More Than 30 Irumoles Reside In Akure Palace, We Brought Our Staff Of Office From Ile-Ife – Deji
•By Admin
AKURE – Paramount Ruler and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi on Friday disclosed that there are more 30 deities resident in Akure Palace.
The monarch disclosed this on Friday while addressing newsmen as part of the programmes mapped out for his 10th coronation anniversary in his palace in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Oba Aladelusi disclosed that he and all relevant priests and chiefs make sacrifices to the deities for the peace of the kingdom and unity of the residents both indigenes and nonindegines.
The monarch stated that while emphasising on the need for the people to understand that individuals could pray the Almighty God through what religion they choose to communicate with God.
He said: “You all know me. When the Afobaje called me and asked that will I obey all the traditions in Akure land? I said, yes. And since then, whether it’s isese ooo, we have the House of Esu right here that we do our ritual every nine days.
“We have other 30 irumoles statues in the palace that we go there to pray for peace to reign in Akure and I go with my Awos. I embraced all of them.
“Since I said I will uphold the tradition of this town, I will never deviate. Those who become Christian overnight, I don’t know. But if you want to become a traditional oba in Yoruba land, you must obey all the traditions.
“I worship God, I go to church and mosque but you must do all that is required of you traditionally. I’ve been doing that and I don’t have any regret. Look at me today, God had been hearing my prayers. But most importantly, don’t do evil. even when we go to Esu, we pray for peace.”
Fielding questions on what he’s doing to bring all Akure-speaking communities together, the Deji of Akure Kingdom said: “When I got to the throne 10 years ago, I went to all the Akure division and tell the traditional rulers that we should all come together they should not compete with Deji. It’s just like me competing with Ooni or Alaafin of Oyo, people will just be laughing.
“When we came from Ife, nobody gave Deji staff of office, we brought it from Ife. We were Deji from Ife and we were ruling before governors started. It was the colonial masters that took away the kingship from us. So, Deji has been paramount ruler from Ife.
“When we started, we put Iju, Ogbolu, Ijare and others there, they are the sons of Deji. Now anybody from Akure North or Akure South can’t compete with Deji. God will help us come together. if we have one voice, we will do something better. Akure has the number, if we put our hands together, we will achieve great things.”
Oba Aladelusi emphasised that if all the Akure-speaking communities come together, it would be a possible mission for an indigene of the Akure to be elected as the governor of the state.
He said: “In this country, if your son becomes governor or president, see what Baba Buhari of blessed memories did to Daura. Everybody wants his son to be governor. like I said earlier, there is no unity among Akure-speaking communities. if we have that, we would have been governor long time ago. But the next one, in Jesus name, will be Akure.
“If I say Akure, I mean anybody from whether Akure North, South or Ifedore, all is Akure. This coming one it’s going to be our turn.”
Speaking on his challenges before as sending the throne and in the last ten years of his reign, Oba Aladelusi disclosed that “when they announced me as the next Deji, that shocked me because the second time that I ran, I was the only one that the house nominated.
“But this third time, you know, I took it for granted that it would be the same process. But that really shocked me when I heard the announcement that I was the next Deji.
“For the past 10 years, you know, we have challenges. As in number, we have more than 100 cases now in court. Everywhere, everybody, those who are trying to get our demands, those who say that Deji is not the prescribed authority over this, over that, you know.
“I believe anybody, any community that’s speaking Akure dialect is Akure, If you go to Akure North , Akure South, Ifedore, they all speak Akure. Akure-speaking communities is Akure. and who is the prescribed authority? it has been there from time, I’m not trying to just put myself on top of anybody. It’s just like saying that myself and Baba Ooni are the same, No. So, that’s one of the challenges but God has been taking care of me.”
Oba Aladelusi, however, appreciated the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who approved his selection as the Deji of Akure Kingdom.
He said if the kingmakers selected him and the governor didn’t approve it, it would amount to nullity.
The monarch also appreciated sons and daughters of Akure as well as nonindegines for their support and contribution to the existing peace and development of the kingdom.
•INDEPENDENTNG.