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Prince Kayode Micheal Adewale Arimoro (KMA), a frontline contestant for the exalted throne of the Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, in this definitive interview with The Kernel, faulted the process that led to the installation of Prince Adesuyi Haastrup as the Owa Obokun and says the court would ensure that justice is done. He also shares his thoughts on what should be the priority of Ijesha leaders to move the town forward.
Kindly share the background that gives you the right to aspire to be the new Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, especially as a representative of the Arimoro Royal Family.
Thank you for this question. I am a descendant of Owa Ajibogun, the. foremost Owa Obokun of Ijesa land. I am a Prince from the Bilaro Oluodo Dynasty of Arimoro Lineage, an authentic Ijesha son. I am a multidimensional professional with a strong background in Science, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and Strategic Management. By providence, I studied in Nigeria and abroad. The experiences and exposures I acquired over a long period have made me a serial entrepreneur. I am passionate about my family background and the roles that my great grandfather, the iconic warrior, Arimoro played in defence of Ijesha land during the war. My desire has always been to see Ijeshaland prosper, where every son and daughter of Ijesha land has limitless opportunities to contribute to the overall development of our land.
There are other contestants to the throne, why do you consider yourself the most qualified candidate?
My life has been about people generally. I am not an incidental leader. I am committed to ensuring that all humans live above the globally acceptable Human Existence Index.
In one of your recent interviews, you faulted the processes and procedures by which Prince AdesuyiHaastrup was announced as the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland. Can you provide a background?
The background is simple. We belong to the same dynasty, The Haastrups have ruled twice. It was Arimoro who opened the doors for the Haastrups in the 1890s as they were matrilineal. No Haastrup is supposed to be in context this time as the law is generally about fairness and equal representation. Most importantly, the state government did not follow the due process and the right procedure. Ifa chose me and if the right process is followed, I should be declared the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land. Details about the process shall be highlighted by my lawyers in the court.
What's your opinion on the concerns that out of 12 Kingmakers, only five voted to select Prince Haastrup and what can you ascribe to the manner in which the whole process, including the presentation of Staff of Office, was executed all in less than 72 hours?
The case is already in the court, hence. As a law abiding citizen, I cannot make much comment. My lawyers have taken over. However, my position, which has been in the public domain before I went to the court is that the whole process is illegal and an abuse of due process. We are supposed to have 13 kingmakers, but we have 12 now and one warrant chief to make up 13 of which only 5 voted. The process was wrong and executed hastily because of lapses in our legal framework as a country. People are playing chess with the courts because they have become political emperors.
What is the way forward, against the background of the family Statement, signed by the Global Co-ordinator of Arimoro Royal Lineage, Prince (Sir) Adegoke Adedire Arimoro, which described the selection of Haastrup as a charade and an aberration?
The way forward is to follow a due process in the selection and installation of Owa Obokun in line with the established tradition of Ijesha land. This for the court to decide. The truth will always prevail. I want to get to the throne without bloodshed. This is why the court is the last option: As peace -loving family, we have advised our supporters to remain calm and obey the rule of law. Two wrongs do not make a right.
You have lived abroad for years, how close are you to the Ijesha land community to earn their trust and confidence as its king?
Many people get this wrong. I lived and am still living most of my life in Nigeria. Yes, I travel a lot. Studies and work have availed me opportunities to spend most of my recent time in the United States. However, I come home a lot, and have businesses in Ilesa and across Nigeria. I have a foundation that caters to the vulnerable. I speak my dialect very well and understand our tradition enough to be able to elevate our kingdom to the global stage. I also speak and write Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa fluently.
Can you lay claim to any community development that you have done for Ijesha land, including evidence of entrepreneurship?
Recently, I donated e-library to Ilesa Grammar School, books to Agunlejika High School, and extended potable water to the public in 2015 amongst others. I am the Founder of Solitaire Foods, Vepo Clarity (a water bottling company), and The Kayode Michael Arimoro Foundation in Old Omi Eran Road Ilesa, Osun State.
What are the major challenges facing Ijesha land in the areas of infrastructure and governance?
