Being A Christian Monarch Does Not Stop Me From Fortifying Myself – Oba Odutala

Oba Adewunmi Adeniji Odutala is the Onibudo of Ayetoro-Budo Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State. Oba Odutala is a graduate of Computer Science from Lagos State University. He holds a Master Degree in Yoruba Literature and Culture. The outspoken Monarch spoke with MICHAEL-AZEEZ OGUNSIJI and SHAKIRAT ABDULWASIU extensively on the eroded culture in Yorubaland and political solution to stem the prevailing security challenges in the country. Excerpts  

Could you briefly take us into your childhood journey?

It was an interesting one. I would say I lived my entire life in the palace, although, not at the king’s palace, but the baale palace. I know what it takes to be a community leader. My late dad was the baale of this community, he was the one that sat on this throne before me. He was baale for about 29years before he died. His own father was baale, his grandfather was bale, I was also a Baale too before my stool was upgraded to a crown beaded King in 2019. So, I will say from my direct lineage, I’m the forth directly.

To the glory of God, we learn so much while we are young. I came from a polygamous home. My dad had five wives, my mum was the first wife and I’m her only son. By the grace of God, I’m my mum’s only son. I’m the sixth born of my mum’s seven children, I have only one sister after me.

I was enrolled at St. Georges Primary School at Ipaja where I finished my primary school and got admission into Anglican Comprehensive High School, then Awori Anglican High School. From then, to Lagos State University, Ojo. Where I had my B.Sc in Computer Science. As at the time I finished my first degree, responsibilities have taken over. I have never work with my certificate for a day. So, I went back to school for my Masters the same university Lagos State University (LASU) where I studied Yoruba Literature and Culture, that was my first Masters degree. I’m currently having my second Masters in History and Strategic Studies.

Would you say that over population in Nigeria is basically responsible for the high rate of crime in the country?

Over Population is everywhere in the world. China is an example, but I’ve never heard someone was kidnapped in China. The problem in Nigeria is the government. We don’t have a government that plans ahead. The government is not proactive enough to project for what will happen in 30years to come. All of these people that we’re electing into the offices 90% of them are just for their selfish interest. They don’t have the mind to serve the people; they don’t have good heart to serve the people. Over population is not the cause of kidnapping. Another angle to it is that the government is harboring criminality. There is no death sentence for these condemned criminals. Go to the prisons all over Nigeria, you will see condemned armed robbers courts have concluded their cases to be killed, but no governor is ready to sign death warrant any longer. So, how do you expect these criminals to have fear when they know they won’t die. The governors even gave many of these condemned criminals state pardon. So, how do you expect such criminal to see crime as abomination. That is why crimes strife in our country. Why are the governors afraid to sign death sentence for criminals. Why can’t government pronounce that any arrested kidnapper should die by hanging or face firing squad and televise it on national television for everyone to see, that will send a fear signal to anyone who may wish to indulge in criminality. They have seen Nigeria as a lawless state. Also, the youth have been abandoned by the political class. No job creation. The government is not doing anything about it. This is why most of our youth that has plan for themselves; all went into Japa which trend last year. I don’t see over population as a problem, it has been like for ages. The youth don’t see themselves in the future of this country. Thank God I’m a king; I inherited my father’s throne. What of those that doesn’t have such privilege? If I was unable to have a good job by now, what would become of me?

Kabieyesi, would you say that traditional rulers should be given constitutional roles?

That has been one of those things I’ve been clamouring for. If we want to get it right in this country especially security wise, we must be given a constitutional roles. Except the government want to eradicate traditional institution. But this position is beyond ceremonial. In my community, I have my ears on ground, I know who is who, but do I have the constitutional right to pick up challenges as the king of my community. I don’t. Kabieyesi have their ears everywhere in the community. People come to meet the Kabieyesis when they discover something strange in their community is not working again.

About three years ago, some group of guys was terrorizing my area. Once it’s 10pm nobody goes out again, they raped, they collect phones, and assault our mothers bringing food items to the community to sell. When it was getting out of hand, I organized for Vigilante group and we arrested like 14 of them, and handed them over to the police. As I’m talking to you today, half of them are walking freely again in my community. But if I have the power to prosecute them myself, that I don’t need to go through anybody, I know my community will be safe. So, leaving the king out of the constitutional role is a big mistake. Aren’t the king salary paid by the government? So, if we are collecting salary, what is the purpose are we being paid for? Give us constitutional roles and give us 6months to fix insecurity in our community. We will wipe out insecurity within 6months. Let’s the government just say you will be responsible for whatever happens in your community, you will see that there will be sanity in the country. There is no two way to it, traditional rulers must be given constitutional role.

Kabieyesi would you suggest the return of local security outfits like OPC in Southwest, Isakaba in the East?

