Ijesaland is not an easy kingdom to rule. It is populated by assertive elites and a people who value autonomy above deference. To be Ijesa is to prefer leading over being led.
No Oba escapes the politics – ‘Ijesatology’. Each one contends with palace intrigues and competing interests. Those around the throne typically do one of two things: undermine the Oba to control him or use him to enrich themselves. Late Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran faced the same reality. His reign drew controversy because he carried the weight of his subjects’ excesses.
Two things saved his monarchy: energy and discipline. In his early years, he was permissive. Palace decisions rarely survived the palace gates. ‘A’ would be said inside, and ‘B’ would be practiced outside. His blind spot was simple. He did not know much about the town and the people, but he survived. Many Ijesas wish the king ill over issues he is not even aware of. While others thrive in bad behavior, he was busy building the people from the grassroots up.
The moment he stood firm, they labeled Aromolaran tough, proud, and dictatorial. Only those of us at home in Ijesaland know what it really takes to lead our people. You do not govern Ijesa with softness alone. Sadly, late understanding, old age, and failing health robbed us of the full blessing of the late Oba Aromolaran.
If you like Oba Clement, send my article to him. If you love him, read it to his ears. I am not a prophet of doom. I am a watchman. Those who listen to warnings, will stand. Those who don’t, will learn the hard way. Right now, a small cabal has cornered the palace of Owa Obokun Adimula. Their plan is clear: make Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Ajimoko III a paper tiger. They wear the mask of loyalty in public, but behind the scenes they are cutting down the king’s power, voice, and authority.
Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Ajimoko III did not bypass the sacred rites. He did not pick a calabash of pepper in the inner chamber, and he missed none of the important traditional rites. Yet his reign so far has been defined by rage, blood and fury. Over 20 people were murdered in cold blood across Ijesaland over a poll none of his natives contested.
Oba Clement is influential, well-connected, exposed, educated, and widely respected. In all of Osun, there is no Oba who matches Owa Ajimoko III in exposure, connections, experience, and personal means. He is soft-spoken, not pompous. He is not a noise-maker. He is comfortably secure and does not need the validation of any man.
But there is one truth about ‘Ajao’: his reach is longer than his grasp. As influential as Owa-Obokun was, he was not deeply rooted at the grassroots. And in Ijesaland, identity matters. You cannot steer the affairs of Ijesa people without knowing the faces behind the names of every key stakeholder. That was the gap, and some subjects took advantage of it.
After his coronation, he needed people who understood protocols, names, and faces. He placed his trust in his inner circle and close appointees. It appears that trust has been broken. An aide, a she, a chief of staff, who is running the palace like a king. Eewo! The one who wears the crown, must dictate for others to follow.
When I first heard about the “Ilaselization of the Owa-Obokun Adimula Palace,” I dismissed it as rumor. ‘Ilase’ is a very small town. No pronounced secondary school, no general hospital, no tertiary institution. The power supply is poor and irregular. The palace itself is a modest bungalow. In Obokun LGA, Ilase is not widely recognized. Among the Obas of Ijesa North, it carries little weight.
Yet the rumors kept growing. People say Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Ajimoko III is no longer in charge of palace or town affairs. Some even call him a ceremonial king, and claim that “Ilase people” and a few subjects are acting as prime ministers. I did not ignore it. I investigated.
Are you aware that Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Ajimoko III walked out on a prominent Ilase son for misconduct? That son erred. He used reckless, dangerous, and criminal language in front of the palace while addressing his followers. Every responsible person condemned him. He got angry. In Ijesaland, many elders are not used to correction because they speak with arrogance and are rarely held to account.
Without remorse and without seeking forgiveness, another Ilase native in the monarch’s cabinet influenced a press statement claiming the palace had forgiven him. How do you forgive someone who has not apologized? That action provoked the people, and the king was left to face insults online. The Ilase native who gave undue access to the palace went further. She invited an arrogant Ijesa elder to appease his father, the Owa-Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland and the gods.
He stormed the palace like an antelope. He did not apologize. He looked at the king and his chiefs and gave excuses. He ridiculed the throne and said we should “forget and move on.” The monarch, embarrassed by the display, walked out.
As if that was not enough, another chief, the head of a controversial committee with overbearing members, appeared in a viral video threatening violence and death. He forgot that his office stands for peace, dignity, honor, and integrity. Why would Owa Obokun put such a man in charge of sensitive matters? The people revolt.
Oba Clement suspended the committee in response to the disturbing development. However, suspending the committee is a step, but it is not enough. It looks weak. You don’t burn a house to kill a rat. Every case they handled must be reviewed. That chief must be suspended and punished.
The stool of Owa-Obokun Adimula embodies honor, decorum, and dignity, and it reflects who the Ijesa people are. When his inner circle undermines it, the palace drifts into mediocrity. Oba Clement must now chart a new path, surround himself with responsible hands, and restore the confidence of his people.
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