After Oladele Olashore :who is the next king?

When Oba Oladere Olashore died recently in a London hospital, tradition was broken as his demise was announced on the internet. This has not gone well with Iloko people. Taiwo Abiodun visited the town and reports

The rustic Iloko community, in Ilesa, Osun State was very rural and undeveloped. There were hardly any schools, hospitals, hotels or social amenities of note. It was strictly a silent agrarian community. That was before the ascension to the throne of the Oba Oladele Olashore, who recently joined his ancestors.




He turned the little community into an Eldorado. When The Nation visited the town last week the late monarch’s kinsmen wore long faces and were still in mourning. Irrespective of age and status, both young and old, they were all mourning. Market women, petty traders and all wore long faces and were not ready to entertain any questions from a reporter.
Asked why they were so forlorn, one of the community elders retorted in a voice laced with a mild anger, "Why would we not be sad?’’ Casting his eyes afar he looked ahead and added, "Look, young man, the late monarch tarred our roads, brought electricity and other first class things to this small town. Who knows Iloko before? It was a real bush, but this man transformed it to become a first class town by building a five-star hotel affordable hotel, one of the best schools in the country where the high and mighty bring their children and wards to. He also established an affordable Model College and paid the school fees where an average family can also send their children and wards to study. Aside that he built a stadium of high class. Please, you can go …we are still mourning’’
Torrents of tributes
At the palace a Register of Condolence has been opened in honour of the late monarch. Among the earliest dignitaries that have signed are the Minister of Defence (State), Erelu Olusola Obada who wrote in red: "Here to commiserate with the good people of Iloko- Ijesha , the chiefs and the family of our dear Kabiyesi on his passing into glory. Kabiyesi will forever be remembered for turning Iloko into Eldorado, for the gift of Olashore International School, the Model Secondary School and other great things he did for this town. He will also be remembered for his service to Nigeria as Secretary of Finance after having been Managing Director of First Bank. An astute banker and philanthropist, a lover of people, caring and always understanding .We shall all miss Kabiyesi dearly .May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace."
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II sent representatives who wrote on his behalf "The heartfelt sympathy of His Imperial Majesty and condolence to the family and all the people of Iloko in particular and Ijesa land in general is hereby delivered. May his soul rest in peace. Amen"

In his own condolence message Dr. Tunji Abayomi wrote "My Dear Sir, if you can hear the voice of my wife Foluke and mine you will shriek at our voice of our gratitude.You inspired my wife to go into nursing where she became a national leader.You gave to me [your in law]the confidence of relationship. You were worried about Nigeria’s condition …. It’s tough to say bye bye, Kabiyesi. O digba, o digbere, o doju ala. Sunre o."
One of the community elders, Pa Amos Owoeye (73) said the ancient town has lost a rare gem, he lamented over the demise of the monarch and declared: "Araba tree has fallen. His death is painful. We are all mourning for him and mourning for the town too. The late monarch was very close to the old and young. He rescued us from slavery. Before now this place was a thick bush and for a person who had travelled far and wide to decide to come and settle and invest here is not easy. We pray we have such a person again.’’
The breaking of a long tradition

Prince Tunde Olashore ,75 ,who is the immediate younger brother to the late monarch could not hide his feelings and that of the royal family at what he called a betrayal of custom with the announcement of the monarch’s demise shortly after it occurred. He said this was not in tune with Yoruba culture and the status of the monarch. He blamed the leakage of the news on one security man (a Nigerian) who works in the hospital in London where the late monarch died. According to him, "While I was hiding the news of his death from the people in order to follow the rules and culture of Yoruba land, a man [ names withheld ] who is a Yoruba man and works in the hospital where my late brother died called people and posted it on the internet. I expected it to be announced after seven days. It was very painful that the news broke out and the media got wind of it, though they were very careful to disclose their source." He expressed regrets that modernity has eroded our cherished culture. "Our culture is dying and it is painful, our children cannot speak Yoruba language again, this is bad for our culture."

He said way back in 1989 when their father who was also the monarch joined his ancestors this was kept secret for about two weeks!

Palace after the demise of the monarch

When The Nation visited last week, the palace was virtually empty. The royal stool was empty while all the chairs once occupied by the chiefs were vacant. The vast palace was devoid of activities.

No trumpets were blown to wake up the king he had slept the eternal sleep! All the security officers were mournful while the chiefs no longer met in the palace, as they were busy preparing for the burial. There were a handful of security officers at the gate to ensure security of the palace.

The race for the next king

Though the little town is still mourning the loss of the great monarch, the search for a suitable successor has begun. There are indications that one of the late monarch’s sons may join the race. There are four ruling houses in Iloko. These are: Ajagbusi Ekun, Eyebiokin , Agusuoogun and Alatise.

A source in the palace praised the late monarch for his contributions to the development of the town. Prince Eyebiokin Iloko Ijesa who is from one of the ruling houses said the kingmakers would decide who will be the next king. He said Oba Eyebiokin Akijo who died in 1949 was succeeded by the late Oba Olashore [the father of the recently deceased monarch], who also succeeded his father.

He added "I must confess that there is no controversy over who would be king here since we have ruling houses and all the ruling houses had ruled at one time or another."

According to him, before a new monarch is picked "the town will still consult the Ifa oracle while Christians will pray" He said none of the four ruling houses is ruled out of the contest to choose a new king. "We have the chieftaincy committee called kingmakers of 14 people which I am the head. By the time we are ready or by the time people showed interest we would know. Nobody showed interest when the late Oba came in, he did not show interest. We started going to the ruling houses asking them to send people and then we would screen."

On what it would take to succeed a king with such a larger than life reputation and track records, he said "Whoever wants to come out must have sterling qualities. One that is educated not necessarily a Phd holder. Now, it is even tougher he (the late Olashore) had taken it to higher level. Somebody who will ascend it must be able to develop the town, he must not necessarily be a millionaire, but must be able to develop the town, do something for himself, for his immediate family, and be a philanthropist."

Burial arrangements

The time, how and where the monarch is going to be buried are yet to be disclosed. While some said he would be buried in his palatial white house located inside the town a few others said he might be buried in the palace courtyard where his ancestors were buried according to tradition. But here the question of Christianity and tradition comes up. Will he be buried according to tradition? Prince Eyebiokin, who is also the mouthpiece of the kingmakers and the community, said the late monarch will be buried according to both Christian and the traditional rites. "We don’t tell the exact date he would be buried, that is why it’s part of the mystery. It is not fetish. The mystery is when he would be buried not everybody will be there but the children will be there, you cannot keep the children away. The seven days of mourning has ended. He was a Christian and they will take control and later the traditional rites will be performed’’

Since he was very close to the late monarch, he was asked what he thinks the late monarch would like to be his epitaph, he said, "I remember that during a television interview with him about three years ago , he was asked what he wanted to be remembered for , he said to the reporter he would remember that he had a three-hour interview with him! If read the condolence register you will see what the people say about him, this is an open testimony of what he had done for them in life."

High Chief Sola Ogunsanya who is the second in command said, "I am the acting Oba when a monarch passes on. All the duties he was doing like the head of the community, Council of chiefs, head of the king makers have been passed to me. There is nothing like burying 10, 20 people along with the Oba, there is nothing like that."

A walk through the town showed in such awe Oba Olashore was held and loved by his people. There is no doubt that he was a modern builder of Iloko who brought the little town not only to national limelight but international recognition.

Regent Ogunsanya

Who will occupy this throne?