emphasis need to be injected into the development of Ile-Ife as a beacon of hope and enviable city.

Spiritual home  of all Yoruba

Suffices to say that Ile-Ife is the ancestral and spiritual home of all Yorubas, bona fide, in Nigeria and the Diaspora, and the World Headquarters of the House of Oduduwa, which comprises  people resident in nearly all the continents of the world.

Thus, the Ooni, as the head of the vast Oduduwa family, must be no less versatile and resourceful. Available evidences from the curatorial community and archaeological discoveries have put the origin of Ile-Ife around 2000 years BC.

Around this time, the people of Ile-Ife have distinguished themselves in technology and cultural advancement. A notable fact in this direction is Ori-Olokun: though purportedly ‘discovered’ by the famous German archaeologist Leo Frobenius in 1910, but had been in existence for thousands of years.

Discovery: The pure-copper sculpture took the entire arts world by storm at the time of its discovery that experts from the West argued that the artefact was a mystery that was too sophisticated to have been created by African hands. However, after careful examinations of other works, profusely located in and around the city and bearing striking resemblance, the world accepted the truth that the advanced people of Ile-Ife had, not only wielded the technology to turn iron to alloy but also of moulding abstract artworks out of the product. Consequently, it is now accepted by the curatorial community that the advanced artistic techniques used to create the sculpture were more advanced than those of Renaissance Italy, and comparable to those of [the artist] Donatello.

Yet, Ile-Ife has not taken its rightful position as the ‘source’ of civilization despite her wealth of history, culture and tradition.

Having found ourselves in such state of affairs where the potential of the land remains untapped and its people lacking economic and social emancipation, we should all take it upon ourselves to redress this situation.

Redressing the situation

The Ile-Ife of ‘my dream’ will be strategically positioned to empower its people socially, economically and culturally to bring about the desired developments. Now, with our resolve to transform Ile-Ife we are ‘SET’ to leave no stone unturned, in the drive to put Ile-Ife on the map of the world. Our ultimate goal is to reposition the House of Oduduwa as a worthy example of successful inward-looking community.

At this juncture, I consider it pertinent to share with everyone the account of how Nigeria as a nation came to be. The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company charter by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the United African Company and became the Royal Niger Company in 1886. By 1900 it went through several name changes and in 1914 a merger occurred between the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to become the independent Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1960.  It suffices to say our beloved nation developed through a corporation of technocrats and quality mind input. Arguably, this is one of the several ways cities and communities are built; through large corporations. The ethos of this account goes to prove that any geographic setting can undergo boundless growth through clusters of companies which invariably can lead to the creation of settlements and human capital development.

Consequently, there is a huge possibility for Ile-Ife to experience tremendous growth through industrialization and developmental projects like a company managed by dedicated sons and daughters of Ife and all Ife enthusiasts. I have no doubt, Ife will be great again due to its economic dexterity. Ife has one of the largest land mass in the South-west beaming with natural resources including three out of the four factors of production; ‘land’, ‘labour’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ and with our great resolve we shall work towards ‘capital’ creation.

I am very passionate about my roots with the determination of bringing Ile-Ife to the forefront of economic and social affairs. In my private life, I have for a while been involved in many philanthropic gestures in Ile-Ife and its environs. The progressiveness of the youths of Ile-Ife is at the core of my philosophy and I have been instilling hope to thousands of youths through the various ongoing reciprocity Programmes I established a while ago.

It is within the dictates of our culture that the young shall provide for the old and for this reason our youths need to be nurtured and engaged positively hence they can attain financial independence and in return provide for their parents, families and dependants. This is not to say that the old and elderly will be left out. There will be various empowerment Programmes for the elderly and the widowed to learn new trades and acquire new skills that will help stamp out redundancy and at the same time be financially rewarding to them.

Many might argue that the tasks before me are incredibly monumental and impossible. However, I do not get easily swayed by the idea of impossibilities. In every challenging situation what I see is a speck of possibility which I build on till the task at hand is completed. I have done this time over time and I have defied the rules of men to follow my gut instincts. I have excelled where, people had predicted failure and I derived the most joy where others have said emphatically “it is not possible.”

A recent classic example of turning  impossibilities to possibilities took place at ‘Parakin’ in Ile-Ife where I converted a sizeable piece of thick forest land into a beautiful castle within a month. The land hitherto, was a garbage dump and an escape route for men of the underworld in the vicinity which constituted a social menace to the inhabitants of ‘Parakin’.

In recent history one cannot mention Ile-Ife without acknowledging the Ife and Modakeke conflict. It’s unfortunate that lives were lost during the war between Ife and Modakeke; a war that had no economic value and displaced many lives. I paid a courtesy visit to the youths affected by the war and implored them to be proactive. Furthermore I urged them to be on the straight and narrow path and propagated the tenets of hard work as the only way to make it in life.

Touching  experiences

In the course of my life I have had many touching experiences. However, my most compelling experience till date involves two young boys namely Demola Adewole and Taye Fayemi. Demola and thousands of others energetic youths visit work sites on a daily basis to solicit for money. I took it upon myself to get to know these young boys and found that all they wanted was to earn a decent living. We got acquainted with Demola and found out he was a welder. Without hesitation, we helped to re-orientate him and got him involved in construction work in ‘Parakin’. Demola Adewole has turned out to be one of the best welders I have been privileged to work with till date.