No, we abused those processes. Those people abused it, they are like militants, and they are not regulated. If that will come up now they should be regulated from the government. It was frustration that led to the formation of OPC and Isakaba. But if we want to do it, let’s bring on the state police and local government police. We all traveled out of the country, we see how these things work. They are practicing it in Lagos now indirectly, you will see someone sitting down at a corner but they are watching everything that’s going on, they communicate with the officers on what’s going on in the area. That’s what we need, brings in state police. Let the federal and state governments quickly move for the passage of state police, it’s over due.

The Yoruba culture and traditions are being bastardized and going into extinction. What do you think can be done to correct this?

Let me start by saying what is tradition and culture. We are mixing culture, tradition and religion together. That’s where we are getting it wrong. It is only in this country we want to excel with another man’s language. We want our children to learn in another man’s language. In my secondary school days I failed physics and chemistry woefully because I was taught in English language. One day a native of Oke-Ogun teacher was transferred to our school and started teaching me physics and chemistry including further mathematics in Yoruba that was when I got the logic and in my third term result, I performed excellently well than my peers in class. Many of our pupils seem not to be doing well in school because we have abandoned our language. We are learning foreign culture and abandoning our own and blaming it on religion. Our forefathers who brought these religions never abandoned their tradition and culture. Imagine, in a King’s palace, the children are speaking English to the Yoruba monarch. Because I’m going to church does not turn me to a dummy. I have the authority of a King. It’s in me. Hausa Emir will never speak with English to Nigerian President; it is only in Yoruba that a monarch would be addressing government officials in English to boost our ego as being educated. An Hausa monarch, no matter their levels of education will rather get an interpreter to translate what he has said, not because they don’t go to school, but it is a way to promote and preserve their culture.

Recently, two monarchs in Ekiti and one in Kwara were murdered in a gruesome manner, what has gone wrong with the process of installing our Monarchs and why there’s no fear factor in our Monarchs in South West?

It is so sad. It is sacrilege for a king to be murdered like a chicken. Anytime I remember the killings of these monarchs it makes me come to terms that it is high time, traditional rulers begin to defend their territories. Before the colonialists arrangements that made the kings subjects under the government, there are ways the Kings protect themselves. Some people argued that, it is because many kings don’t go to Ipebi again. No, it is not in Ipebi Kings are fortified. What were taught in Ipebi was how to relate with the people and how the kings would behave and the history of the community, history of past Kings. Yorubas have what it takes to protect ourselves. Those with gunshot protective charms are they Kings? They don’t have to be Kings to fortify themselves. Because I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour does not been I’m no longer a Yoruba. Idolism is what God forbids, calling another thing God. It is negligence on the part of the government to have allowed this to happen.

During elections, politicians are seen romancing royal fathers; do you think royal fathers should be involved in politics?

Everybody is a political animal. We are all politicians. One thing that should stop is for politicians to stop dragging royal fathers into their dirty politics. Why are they coming to royal fathers is because they know we know our people. Let everybody come to royal fathers to receive their blessings. But the moment we think the incumbent is the only person that is entitled to visit royal fathers during campaign and after should stop. We are fathers to all. It is barbaric. Free the royal fathers. Let us be free to attend to anyone coming to the palace. The threat we received during the elections should stop. So, royal fathers should be free to entertain any guests.

It is generally belief that, royal fathers are being kidnapped or killed because we are not following the traditional ways of choosing the Kings. We have abandoned Ifa to choose for us, but government, Do you agree to this assertion?

That is part of the major problem. The governor has no business in selecting a king. What is the work of the Afobajes? Bashorun Oyo said they have completed the process of choosing the next Alaafin of Oyo, but what is delaying it, if not that the government has interest? So, government should wash off their hands away from selection process of appointing a king. It is not their business. In the olden days, who is that governor that will face Soun of Ogbomoso or Alaafin of Oyo or Alake of Egbaland to say they want to crown or present staff of office? Who dare face them? Nobody dare takes King to court, because they are the custodian of the deity themselves. They are the law, no one challenges their authorities. Those people we called kings today, are they truly from royal blood or from political godfatherism? I’ve heard government officials telling an aspirant that, if you can’t go for House of Assembly, will you become a king? For how long shall we continue, let them take their hands off traditional constitution. Part of the thing we lose in our tradition is the process we install our king. We are now putting blames on religion. Is religion the reason governor give staff to king? In some communities, it’s has to be a virgin lady that will crown the king, in some places, it is an old woman who has stopped given birth that will crown the king, but now everything is lost. This is our culture and tradition. In the first 21days when a Queen gives birth, the king must not see the child till it’s the 21st day. Let’s bring back our culture, what are the things a king must do and don’t? Some people don’t know all this. Leave politics out of traditional institution.