Encomium
A foremost business man and author, Dr. Michael Ajayi, on Tuesday, July 3, 2014, was anonymously chosen by the Arowotawaya ruling dynasty of Erinmo-Ijesha, Osun State, and accepted by the kingmakers as their new monarch. Considering the honour and love accorded by his people, Oba Michael Odunayo Ajayi was crowned the new Elerinmo of Erinmo-Ijesha by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday, August 6, 2013. In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly’s Joshua Shobiye, the new monarch revealed so much about the city as many believed it’s the Jerusalem of Nigeria and much more…
We congratulate Your Majesty on ascending the throne of your fathers.
Thank you very much and to God Almighty be the glory because God is the King of kings.
Your Royal Highness, please, was there a premonition before your coronation?
I will say there was a premonition even before I was born. Erinmo is a great town with very potent spiritual mountains and people, hence my ascension to the throne had been foretold. Also, even my mother had been told by a total stranger even when she was a maiden. However, no one knew what the exact plans of God was, hence as a kid growing up it was never in my mind. Though I knew and my mother kept drumming it in my ears that I will be great and famous, I never knew it will come to pass in this manner. Indeed, the ways of God are a mystery to man.
We learnt it was a general agreement of the Arowotawaya Royal House for you to emerge the new Elerinmo of Erinmo Ijesha. Who are your contenders and what was it that made them surrender to you?
By the historical succession arrangement in Erinmo according to the native law and custom, it was the turn of the Arowotawaya ruling house to produce the next king, hence at the demise of my father, Olubowale Ajayi (who was one of the brightest lights from Erinmo, being the first Nigerian university graduate from the ancient town of Erinmo and becoming the most supportive to Erinmo indigenes in several ways), a meeting of all members of our ruling house was called where it was unanimously decided to present my name as the sole candidate for the vacant stool of the Elerinmo at that time. This was then sent to the kingmakers to validate. Again, there was a resounding support from the kingmakers who then forwarded my name to be approved by the local and state government. I will like to add that this choice was already pre-empted by the overwhelming demand for me by the vast majority of the Erinmo people who had made up their mind that it was either me or no one else. All that time, while it wasn’t in my own agenda that I will be king but seeing the kind of love and affection showed to me by my people, I realised that I needed to rise up to the occasion and fulfill the yearnings of my people by accepting to be king.
Your Highness, was there any contribution you made to the Erinmo Ijesha people that may have led to this honour?
First, let me say that being a good citizen whom your people are proud of is a major contribution. Second, as members of Ajayi family, we have supported our people massively through the empowerment of several indigenes via employment, giving them the opportunity to spread the benefits. Also, through playing a very active role in the development of the town like the setting up of the now moribund community bank which assisted small scale farmers and traders, provision of potable water, donations of books to support pupils. It was my forefather, Arowotawaya, the first who about 1910, provided the first land on which the first church in Erinmo – the Anglican Church started to worship. It was during his reign that the telegram communication system was installed which is what gave birth to the appellation – Arowotawaya bi oyinbo (the rich one who can lay wire like white-man). My late grandfather, Ajayi, was one of the founders of the Christ Apostolic Church in Erinmo and became the first Baba Ijo of the church while his wife and my grandmother became the first Iya Ijo. My late father was no doubt one of the foremost people from the town and was honoured as the Asiwaju which translates to foremost leader. There are many others too numerous to mention. The fact is that this is the will of God because unless the Lord builds the house, the labourers laboureth in vain.
It is believed that your ascension would bring you closer to your people. Your Highness, what are things you are getting to know better now from the people of Erinmo Ijesha?
My ascension to the throne of my forefathers has placed a heavy responsibility on me, because being king is not something anyone can be fully prepared for. Also, at this time in history, the expectations of people from their king are enormous. I have come to appreciate why my people wished me to be king, prayed fervently for me to be king and worked tirelessly for me to be king. The summary of this is that Erinmo, a well-known ancient town needs to regain all its lost glory. Erinmo, the same town that produced a great man of God like Prophet Abiara needs to become a more modern town with vast infrastructural development, increase in commercial activities, youth and women empowerment, introduction of mechanised farming and many more too numerous to mention. All I dream or think about now is how to develop Erinmo and please my people. And I know, with God, all things are possible and I will leave an indelible mark in the annals of the history of Erinmo, in Jesus name. Amen.
