THE JOURNEY TO BUILDING OF ÀỌ̀FIN ÀJẸỌ IN ÙLÁLẸ̀ HAS BEGUN

Tuesday, popularly referred to in Yorùbá cosmology as ọjọ́ ùsẹ́gun ‘victorious day’, March 8, 2022, is unique and historical in Ùlálẹ̀ as the foundation laying ceremony of the Ọ̀dọ̀kọ̀gun’s palace took place with many sons and daughters of Ulale from far and near, religious leaders as well as traditional chiefs led by His Majesty, Ọba S.A. Àìná, Aroyinkẹ́yè, the Òdọ̀kọgun of Ùlálẹ̀ in attendance.

The ceremony kicked off with a short prayer laden with choruses by Rev. Canon Asaolu of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ìlálẹ̣̀. The M.C of the memorable occasion, Mr. Dayọ̀ Jọ́láyẹmí, Principal AGS, Ilalẹ introduced dignitaries at the site after which the Chairman of the Palace Building committee in person of Pastor Sunday Arinde gave a few remarks on how the journey to the building of the palace started and prayed that the Almighty God would translate the dream of the present IDA executive members to a reality. This was followed by the speech of His Majesty, the Ọdọ̀kọgun.

In his opening remarks, Ọba S.A. Àìná thanked God for making the day a reality. He extoled the present IDA executives under the leadership of Prof. Ọladiípọ̀ Ajíbóyè for their vision and mission to have a traditional palace, the reality of which we began to witness that day starting with laying the foundation of the five-bedroom bungalow. He expressed disappointment on the attitude of some of his high chiefs who boycotted the ceremony under the disguise that they were informed lately. He advised members of the community in general to desist from intrigues as in his own words ṣe ni ọ̀tẹ̀ máa ń tẹ ọlọ́tẹ̀ rì ‘intrigues consume its architects’.

The president of Ilalẹ Development Association, Prof Ọladiipọ Ajiboye began his address with a eulogy to the Almighty God with this song:

Ìtẹ̀síwájú lọ̀pá iṣégun

Èyí tí Mośè ṣe létí òkun pupa

Òkun níwájú

Fáráò lẹ́yìn

Òkún pínyà fọ́mọ Ọlọ́run.

He compared the event of the day with what God did to the Israelites when they were to cross the red sea. He asserted that it was the Almighty God who gave the present IDA a breakthrough grace to commence the construction of an ultra-modern palace in the midst of all odds and obstacles. He then paid homage to Kábíyèsí, the Ọ̀dọ̀kọgun Ùlálẹ̀, his high chiefs as well as the Ẹ̀wí in Council, all of whom were conspicuously absent, other traditional chiefs, especially the àgbà ulé Ọsọlọ̀, the elérébí, religious leaders (Christians and Muslims), men and women, young and old for the great day that the Almighty God has made.

He went further that if not for God’s divine intervention, it would have been impossible for people to be there for the event because of wrong, misleading and slanderous information that they have been fed with. Prof Ajiboye gave a brief history of the community tracing the founder to Aganjú who was said to have established Ùlálẹ̀ at the same time that the founder of Òkè-ùlá established it.

He moved to the issue of the significance of palace in Yorùbá land claiming that from available facts, there are two types of palaces. On the one hand is the more popular àọ̀fin àjẹọ̀ ‘permanent palace’ where a designated location harbors a palace usually built by the entire community. It is there that a reigning ọba lives and administers his people and when he joins his ancestors he is buried there besides his predecessors. The other palace type is the àọ̀fin àjẹsúlẹ-ọni ‘personal palace’ where an individual who becomes a king uses his personal house as the palace.

Following from this information, Professor Ajiboye went further to say that it is not a stigma that Ùlálẹ̀ from time immemorial had no permanent palace. However, according to him, considering the concept of ọmọlúàbí, it is high time the community provided a permanent palace so that wealth or riches would not be a determining factor to ascending the throne.

He also admonished all sons and daughters of the community to join hands together for the success of the project instead of participating in intrigues that can only divide us.

He reiterated that the issue of palace should not be politicized bearing in mind that the stool of Ọ̀dọ̀kọgun is for the entire community not that of òde mẹ́ta ‘the three ruling houses’ or that of Alọ́bẹ̀ compound. He cautioned the agents of Tobiah and Sanballat to desist from detesting the efforts being put in place so that they would not be put to shame at the end.