By Remi Oyeyemi
“Where men are forbidden to honour a king, they honour millionaires, athletes, or film-stars instead: even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison.”
― C.S. Lewis
Dignity, for those who know what it means, is an essential, indispensable attribute of an Oba in Yoruba land.
It is the definition of bearing and carriage. It is the connotation of conduct. It means speaking in a manner indicative of self-respect that exemplifies the gravity of the office. It is the natural elucidation of royalty. It explicates the essence of majesty. It nobilitates kingship’s nobility. It edifies our aristocracy. It exalts the throne.
When Timi Adesola Lawal Laminisa (I) speaks, substance seeps through. He drips depth. He transudes wisdom. He secretes serenity and solidity. He emits a pervasive aura of calmness. He is collected. He radiates and fosters inimitable confidence.
As a matter of course, Timi Adesola Lawal Laminisa (1) engenders pride. Pride in the institution. Pride in our culture. Pride in our heritage. Pride in our history. He commands respect. He did not have to demand it. He enkindles patriotism. He effectuates love and loyalty. He is a source of inspiration.
Now, to the above, add a sparkling sense of justice and fairness. The patience of a dove to dig into the issues and establish that which is the truth in a particular situation to ensure non-miscarriage of justice. The calm mien that cocoons the courage exuded with succulence is conspicuously tranlucent.
The descendant of Timi Agbale Olofa Ina sitting on the revered Ede stool right now, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Nurudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa (I), is an exemplar of all that is majestic and royale. He is a natural. He knows how to be king.
He walks and talks like a king. He acts like a king. Obviously, he thinks like a king. Royalty is written all over him. He is so majestic that one becomes enamoured. He is so magisterial and magnificent. The exuded resplendence is permeating. He is charming and captivating. In fact, and indeed, I am ensorcelled by His Majesty.
He is conscious of the enormous responsibility that is placed on his shoulders. He is not oblivious of the fact that his people are looking up to him to give true leadership. He has a sense of history. He has a sense of heritage. It is self-evident that he wants to live up to expectations and the standard set by his ancestors.
You won’t find him in untoward places. He is not like some so-called traditional rulers always found at parties, whether befitting or not. Not like some so-called traditional rulers who have been humiliating our culture and our heritage and our history. He does not gallivant all over. He comprehends the value of self-respect.
He does not speak anyhow whether in public or private. He has the prerequisite discipline to be on that throne. He does not go to where he is not invited. Even, when he is invited, the event must be very serious to command his physical attendance or that of his representatives.
He is very dignified. He knows and understands the meaning of DIGNITY. This imbues all his actions and his carriage. His demeanor. His comportment. His appearance. His attitude. And the way and manner he speaks. When he does speak, his words are chosen and uttered with utmost restraint with tinges of amazing humility embedded with certainty and firmness. Yes, with a kingly authority.
Having witnessed Oba Adesola Lawal Laminisa (I) as Timi-In Council, I can attest to his integrity. He values the need to be above board always. The need to ensure that justice is done and very swiftly too. He does not prevaricate on fairness. He does not dilly-dally or shilly-shally on matters of justice. He would never give what belongs to Aina to Ojo. Or what belongs to Taye to Kehinde.
He is a thorough Yoruba king through and through. He has a very clear idea about his roles and responsibilities. He is not one of those who are emir today and Eze tomorrow. There is an aura of contentment in his Court. There is restraint and discipline around him. He sets the pace and shows leadership by example.
An academic who began his educational trajectory from L. A. Primary School, Obada, Ede. He started his secondary education at the famous Baptist High School, Ede and completed it at the Ogbomosho Grammar School, Ogbomosho. He was at the Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo, Bayero University, Kano, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also attended Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, College of Production Management, Lagos, and the University of Ibadan College of Medicine.
A consummate tutor, he taught at Timi Agbale Grammar School, Ede; Government Secondary School, Buni Yadi; Baptist High School, Ede; Moremi High School, Ile-Ife and Oba Laoye Grammar School, Ede. He was a lecturer at the Iree Polytechnic before coming to sit on the throne of his forefathers.