Were there any challenges you faced in your early days on the throne?
Certainly. The first is how to adapt to living in a totally different environment. Second is getting a grip of the raw Ijesa dialect, appreciating the culture of my people vis a vis modernisation and coping with the need to attend to several people and issues on a daily basis. Indeed, I am now on a 24hours work schedule, but to the glory of God, I have been receiving all the support I need as well as guidance.
Surely, your people will have high hopes for certain development that would happen in the town because of your affluence and influence. What is your take on that?
My take is that God will meet my people’s expectation through me. I am ready, willing and able to work to develop my town and make it great. I have travelled virtually all over the world and I know what obtains there. It is my wish to make Erinmo the envy of other towns in Nigeria and no doubt the potentials are there and willingness is there too. As king I will use all my vast contacts, experience and energy to lift my people up to achieve their best.
Your Highness, what fond memories do you have of Erinmo while growing up?
Though, I didn’t spend much time as a kid in Erinmo, I could recall how cold and chilly the weather was and still is. I recall how as a kid you have to prostrate when elders are passing by even if not so close to you, I recall listening to tales by the moonlight from my late grandmother who always interjected her speech with prayers, how I teased my father when I saw the primary school he attended and many great memories.
What are the fond memories you have of your late father? And what are those things you’ve learnt from him that will now help you in your royal duties?
My father, late Asiwaju Joseph Olubowale Ajayi was indeed a great and unique man. As his first child, I had his fatherly affection, strict discipline, fervent prayers and more. I recall my father could recite virtually all the Psalms in the Bible off hand nonstop, hence the daily prayer session at home especially at night could go on and on. I recall how he took me to the Bar Beach in Victoria Island, and asked me to see the wonderful works of God because no one could understand the mystery of the ocean, or count the sands of the sea. This particularly made me appreciate God even more. I recall how he taught me how to knot a tie even before I was 10, how he was always happy with my school result, especially in Mathematics, and he will say, ‘I know you will be a genius and all rounded because your mother is good in English while and I am good in Maths hence you have taken both qualities’. He was a man who loved Erinmo, lived for Erinmo and ultimately died for Erinmo. He had the love of Erinmo at heart and would go out of his way to help any Erinmo indigene in need. He kept on drumming it in my ears that Erinmo must play a prominent role in my plans; hence he was always glad whenever I had cause to be in the media or writing some books and I make reference to Erinmo. He taught me to love and appreciate Erinmo, he taught me the administrative discipline of keeping records and being thorough. He always had a book or diary with a pen beside him and I have imbibed this attribute to the glory of God. I am lucky to have an iconic, well educated, loving, honest and affectionate person like him as father.
What are the cultural values that distinguish the town?
Erinmo is a town whose historical antecedents are linked directly to the cradle of the Yoruba in Ile Ife. It is believed that Erinmo was founded by the third and fifth Ooni of Ife. The name Erinmo is believed to have been formed from the word erinerin which means walk walk used to encourage those who came from Ife and were getting tired of walking then when they decided to settle they used imo, palm fronts to make an abode hence erin – imo or now Erinmo. Erinmo has given birth to many other Erins like Erin Ile, Erin Osun, Erin Oke, Erin Ijesa. Agidayin is the great forefather of Erinmo. Spiritually, Erinmo is a Jerusalem of sort in Nigeria being the place several people come to for prayers on any of the five potent mountains in the town. The king of Erinmo is known as the Elerinmo of Erinmo, who presides over the town with his chiefs for proper administration. The Elerinmo of Erinmo is a king with beaded crown and a first class oba in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. Erinmo is at the border between Osun and Ekiti States. Erinmo is also a transit town through which people can get to several parts of Nigeria including the North as far as Lokoja, Abuja and so on, the East, and other parts of South West Nigeria. Erinmo is a very religious town, hence all major churches has presence in the town – Christ Apostolic Church, the Anglican Communion, Cherubim and Seraphim Church, The Apostolic Church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of Christ and numerous other pentecostal churches. To the glory of God, just a while after my installation the Methodist Church has visited and signified interest in having a presence in Erinmo.