Another set of energetic youths on one of the days I visited Ife chased after my car, many of them climbed onto the fast moving car and during the tussle to stay latched on to the car, one of them got injured. I got out of the car and addressed all of them and asked why they would want to hurt themselves and with no care in the world, Taye replied “death means nothing to me”; I shed tears, there is no hope for the youths and no one to rebuild their dashed hopes or future.

Taye Fayemi was simply desperate to make a living for himself and today, to the glory of God I personally supervise Taye’s rehabilitation, his personal development and wellbeing.

Destinies: Similar to the story of Demola and Taye, are thousands of youths with different expertise that need our help to find their feet, many whose destinies would have been cut short like the others lost the war. I cannot but emphasize that the development and well being of our youths is paramount to our future and one that is very close to my heart.

This area needs to be properly addressed to ensure our youths are well engaged in various professional and vocational pursuits.

Today, and to the glory of God, I have been energized to rehabilitate and take off the streets several thousands of youths by providing them with gainful employment. Furthermore, we shall set up a foundation that will support post war effects and the rebuilding of war torn Ife and Modakeke.

Thereafter there shall NEVER be war again. I stand firmly for peace and unity between Ife and Modakeke and I guarantee that this peace and unity will transcend into economic and social benefits for everyone.

Similarly, we shall use this stool to unify the entire Yoruba race; there shall be no division, no supremacy or animosity amongst us, we are all from the one and the same source-God Almighty.

Coming to the throne is a clarion call to heed my selfless desire to serve the people of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba race and all of humanity. We will use the stool to provide a lot of opportunities to invest in the youths through mentor-ship and empowerment programs that will further take thousands off the streets on a gradual basis. Youths all over the country will be eligible for the mentor-ship programme and Ife will be the pilot model. We will use the stool to transpose Ile-Ife into the twenty-first century and with the use and influence of social media we are ‘set’ for his transformation. Sons and daughters of Ife and Ife enthusiasts around the world will have an input in the building of the New Ife City, ‘NIC’ through constructive feedback. ‘Socially’, we are ‘set’ to revive and promote Ile-Ife as a tourist destination.

‘Economically’ we are ‘set’ to increase our industrial footprints to give Ife the much desired facelift and ‘Traditionally’ we are ‘set’ to redefine the kingship system by blending modernity into our cultural values and practices and our tradition of thousands of years will stand.

Plans are well under-way to revitalize Ife in the areas of Sports, Mining, Agriculture, Real Estate, Tourism and rapid industrialization. To achieve this transformation, a brand new platform named ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ has been established to stimulate the entire economy of Ile-Ife with a positive impact on the entire Yoruba race and our nation as a whole. ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ will be tasked with rebuilding Ife into the ‘New Ife city’, NIC.

However, this is a herculean task which can only be achieved with the support of all well-meaning technocrats, sons and daughters of Ile-Ife in Nigeria and in the Diaspora and all lovers of Ife. My fervent desire is to grow ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ into one of the

biggest corporations out of Africa, likewise uniting all lovers of Ife with the people of Ife. Earlier this year, I acquainted the youths of

Ile-Ife of my plans to replicate the truly Nigerian project, Inagbe Grand Resorts Lagos, Nigeria (almost hundred percent of raw materials

used are locally sourced) in Ile-Ife. Inagbe Grand Resorts is the first of its kind and will soon be the most sought after resort destination in all of West Africa. I have developed an incredible master plan for the proposed ‘Ife Grand Resorts’ which will be an off shoot of ‘Inagbe Grand Resorts Lagos’. The ‘Ife Grand Resort’ project and the ‘NIC’ initiative was conceived to attract young men and women, businesses, corporate organization, investors, holiday makers, lovers of Ife and Ife in Diaspora to a comfortable ambience to stay when they are away from home. This will continually put Ile-Ife, the cradle of black civilization on the map likewise showcasing many artefacts about the Yoruba race, hence creating a steady influx of people into Ile-Ife.

The time has come for us to embrace our true heritage as the progeny of Oduduwa and the task of modernizing Ile-Ife is yours and mine. I am highly honoured to have been chosen to fill the stool that great men once occupied; history and I will forever remember this day. I use

this opportunity to pay tribute to Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade; these monarchs were colossus that redefined the monarchy with touch of diligence, elegance and gravitas that traversed so many cultural boundaries. They were great fathers to me and I will forever miss and honour them.

I am not coming to the throne to pass judgment on those that have maliciously wronged me. But then, I should think that a bid to be enthroned as the foremost Oba in Yoruba race should be healthy and ordained of God. There is also the Ifa divination that also synthesizes the process, just in case human beings are partial.

Rather, some people resorted to dangerous attacks, wicked lies, malicious insinuations and vigorous campaign of calumny. Why would I fail to forgive them when all came to nought and the good people and governments of Ife and State of Osun saw through these unfair games and chose me as the prestigious Ooni of Ife.

Therefore, I am coming to set a good example and show the world that I am truly called by God to lead Ile-Ife into a state of tranquillity, conscientiousness and prosperity. It is my fervent prayer that the Lord will continue to guide us all and bestow us with great wisdom to carry out our incumbent tasks. I use this opportunity to call on all the sons of Ile-Ife that were alongside me in the race for the stool to heed to my call and let’s work harmoniously to align our goals for the sake of posterity and Ile-Ife. Together we shall not lose sight of the values and tradition that have made us the greatest nation of black people on earth. I come before you all today as a man pledging his unwavering commitment to his Kingdom and his people that I cannot do this alone; without you all there is no me “I will serve you all with everything I have”. 

Long live Ile-Ife; long live the Yoruba race, long live the House of Oduduwa, and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.