A prolific author he has published ten books including Basic Mathematics for Schools and Colleges (1996), Further Mathematics for School and Colleges (1996), Business Mathematics, Book 1 (1998), Business Statistics Book 1 (2000) Business Statistics, Book II (2000), Business Mathematics Book II (2000), Research Methodology (2001), Quantitative Analysis for Management Studies (2004), Business Statistics Book 1, 3rd Edition (2004) and Business Statistics Book II, 3rd Edition (2004).
He occupied many leadership positions at Iree Polytechnic as Acting Dean, Faculty of Management Studies. At various times he was Acting Head of Department; Member, Disciplinary Committee; Member, Environmental Planning Committee; Member, Publication Committee; Co-ordinator, NDPT Programme for Business & Marketing and Elected Member of Board of Studies (BOS).
Kabiyesi who is a Member, Nigeria Institute of Production Management (MNIPM), Member, Nigeria Certified Institute of Maintenance Management (MNCMN), Graduate Member, Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (GNITD), has also received an Honourary Doctorate Degree of Public Administration and Leadership from Adeleke University, Ede. He has also received Merit award Federal Government of Nigeria for General High Academic Performance, Department of Library Studies, Bayero University, Kano; Fellow Federal Polytechnic, Ede (Convocation Ceremony) and Distinguished Royal Father Award from the Redeemer’s University, Ede.
Oba (Dr.) Nurudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa (I), is the twenty first Timi of Ede. He is occupying a revered stool that have been dignified by distinguished predecessors like Timi Agbale Olofa Ina himself who by dint of bravery, courage, service, and loyalty gave us what we have today in Ede.
There have been Timi Laokun, Timi Lamodi, Timi Lalemon, Timi Alale, Timi Oniyito, Timi Oyefi, Timi Lasiyi, Timi Kubolaje Agbonran, Timi Bamigbaye Ajenju, Timi Ojo Arohanran, Timi Abibu Lagunju, Timi Olunloye, Timi Lamisebe, Timi Masunloye, Timi Oyenekan, Timi Ipinoye, and Timi Sanusi Akangbe.
Timi Sanusi Akangbe was succeeded by Timi John Adetoyese Laoye who brought fame and special adoration to the stool with his skills in the Yoruba talking drum, both at home and abroad. He was widely respected and celebrated.
He was succeeded by Timi Tijani Oladokun Agbonran (II) who was also a very dignified traditional ruler. A stickler for justice and fairness too. An incorrigible propagator of tradition and culture. Memories of my relationship with him brings forth a flood of nostalgia. He knew how to be king too. I am comforted by the idea that kings in Yoruba land never die. Aja ni nwon wo.
The incumbent, Kabiyesi Timi Adesola Lawal Laminisa (I), is very conscious of his history and his roles to foster positivity on that stool. He has many role models to copy. But he is essentially his own person, as he stamps his imprimatur on the stool. Dignity. Discipline. Self-restraint. Self-respect. Love of his people. Always calm, controlled, collected, and cool.
The people of Ede land are very lucky with successive well tutored, fitting Timis who are very distinguished, noble in character and imbued with a sense of responsibility embedded in their respect and love for their history, heritage as in tradition, culture, and the well-being of their subjects.
The people of Ede are lucky not to have frivolous elements on the stool of their forefathers. They are lucky not to have barmy and toddleric clowns on their stool. The people of Ede have every reason to thank their stars that the Timis have not been prankish, whimsical, and elvish like some unlucky sections of Yoruba land burdened with confused, comical, lousy elements who do not know what it means to be an Oba.
Oba Nurudeen Adesola Lawal Laminisa (I) is an exemplar of royalty. A wonderful monarch. He represents the essence of our tradition and culture. He is integrity personified. He is an epitome of dignity. He is a paragon of eminence. An apotheosis of a Yoruba Oba in all ramifications. He is a natural. He knows how to be king. May his reign endure for long.
Kabiyesi o
Ki Ade pe l’ori
Ki Bata pe l’ese
Ki Akun pe l’orun
Ki Irukere o d’okinni
Ki Esin Oba o j’oko pe o. Ase
By Remi Oyeyemi
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