The Deji of Akure and the Akure Council of Chiefs and Akure sons and daughters at home and abroad must now be concerned about why Akure has had to bury more than 3 Olisas in less than 10 years.
I hate to be or sound like an alarmist or a Devil’s advocate on this observation, but I see a compelling reason to draw our peoples attention to the observation and to the sad news following the tragic announcement of the passing of another Olisa from the Ogelemodu Ruling House of Ulisa in Akure the State Capital a few days ago.
It will be recalled that the shortest- reigning Olisa that I can recall as an Akure Historian in my more than 80 years in this world was Olisa Oluwatuyi the First who had reigned, I believe it was, for less than a year.
He was succeeded by his son Pa Kole Oluwatuyi the Second and the first educated Olisa in Akure History.
Olisa Oluwatuyi the Second fondly nicknamed “Olisa Abejoye” because he was begged and persuaded by my grandfather Deji Afunbiowo Adesida the First 1897-1957 who never went to school but had become the longest reigning Deji for 60 years on the throne
He became the pioneer architect of the golden century of Akure History from 1897 to 1997 and Beyond as documented in his authorized Biography written by me and published in 2007 by International Publishers of Ibadan and launched at the Federal University of Technology Akure on December 19, 2007. and for the international Community at the Queen’s Campus of the City University of New York on September 13, in 2008.
Olisa Oluwatuyi the Second had survived for a few years out of the long reign of my grandfather and for the 16 years and 23 days of Deji Ademuagun Adesida the Second from 1957 to 1973 and for another 16 years of Deji Otutubiosun Adelegan Adesida the Third from 1975 to 1991 and for a few years out of the 8 years of Deji Ataiyese Adebobajo Adesida the 4th from 1991 to 1999 thus making a total of close to 40 years or more for him Kole Oluwatuyi the Second as the Olisa of Akure.
Between that 1993?and now a period of 30 years Akure has had no less than 4 Olisas namely Olisa Elijah Folorunsho David a Lieutenant Colonel who left a legacy of public probity and patriotism and discipline Akure would not forget in a hurry .
He was my childhood friend and my favorite In-law.
He was followed by dynamic and colorful gentlemen Engineer Olisa James Raymond Olusoga who died in a motor accident and two other worthy individuals including the latest Olisa Olubodun whose death has just been announced again in less than 3 years. I take off my hat to salute all of them
Akure under my grandfather has had a similar experience in reference to the Sashere Olowu Opotopata title of Eruoba Quarters in Akure where Akure had lost too many Sasheres in sequential order for a reason that nobody could explain at the time.
My grandfather a great Ifa Oracler had to consult Ifa Oracle on what to do to arrest the situation.
Ifa had advised him to pick somebody outside the main stream of those entitled to take the title based on Heredity alone
That was how my grandfather had decided to install Sashere Gidi , one of his favorite Palace Servants to become the Sashere who had survived for more than 30 years on the stool.
Sashere Gidi was survived by Sashere Robert Akesogie Agbayewa the first Ado Akure son whose mother was born in Akure but his father was an Idoani man in Ose or Ireakari Local Government of Ondo State.
After Sashere Agbayewa was murdered in cold blood in the open Revolution that had followed the Akin Omoboriowo rigging of the Governorship elections on August 16, 1983. Deji Otutubiosun had picked another illustrious son from the Sashere Ilesanmijode and Ofokunrinakata ya lineage in Pa Oluwaleimu to succeed Agbayewa before the current Sashere another Ado Akure man Chief Olu Edo, a good friend of mine and a highly educated man and alumnus of the great Aquinas College, Akure was picked.
The point I am making with this submission is that the time has come for Akure Native Authorities led by Kabiyesi Oba Bankole Aladelusi Ogunlade Odundun the Second who has joyfully marked his 10th year Anniversary on the throne but who, in 10 short years, has already installed and buried two Olisas in quick succession.
I am not blaming the Kabiyesi or his Council of Chiefs for anything. I am only doing my civic duty and making an important observation while extending my heartfelt condolences to the families of those individuals who have come and gone but have served our beloved Capital to the best of their abilities.
Our highly respected Kabiyesi might need to consult with his Akure Council of Chiefs to consult our “Esudale” and to find out what can be done to minimize the rate of Recidivism we have all observed or noticed in reference to the Olisa Title in the State Capital.
I raise this point not to criticize or blackmail anyone.
I raise the point as a Historian by training and certification and as one of the many grandsons of Deji Afunbiowo Adesida the First and as a Prince raised in the Deji’s Palace and as a one time Secretary to the only Asodeboyede Ruling House of Akure before it was broken into two by a Decree signed into Law by Military Governor Navy Captain Sunday Olukoya on December 12 , 1991.
I know that my grandfather and his Council of Chiefs would have seen a compelling reason to do something to stop the frequent and incessant death of title holders in a very important Ogelemodu Ruling House of a prestigious Chieftaincy Dynasty in Akure.
“If you see something, say something” does not only apply as a way to minimize the pervasive problems of Insecurity in Nigeria.
If we notice the kind of development that has informed my decision to write this article, we all must do something.
We all must not keep quiet for all it takes for Evil to triumph in any society is for good people to see evil, and to look the other way.
It is part of our civic responsibilities to just not keep quiet or do nothing.
Long live the Deji of Akure and long live all of the members of the Akure Council of Chiefs and Akure sons and daughters at home and abroad.
I rest my case.
Omo Oba Dr. Wumi Akintide writes from New York
