On the eve of his 80th birthday and 35th coronation celebrations this weekend, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba (Dr) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Alades...
On the eve of his 80th birthday and 35th coronation celebrations this weekend, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba (Dr) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, discusses his journey of service and legacy on the throne, the traditional institution, the development of Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State under Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and other topics in this interview conducted by 'YOMI AYELESO'.
Considering the path over the past 80 years and 35 years on the throne, how do you perceive it and what have you managed to accomplish for the community?
First and foremost, I praise God Almighty for keeping me alive and giving me the strength to be here today. Let me emphasize that 35 years is no small amount of time. It spans three and a half decades. When I arrived at this place 35 years ago, all the structures within the palace needed immediate repairs. The late Ewi Anirare served here for more than 40 years and performed exceptionally well. The first floor of the palace was initiated during his time, with the final work on the project completed on August 28, 1948. The building was so impressive that students used to visit the palace daily for two weeks to dance, eat, and return home—such was the joy of the people. However, after that, people took a sort of break.
When I arrived, the structure was in a state of disrepair due to being constructed from mud, with cracks visible everywhere. The other building that had been started during the rule of my predecessor, Oba George Adelabu, remained unfinished. From the gatehouse, everything appeared neglected, and I continually wondered: "How will I endure this?" I entrusted all things to God.
Fifty years back, prior to my ascension as king, I never envisioned myself as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. Once it became clear and my name was mentioned, I prayed that if it was God's will, it should proceed in a way that His glory is honored; however, if it would lead to sorrow, then it should not take place. When I finally took on the role, I placed everything before God. From this gatehouse today, you can witness God's hand everywhere.
I began by consulting an architect from the Federal Polytechnic, the late Oluwadiya, who was then the Director of Works, to assist in creating designs for what needed to be implemented in the palace. At that time, we had approximately seven drawings. The individual asked, "Kabiyesi, where will the funds come from to carry out all these?" I assured him not to be concerned. Praise be to God, we tackled the projects one by one, and God has remained faithful. From the gatehouse to other areas, the palace has experienced remarkable changes.
Apart from the palace's transformation, what major developments has this historic town experienced since you took on the role of traditional leader? What do you see as your lasting impact?
Well, there was peace, as the town was very divided when I took the throne; it was split into two groups due to the chieftaincy issue. One group, Omo mi la muun mi, backed Prince Adegoke; the other, Erinle Ado agbe mi, supported the current Ewi, Oba George Adelabu. Reconciliation seemed unlikely.
One day, representatives from the Erinle Ado agbe mi group approached me and asked me to exercise my power against the other faction. They expressed concerns that the Omo mi la muun mi group gathered every Sunday, causing unrest in the town, singing loudly, and physically assaulting anyone associated with Erinle Ado agbe mi. They requested that I employ the police to put an end to their activities.
I laughed and said to them, "As the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, all these people are my subjects. If I resort to using the police to suppress them, it shows I am not fit to be the Ewi. I should be their leader." I promised them that eventually, this issue would become a thing of the past.
Today, we express our gratitude to God, as the town is now united and speaks with a single voice. There is a shared sense of purpose. We utilize the Udiroko Festival, our sole unifying celebration, which commemorates the day our ancestors settled here beneath the Iroko tree. Each year, we observe this festival. Therefore, the legacy is that Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe arrived during a difficult period, and God employed me to bring back unity and peace. When I depart, Ado-Ekiti will continue to be united and forward-thinking, by God's grace.
The conventional establishment is highly rigorous. How have you managed your roles as monarch, father, spouse, and grandfather?
Well, I'd say I'm extremely fortunate. By God's grace, I have a wife who acts as the mother to the whole family, the Eyesorun of Ado-Ekiti, Eyesorun Margaret Abosede Adejugbe. She is a woman capable of handling anything for the family. If I'm not present and something requiring millions of naira needs to be addressed, she will take care of it and finish it before I come back.
I remember a time when I was in Abuja during the rule of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. Every time he traveled, over 10 or 15 traditional leaders joined him. One day, he said, "Ewi, we are coming to have lunch at your palace today." I immediately contacted the Eyesorun and instructed her to prepare for around 100 guests. This was before the time of convenient money transfers. She even traveled to Igbokoda in Ondo State to obtain fresh fish and cooked various dishes.
Upon our arrival, Ooni tasted each dish—fried rice, jollof, soups—assessing their quality. Once he had finished, he and all the Kabiyesis were content. He then inquired of someone, "What was the Ewi's previous occupation before he became king? To arrange a meal for 100 people without prior notice?" He was astonished.
This was achievable due to the organizational skills of Eyesorun. I also express gratitude to God for the other Oloris and the entire Ewi-in-Council. For 35 years, there have been no significant divisions. The people of Ado-Ekiti are supportive and favored. I am blessed with God's favor.
Nearly 30 years after the establishment of Ekiti State, no native of Ado-Ekiti has ever served as governor. Would you be prepared to support this issue?
I am not a politician. I recall our trip to General Abacha in Lagos during the movement for state creation. He said to us, "You are traditional leaders. You are different from politicians. You cannot serve as a governor or commissioner."