Can we know those tourist attractions in the town?
The most important is the mountains in Erinmo which thousands of people all over the world come to every year. Erinmo offers what can be referred to as spiritual tourism just the same way people go to Jerusalem. Erinmo offers an opportunity for that and those like me who have taken time to climb the mountain will find lots of amazing spiritual signs and points on the mountain like the staff of Moses, the map of Nigeria, and in Rock Power House which is like a sitting room and many more, and God is doing wonderful works on all the mountains in Erinmo.
Many people believe tourism can surpass oil industry in terms of revenue generation…?
No doubt, from experiences around the world, tourism offers the most certain, forever present source of income to any country. While natural resources have a life span in terms of how long they will last, tourism remains forever and it can continuously be passed on from one generation to the other. As a country, Nigeria has huge tourism potentials which the advent of crude oil exploration has put in the back burner. I am happy that Erinmo offers one of such unique tourism potentials, and we look forward to seeing more interest from the government in this direction. We also hope that one day Erinmo will be acknowledged as a UN world heritage centre.
How are you combining royal duties, business and family matters?
Family is an on-going responsibility, business is a source of income but being a monarch supersedes that. And at the moment, my royal duties, which in my own understanding is God ordained, is paramount. I will need to stabilise on it and get it going because this is a responsibility that carries the hopes and aspirations of an entire people, hence this demands more attention from me and my entire family.
What is your view on the political representation of the town in Osun State government?
The Osun State governor is a very transparent, diligent, dynamic administrator with uncommon qualities for fairness and grassroots development. As a people, I am proud that an Erinmo indigene is the honourable member of the House of Representatives representing the Obokun/Oriade constituency. We definitely expect more involvement of Erinmo people at the local, state and federal government level.
How does your royal majesty deal with disappointment?
Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise. God is not an author of failure or disappointment, so there is a reason for everything that happens to any human being. What you lose in the corner, you might get much more at the roundabout. And we should remember life isn’t a bed of roses.
What satisfaction has your majesty been experiencing in your duties since ascension?
Several. First, the joy of how my people are happy to see me on the throne. Also, the overwhelming response to my clarion call to all Erinmo indigenes home and abroad is heart-warming, the youths are better organised, the women hardworking and the men remain agile. It’s glorious. It is an opportunity to be king over my people. The opportunity to work with and learn from the experiences of great kings like our royal father, his imperial majesty, the Ooni of Ife, the cradle and source of the Yoruba race and his majesty the Owa Adimula of Ijeshaland. These monarchs are old, enlightened, experienced, knowledgeable and have both received me cordially, hence I will tap into their wisdom to improve my versatility.
Many people are watching keenly on what would become of the town under your rule, what would you want them to look out for?
I have no doubt that God is at work in Erinmo and my installation is a major sign of that. Erinmo will soon be the cynosure of all eyes by the grace of God and with the support of the government and my people, Erinmo will witness tremendous growth in infrastructure, human capital development, harnessing the huge tourism potentials, youth and women empowerment, peace and stability by the grace of God Almighty. The reality of today’s world is that the development of rural areas is the catalyst to stem rural urban migration and also a means of spreading development across all parts of the country. This is clear from the examples of the Asian tigers as the most developed countries in Asia are referred to, 80% of their development is sited in and from the small rural towns. This is the case with two most populated countries in the world – China and India, it’s time Nigeria takes a cue from that developmental template.
Let me also use this opportunity to invite all sons and daughters of Erinmo-Ijesa home and abroad as well as our friends and associates to join us as we commence our journey into new glorious era with the Erinmo Day 2014 slated for Saturday, December 27, 2014. Thank you for the opportunity accorded me and I like to say on a final note, that, Erinmo is ready for serious investors in all segments. We have arable land, we have needs for growth and development, we have huge potentials that need to be harnessed, skilled and unskilled labour, warm and very receptive people. Hence, I assure all investors of adequate quick return on their investment in Erinmo – Ijesa. God bless you.