One of the major challenges is the inability of our leaders to work in consonance with the federal and state governments to ensure that projects that are funded are executed. Undermining the Ijesa people by not being transparent about the working and proceeds of the alluvial gold and other solid mineral mining in the Ijesha land is also a major challenge . We need to ensure that corporations deliver on infrastructures and amenities to the people.
We need more transparency in delivering sustainable governance at the grassroot level so we build from the bottom up.
Can you share your vision for Ijesha land if you emerge as the Owa Obokun?
Priority will be given to fostering peaceful co-existence by organizing periodic programs that bring us all together. We will enlarge the role of women and girl children in leadership responsibility. We will also set up and enlarge inter-town sports competitions from time to time.
We will work and collaborate with the appropriate authorities to ensure that proceeds from our solid minerals are channeled towards impactful infrastructure and human capacity building and empowerment of our people. We will also migrate the operations of Ijesa land to the cloud to take advantage of the new and better ways of doing things through technology. We will move our operations to the cloud for optimization through collaborative efforts with relevant institutions and agencies in Nigeria and abroad.
During your last Press Conference and Declaration of intention to contest for the throne of Owa Obokun, you alluded to women and youths as part of your agenda. Can you explain?
Women and youths are key demographics. Most homes are women-driven, so empowerment to a woman is empowerment to the family. The youth are stakeholders. With most Ijesa youths being entrepreneurs, supporting them will grow our domestic products and make them realize their potential. The whole agenda for our youths is to empower them to develop their latent talents so that they become agents of overall development of Ijesha land. These are key pivots so that when we grow old, people can take good care of us.
What is the place of Owa Obokun in Yoruba history?
Owa Ajibogun was the last son of Oodua. He helped healhis father by fetching omi okun (sea water) which prompted his father to give him the whole Ijesa land from approximately the gate of Ooni of Ife. The throne is that of an Imperial Majesty and a very strong force in Yoruba land.
What is your view on the role of traditional rulers in Nigeria?
Back in the old days, our forefathers knew almost every family, settled disputes, and ensured communal growth. Traditional rulers should help federal and state governments achieve their goals by ensuring that their constituents’ leaders implement whatever they are being funded. Strengthening the role of traditional rulers is equal to enhancing security, peaceful coexistence, accountability, and stabilizing the total apparatus of our states on continuous basis.
What will be your overall priority if you are elected the Owa Obokun today?
Collaboration and partnership with individuals, organizations, and groups for the growth of our people and our community at large. This is a dynamic age where technology should be leveraged for overall growth and development of every economy. Ijesha land has human and material resources that can bring about rapid development if harnessed by focused.
As a Christian how would you combine this with your role as the custodian of culture and tradition?
Christianity is a way of life. Some of our forefathers who did not know Christ still lived as though they were Christians. Selfless leadership and unconditional love is what typifies a Christian. Our cultural values include selfless leadership and unconditional love for people. Also, there is an easy fit for a role that welcomes all religions, cultures, races, and beliefs.
What does it mean to the Arimoro Family if you emerge as the Owa Obokun and what is your message to Ijesha people at this critical moment when the selection of Haastrup is causing disquiet in measured tones?
My kingship will be a win for Ijesa land and all Arimoros. The status will naturally move us a little up from being subdued by others in the same dynasty as is the case now. We are one big family. So, we must be fair to one another. At this critical moment, all Ijesa sons and daughters should believe in God to guide the stakeholders of our legal institutions to do the right thing.The law is generally about fairness and equal representation. Most importantly, the state government did not follow the due process and the right procedure. Ifa chose me and if the right process is followed, I should be declared the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land. But the court is there for justice .
As a Prince, have you ever thought you would be king one day? Why?
Incidentally, my friends and colleagues way back always referred to me as one. Probably, it’s my way of life or they could see the blue blood flowing through my veins. On the soccer field in Massachusetts, my team mates calledme “Your Majesty”. When I worked with Mr. Biggs, people would write “King of Biggs” on my car. I believe it was destined from heaven.
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