I knew I was going to be popular as a King -Olorile of Orile Ifo, HRM Oba Adewale Ogunjobi

HRM, Oba Abdul Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi is the Second Olorile of Orile Ifo kingdom. The young but highly influential monarch in the buildup to his 5th coronation anniversary spoke with Dayo Badmus in this interview, excerpts.

How do you feel on the occasion of your 5 years anniversary?

I feel grateful to the almighty God. I pray God continue to give me the strength to continue to serve my people.

Can you recall the first case brought to you on emerging as king?

The first case was a land dispute. Fortunately for me, some of our aged fathers then were still with us when I judged my first case on the throne as a King. At that time, the first and pioneer Chief Osi of Orile-Ifo kingdom, late Chief Amos Kehinde Bangbose was still alive, late Chief Olusoji Ayedun, the then Ekerin of Orile Ifo was alive then. Also, late Chief Olu Ayodele, popularly known as Baba-Adajo who was then the Apesin of Orile-Ifo was still alive.

My first case on the throne was a land border dispute between Jambu and Akinsinde, two communities in my jurisdiction.

That was the first testimony of God’s wisdom in me. I thank God we were able to resolve the issue and that same wisdom has not left me till date.

Have you had a case that sounds funny to you as a King?

There is no funny case in the palace. Every case is treated with the highest level of seriousness, no matter how funny it sounds. Only an irresponsible King will laugh over a matter brought to the palace. You have to understand that, if the case is not serious, it will never be brought to the palace. So, nobody laugh over any case in the palace.

Have you for once thought you could be this influential as a young king?

Yes, I knew these will happen. I knew God was going to shock a lot of people going by events before and after my coronation as the second Olorile of Orile-Ifo.

God did it dramatically and miraculously. Also, during my first year anniversary, God also gave me and my subjects more surprises and at that time, I knew God was preparing me for a journey.

I knew I was going to be a sort of motivation and testimony to lots of people. I knew that many will come back to glorify God because of what he will do in my life and in the lives of all my subjects.

That is exactly what has been happening. It is no longer a surprise to me because, I was quick to see the hand of God in everything. Some of my people are still in shock, but many have also accepted it as an act of God’s doing.

Whatever God is involved in becomes easy. I had never felt any pressure. I feel loved and anyone who enters this land today will bear witness that, I am King chosen by God and loved by his subjects. I can only say it is destined by God.

Considering your age, how do you cope with the pressure of a first class monarch?

I am not the first to become a King at a young age. My father in leadership, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland also became a king a very young age. He is still very much alive to his responsibilities. It is only God who crowns a King. If a five year old becomes a King, God will give him the wisdom to lead. So, let us honour him.

I have no fear. I will remain sound in health till old age, I am very confident of that. My forefathers died at old age with high level of intelligence even at old age. In my family, there is no sentiment. So, even at old age, God gives us good health, both mentally and physically.

Kabiesi, you have your Queens in the palace today, will you have more?

According to our culture and tradition as Yorubas, the King has a right to many wives. For me, as young as I was before I became a King, I already had more than one wife.

So, by virtue of this position, if I end up having more wives, I won’t be afraid. My late father also had it so good with women before he died. He was a polygamist before he died, yet he was humble and responsible.

If a woman is beautiful with good character, it is not a bad idea to have such as a wife.

What is your relationship with other kings within Ifo and outside Ifo?

I have very good and cordial relationship with many Kings. Not only in Ogun state, I have Kings as friends in Oyo state and other states.

Kabiesi Alaafin of Oyo is my father. Also, my father, the president of Egba Traditional council, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, I have good relationship with all these royal fathers. In Osun state, all the kings, some are my friends. Some are my fathers.

You have also embarked on a foreign trip after your installation. Do you still go on relaxation abroad?

Yes, there is nothing wrong if a King goes on foreign trip. Every King has friends, families and associates before they become King.

Some of these families and friends live abroad. My last rip was to France. While I was in France, it was all over the social media. So, indigenes of Orile-Ifo in Dubai insisted that, I must visit them in Dubai before I return to Nigeria. So, I had to do that. As I speak with you, there are so many sons and daughters of Orile ifo living in Europe, America even in Asia who wants to receive their King as a visitor.

They are always proud and they show me love. They are happy we have a new dawn in Orile-Ifo. I expect them to come and invest in the land to increase prosperity in the land.

What is the reason for calling people Ole-Ifo?

Can anyone show me where there are no thieves? A society may not be complete without thieves. That’s why we have Police. It is the job of the authorities to bring it to minimum and controllable level.

Sentiments and sabotage brought in the idea of Omo ole-Ifo. The most notorious armed robbers in the history of Nigeria, we all know them. None has been traced to anywhere in Ifo.

The likes of Oyenusi, Monday Osubo and Anini all have where they came from. Are they from Ifo? No! These are international thieves.

The one story of an individual caught in the olden days who claimed to be from Ifo cannot define the personalities of millions of hardworking sons and daughters of Ifo.

The so called person was not even from here. Quality sons and daughters of Ifo will never berate the city. Strangers are the ones who did what was referred to in the story.

This is not the time to say that. When the time comes, we will talk about it. He was asked where he came from and he said Ifo. Meanwhile the person was not from Ifo. They only lived with our forefathers back then.

I am using this medium to appeal to both the indigenes and non-indigenes of Ifo to please help us to protect the name of our land. After Sango, the next big city is Ifo. The Town is close to Lagos and it is bound to attract all sorts of visitors.

Ifo indigenes are reliable and responsible Nigerian citizens.

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