*A 50th Coronation Anniversary Tribute to Alaafin Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, Adeyemi 111, by Oloye Lekan Alabi
Above is a Yoruba cautionary saying that subjects may embrace Kings, and at the same time, keep a safe distance from their Imperial Majesties. The catchword in the above saying is that closeness to power/authority should not lead/breed familiarity.
Every Yorubaman/woman of royal/aristocratic backgrounds knows and keeps strictly to the above double-edge advice.
Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, Adeyemi 111, yesterday formally began the 4-day long “downplayed” celebrations of his 50 years on the revered throne of his royal forefathers. The celebrations will, according to Kabiyesi’s Protocol Officer, climax on Thursday,14th January, this year. Long live the Alaafin.
I humbly cherish the honour of the royal father and son relationship that Kabiyesi Alaafin has graciously allowed, over the years, to grow between his Imperial Majesty and my humble self.
In 1962, my late uncle, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Kolapo Alabi, hoisted our family flag on the soil of Oyo Alaafin, as the founding Dealer of the former TEXACO (now MRS) PETROL FILLING STATION, Akesan Market, Oyo.
In the early 60’s, the station was the third landmark, after the Alaafin Palace and the Atiba Hall, in the Akesan Quarters of Oyo. And what a privilege it was, and still is, to be tagged to the name Alabi Elepo Texaco.
The Alabis have since grown from the Akesan Market Texaco petrol station fame to Durbar and Kosobo GRA, Oyo Residents/Landlords Association, moreso the IBADAN DESCENDANTS UNION arm.
As stated above, Kabiyesi Iku Baba Yeye, on getting to the exalted throne of the Alaafin in January 1971, has been kind and gracious to the Alabis, my humble self as our torchbearer from my years as the Press Secretary to four (one civilian and three) former Governors of old Oyo State between 1983 and 1989.
I shall let sleeping dogs lie, by keeping silent on the long-drawn battles, over the permanent Chairmanship position of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, between the Alaafin and two of the four Governors whose Press Secretary I was. It is a war better left out of Kabiyesi’s golden coronation celebrations. Moreover, the matter is still in court.
We celebrate with Kabiyesi Alaafin on this landmark celebration. Ki ade pe lori, ki bata pe lese. Ase.
*Alabi is the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland
