Kabiyesi, Oore of Otun (Mobaland), HRM Oba Adedapo Popoola Odundun I, I salute you as you joined your Ancestors. I may have erred by joining the people to discuss a matter that is yet to be officially announced according to tradition of the people. I may have also erred by keeping silent when the deeds have been done and there is no means of reversal.
I know that I am not in a position to commend or critique a King as an individual or a Yoruba subject. It is not in our culture. However, as a doctoral Scholar and expert in the field of history and politics of traditional institutions in Ekitiland and by extension in Yorubaland, someone who encountered many Kings to interrogate and inquire into their status and role within the context of modern government and politics, I am in a position to say one or two things here.
Kabiyesi, I am neither from Moba or Otun, but I must pay due respect to your cherished memory despite the communal differences and historical controversies that brew between you and my principality and even your role in the affairs of the State that nearly displaced my loving Monarch, the Ewi, in times past. We must live above board irrespective of our differences and self interest.
Kabiyesi, I cannot keep mute when I have reasons to commend any positive development because I have engaged you in deep intellectual discuss in the course of my Doctoral studies. Indeed, you are one of the few brilliant and highly intelligent royalty whi ascended the thrones of your forebears in Ekitiland.
In our various discussions, you were very much heartwarming and assertive and very convincing in your views and posture even when I engage you with archival materials and historical counter claims to underline your position and views. You were very strategic, diplomatic and consistent in promoting the Moba hegemony and the history of your supremacy within the context of Ekiti Confederacy since the Kiriji Era.
We had our different perspectives to Ekiti history and particularly the position of other senior Ekiti Obas of which Ewi and Elekole holds away and of which Ajero and Alara also lay claims to importance from the Ifa tranches and origin of the Ekitiland in Yoruba cosmology.
What stand you out in all our encounters was your vast knowledge of history which you used cleverly and undauntedly to your advantage at every moment of our banters even when it has limited degree of acceptability and legitimacy going by the overall traditions of Ekiti people whether captured by Colonial intelligence report, Chieftaincy Panel reports and other historical excursions of Ekiti and Yoruba history with reference to Ade Ajayi, Akintoye, Oguntuyi, Adeloye, Olaoba, Olomola, Babatola and the rest.
What more do I have to say, Kabiyesi, everyone has an appointed time. All we should do is to do well. You have transcend the earthly and astral State to the terrestrial and you have joined the heavenly train. I pray for the repose of your soul and shall continue to cherish my personal encounter with you. To me, I am full of admiration for you owing to your sense of humour, irredentist views on historical assertions and references and your brilliant eloquence and self confidence even when it’s an amusing departure from objective treatise of Ekiti tradition and my slight indignation for sceptical and controversial historical tours.
May God grant you a place in the reserve of Kings eternally, Amen.
Ekiti has lost another brilliant and very articulate Oba. The last was HRM Oba Justice Ajakaye, the Oluyin, a worthy jurist and amiable ruler, someone who is accessible and supportive to the Ewi throne and his kinsmen at Ado-Ekiti as much as Iyin could be.
We all have a price to pay in the end. Adieu.