Similarly to Akure, Ondo State was established in 1976, and no native of Akure has ever served as governor. I am confident that Ado-Ekiti's turn will eventually arrive. The most important thing is peace and progress. The typical Nigerian is less concerned about a leader's origin and more focused on whether they can provide for their family. Naturally, it would be positive for someone from Ado-Ekiti to become governor, but not through coercion. It will happen one day.
Do you feel satisfied with the progress in Ado-Ekiti when compared to other state capitals, particularly in the South West region?
Well, "comfortable" is a matter of perspective. Perhaps we haven't reached that point yet, but we have made progress. When I arrived, Ado-Ekiti was a local government headquarters with just a Divisional Police Office. Now, we have a complete Police Command and approximately six DPOs. The number of secondary schools has grown more than ten times, including private ones. Back then, the only higher education institutions were the University of Ado-Ekiti (now EKSU) and the Federal Polytechnic. Now, we have EKSU, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Crown Polytechnic, and others. Economically, we are still facing challenges, but Rome wasn't built in a day. We have much to be grateful for.
What difficulties have you faced during the past 35 years while in power, and how did you manage to deal with them?
The early lack of unity came to an end as a result of divine intervention. A new challenge arose when the Vice-Chancellor of UNAD, Prof. Bodunrin, and the Registrar, Deji Adegbite, came to me regarding accreditation issues. Several courses were missing necessary resources. They urged me to get involved.
I requested their list and selected the Faculty of Law because three groups of students failed to graduate due to insufficient accreditation. They expected me to provide funds to supplement what they already had. Instead, I stated that the Ado people would construct the Faculty of Law.
They claimed it needed to be finished in six months. I told them there was no need to be concerned. At the Udiroko Festival, I raised the challenge to the Ado people. We established a committee with Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, serving as chairman. In six months, the building was done, and accreditation began that same year. Now, only God is aware of how many legal professionals the faculty has graduated.
What was the process behind establishing Ekiti State, and what part did you have in selecting Ado-Ekiti as its capital?
I was approximately six months into my reign in 1991 when Commissioner Babatunde arrived with a group to meet me. They were holding discussions at Chief Deji Fasuan's residence and required royal backing. I agreed. Maybe God placed me on the throne for this reason. I became involved in the movement, which continued for six years.
On a Sunday during Bishop Akinbola's Silver Jubilee event, I inquired of the bishop how he intended to entertain the Kabiyesis following the service. He had not made any arrangements, so I volunteered to take care of hosting them. More than 100 traditional leaders attended. Rather than celebrating, they used the opportunity to express their sorrow that Nigeria had recently established six states, with Ekiti, which was eligible, being excluded.
They insisted that we start the campaign right away. We started holding meetings every two weeks. I canceled my journey to Lagos and agreed to lead the committee of royal fathers. Influential figures joined our cause. We traveled to every region of Nigeria. It was a challenging six-year battle. In the end, Ekiti State was established, with Ado-Ekiti as its capital.
Several people in Ado-Ekiti are worried about outsiders purchasing land in traditional regions. Do you consider this an issue?
The Nigerian Constitution grants citizens the right to own property in any location. It is not legally possible to prevent someone from purchasing property in Ado-Ekiti.
Nevertheless, I consistently advise my community to carefully evaluate the decision of selling family homes passed down through generations. They should take into account their children, who may someday desire a place that represents their father's legacy. Many individuals focus on the immediate payment, perhaps as much as N100 million, and quickly decide to sell. However, after dividing the proceeds among family members, each person might receive less than N200,000. Soon, the money disappears, and they are forced to settle in new areas, while the purchaser benefits from a prime city location. This is indeed a challenge, but legally, buyers are entitled to do so.
Reflecting on the past 29 years since its establishment, have the aspirations that fueled the campaign for Ekiti State come true?
Frankly, no. Individuals who fought for the state did not become governors in the initial period. We had a plan in place. General Abacha informed us there would be no initial grant; we stated we were prepared. I wrote to the first Military Administrator, Colonel Mohammed Inuwa Bawa, and even suggested potential commissioner candidates. However, some existing officials misled him, claiming the Ewi intended to take control of the administration. This led to a rift.
But now, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who served as our secretary during the fight, comprehends the plan. He is contacting former governors, urging for unity, and even interacting with the opposition. Today, it's difficult to talk about opposition since he has brought everyone together. That sense of unity was the basis of our struggle.
Has the Oyebanji administration met expectations over the past three years, according to the plan?
As I mentioned, Oyebanji is akin to the mother of the child; he is fully aware of the exact issues. This is why he has done better than all former governors combined. He was one of us, part of the movement, and he closely observed previous administrations. Without any doubt, I see him as the most effective among them.
The conventional system in Yoruba society is being questioned because of the behavior of certain traditional leaders. What is your opinion, particularly concerning the procedures for succession?
I am aware of the experiences I went through during my rise to power. There are specific rituals that must be carried out before one can become an Oba. If you genuinely wish to claim the throne, you must go through this process. It is this process that shapes you and teaches you what actions to take and which to avoid. No religion prohibits the traditional ceremonies necessary to become an Oba. You might be a Christian or a Muslim, but your behavior as a ruler should demonstrate respect and inspire others in a positive way. However, I do not endorse the elimination of traditional procedures for ascending to the throne. As I have mentioned, we are all human with our own differences, but the truth is that there is a certain process you must complete before becoming an Oba.
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