EXIT OF A PROGRESSIVE MONARCH By ‘Yemi Adurotoye
CAPTION:
Late Oba (Dr.) Joseph Bamidele Ayeni (JP) Ilufemiloye Ayomobila I, Elepe of Epe-Opin
By ‘Yemi Adurotoye
The news of the passage of Oba Joseph Bamidele Ayeni, Elepe of Epe-Opin in the morning of Tuesday, October 10, 2023 sent shocking and choking waves down through the spines of many, for he truely captured the image of a father-of-all.
He passed on in a private hospital in Omu-Aran, Kwara State at the age of 70 years. And the whole Epe-Opin Community was enveloped in grief and melancholy.
For those whose paths he crossed, they cannot but feel devastated and forsaken for the sense of loss. For Epe-Opin Developemnt Associarion (ODA) and the entire indigenes of the Community, a progressive, development-oriented monarch is gone; for monarchs and people of Ekiti Local Government Area, a frontliner for peace has changed abode. Ekiti Local Government Traditional Council where he served for years as Secretary will surely miss him.
Surely, those who had cause to relate with him had a bite of the different angles of the great king. On a personal note, my first encounter with him was when I became an in-law to one of his subjects but a brother in his extended family circle, Chief Joseph Oguleye, former Chairman, EDA Ilorin branch. Since then, we have related quite well. He was personally present at my wedding, held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital in 2007.
In fact, when I discovered how passionate he was about development of his people and community, I related with him more closely. I had cause to do a few things with him concerning growth and development of the community. He stood out as a great builder and peace advocate.
The transited monarch was ever approachable and relatable; many never saw him fussy over things. He, no doubt, had the aura that made people feel comfortable in his presence. On many occasions, we discussed frankly and objectively but with great concern about development, periscoping national affairs and local matters. Late Oba Ayeni, an Ahmadu Bello University Alumni, was not only educated, he had sound understanding of the dynamics of traditional leadership, cultural evolution, civil governance and societal politics.
It is often said that a great actor leaves the stage when the ovation is loudest. Oba Joseph Bamidele Ayeni quit the stage when he is needed the most.
For 27 years, he bestrode the traditional setting like a colossus, championing a silent revolution in Epe-Opin. He came on board the kingship as a civil servant; his humble background never deterred him from achieving greatly for his people. The settlement he met lacking in many facilities has been on the better growing side of modern human habitat.
He was a down-to-earth person. In his traditional leadership, he was practical and scientific in his various interventions. His strength blossomed in finding solutions to knotty problems in the society. What endeared him to past and present political office holders was his uncanny ability to detect ills in governance; and his smartness in proffering ways to checkmate them.
The late Kabiesi’s great skill in people management and his unparalleled zeal for development saw him into approving National Epe Day Celebration and the bolstering of the Ikan Festival of Age Grading under his watch.
The last Epe Day, held Saturday, December 10, 2022 was with fun and peagantry; a number of top figures across all strata of the society were conferred with chieftaincy titles. The programme yielded financial fruits as substantial fund was raised to erect an ultra modern palace, the foundation of which was laid early this year.
Mr. Matthew Awelewa, National President, Epe-Opin Development Association, who in his mournful state, described Kabiyesi as a dynamic and listening leader, who remained “a good father to everyone in the community” till death bell rang.
He said, the late monarch was a frontliner that was “proactive, accommodating, kind-hearted, generous in love, caring and industrious. Right from his youthful years, he has been working round the clock for the development of the community, he was, for some years before his asscession to the throne on 23rd November, 1996, National Secretary, Epe-Opin Development Association and he delivered diligently.”
Awelewa said, the late King, aside being a silent achiever and unapologetic reformist, he would continue to remember him as a stickler-to-time, who is not afraid to take the lead when he sees the need.
In his own tribute to the late monarch, Mr. Francis Olukayode Afolayan, a former gubernatorial candidate in the state, described Kabiyesi as “an enigma, who did his best in bringing Epe Community to a greater level of political, social, economic and cultural uplift.” He praised him for ensuring the extension of the national grid of electricity supply to developing areas of the community, building of Primary Health Centre, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps office in Epe-Opin.
Late Oba Ayeni, as much as he was opened to advice from different folks at all times, he has a well shaped and sharpened thoughtfulness to filter them for unimaginable exploits.
He kept drumming into the ears of those who cared to listen that his idea of community development was mass participatory. He was a pragmatic leader, as he do often say, “a community can’t grow beyond its leader.”
Oba Ayeni was a family man to the core, a serial monogamist, who professed Catholic faith all his life. He was the Secretary of Forum of Catholic Obas in Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province.
He was observatorily noted to have struggled with his carriage to get back on feet and carry on after the loss of his first queen (Olori Eunice Monisola Ayeni, a princess of Ikole Ekiti) who died July 6, 2020. The late monarch is survived by his immediate family of an Olori, a son and four duaghters; all of them he imbued with his can-do spirit.
The monarch’s home call is leaving a huge gap in the development trajectory of Epe-Opin. He has many unaccomplished dreams which he pursued relentlessly during his lifetime. The unfulfilled attainments include but not limited to having Elepe stool ungraded to second class status, comprehensive renovation of Epe-Opin Community Secondary School, the take off of Ilorin Catholic Diocese-owned John Bosco Training Institute.and construction of the township roads.
Death remains a mystery; its arrival is usually unannounced and unconquerable. It strikes the low and the mighty, the rich and the poor. The sickness that took him to the great beyond only held his body for a few days. He was in church on Sunday where he started filling uncomfortable. He returned home, following morning he was taken to an hospital, that was where he breathed his last, day after his admission. This, one believes, was a passage to a glorious eternity. “He will certainly always be in our hearts,” says a youth in the comminity.
Supplication: May God rest his soul in Paradise, comfort his children and grant Epe-Opin sons and daughters the fortitude to bear the loss. A big vacuum is created in Epe-Opin. May God fill it in no distance a time.
As many now come to terms with the pains occasioned by the passage of the great king and passionate traditional leader. One is sure he will forever be remembered as he is engrained in the hearts many. And for this, one has the courage to say: bye and good night to a gallant traditional ruler.
Adurotoye is a journalist and public relations professional.
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