Last July, 2021, a team of City People Magazine reporters led by its Publisher, Seye Kehinde visited HRH Kabiyesi, Oba David Olajide Omisore, the Olu of Ayepe-Olode, in Osun State. It was a pre-90th birthday visit. We had an interview appointment with him.
For 2 hours we were with Baba and he told us his story. Many don’t know that he was the father of Senator Iyiola Omisore. A 90th Birthday Thanksgiving & Reception was held on 7th July, 2021.
The Thanksgiving was held at Christ Apostolic Church, Canaan Land Headquarters at Garage Olode, Ayepe Olode, Ife South West LGA, Osun State.
There was a reception at Cannan Land Headquarters Grounds Leading the Officiating Ministers are Pastor S. O. Oladele, CAC President, Worldwide, Pastor E.O. Odejobi, CAC General Superintendent Worldwide and Prophet/Evangelist H. O. Oladeji, the CAC General Evangelist Worldwide, Canaan Land Headquarters.
The Chairman of the Reception Programme was Chief Bisi Akande, former Osun Governor and the Royal Father of the Day was His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife. Osun Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and his wife, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola played prominent roles.
Let’s tell you about the celebrant, the late Oba Olajide David Omisore who was born in Ile-Ife on the 7th day of July 1931, as a privileged and last child of an aristocratic, all-time prosperous and powerful Ile-ife High chief, Anibijuwon Ajani Omisore and Madam Odereti Osunfioye Olewa, of Obalufe Jafojo compound, Iremo, Ile-Ife. At a period when ante-natal or child delivery at a clinic or hospital was a luxury, young Olajide was delivered at the famous Wesley hospital ilesa; thus, elucidating what a privilege it was for him to be born during the colonial period.
As the case of all great people in the history of the world, Olajide’s childhood started on a shaky note as he lost his loving mother when he was about three months old. As baby Olajide started growing, receiving love and great attention from the family, another tragedy struck this child of destiny. His great father, Ajani Anibijuwon Omisore, also died while he was barely ten years old on the 18th of March 1941, thus, he became an orphan.
He knew his father but could not enjoy the love of the great man for long. To an average child, the misfortune would have submerged his life, but that was not the case for Papa. While very young, he was nurtured and pampered by all in the enlarged family. Olajide was like a rose flower, cherished and carried about by all. Showing love to him became the yardstick for the love for Lowa’ku Anibijuwon. You must just love Papa Ajani’s pet as the youngest child he left behind.
Adding more to his travails, he lost his immediate senior brother of the same mum, Molomo, who was then working at the Ooni Aderemi’s palace. While all may take credit for showering love and attention on him, history can not readily forget the role of his wealthy Senior brother, late Pa Johnson Omisakin Omisore, who became his custodian throughout his formative and growing years. The philanthropic Pa Johnson took adequate care of Olajide along with Prince Okunade Sijuwade and Prince Goke Sijuwade. Both equally lost their dad; Late Prince Alfred Sijuwade (cousin to Late Pa Johnson at the maternal side). It is noteworthy that both Prince Okunade and Olajide later in life grew to become crowned kings. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD! Clearly, Pa Johnson Omisakin Omisore shall go down in history as the most benevolent Omisore or Ile-Ife citizen that ever lived, nurturing many children who later became great in life.
David attended Anglican Central School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, for his primary school education which he completed in 1950. He later attended Oduduwa college for his Secondary school education,1950-1955 and obtained Secondary School Certificate. In 1958 he joined the general post office and worked there for less than one year before joining the Nigeria Railway Corporation between 1958-1959. He proceeded to the famous School of Agriculture, Akure, from 1968-1970 where he obtained a Diploma in Agriculture (the equivalent of today’s HND). He was a trained farmer in the days when Awolowo made agriculture the centre-piece of our nation’s economy. He later developed an interest in a white-collar job, opted to join the old Western Region Ministry of Agriculture and later the Finance Corporation.
As an officer, he was involved in supporting and energizing the farmers in rural areas of the Western region in terms of loans and Agric inputs. Industrious Jide, as he was popularly called in those days, founded many Agric related organisations like; ”Agbegoke Omolore Farmers cooperatives society,” set up to attract assistance and funding for the farmers, with over 120 farmers in its membership. He retired in 1976. Olajide after retirement showed that he was an enterprising and very creative young man who hated laziness. He went into the hospitality business and between 1976 and 1979, operated a food canteen in Ile-Ife called “Gbajumo Canteen”, with his wives assisting. He went into the produce buying business between 1980 and 1985. Papa is full of love for his family. Even while living at faraway Iremo road, Ile-Ife, he was always in touch with his big brothers and sisters, regularly visiting his paternal compound at Ogbon oya, Ile-Ife. In politics, he was a born and committed progressive. A die-hard Awoist, always trying to make people see Awolowo as a ‘political messiah’. Such was young Olajide in the early 60s-70s. In fact, he as the Organising Secretary, championed the formation of The Unity party of Nigeria-UPN, in Ile-Ife, in 1983. Olajide however quitted politics in 1998.
One remarkable part of his dynamic life is his deep knowledge of the family history and his father’s landed properties scattered all over Ile-Ife and beyond. He is an encyclopaedia of family history and assets. He was the coordinator of all family litigations at various courts, in defence of the family assets. He is always ready to ensure that no inch of his father’s land, farms or properties is lost under any circumstances. He is simply a great son of the great Scion-Lowa’ku Anibijuwon Omisore the great.
No wonder, when it was time for Olode town-a a once-upon-a-time village and nerve-centre of scores of villages around Ife South owned by his father was to become a kingdom, the lot fell on no one but this last-born-Olajide David Omo Anibijuwon. His elder brothers, starting from Late Chief Burton Aderibigbe, Late Chief Ilesanmi, Late Chief Saliu Arayemi, Late Chief Thomas and a grandson, Late Chief Lamidi, all OMISORES had for several decades, ruled the town as Baale. Oba Olajide made history as the first to wear the crown as the ruler of Olode town. What a feat? David Olajide Omisore became the Baale of Olode town in the year 2002 and it was gazetted by the Osun State government. He was in the year 2004 upgraded from part three to part two chieftaincy level and gazetted as Sooko of (Olode) Awolowo town. It is on record that during the time, he raised the level of the town from a rusty village to an economically buoyant town.
David Olajide Omisore, like the Biblical King David, became the first king of the town on the 9th day of September 2009, when Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife then, crowned him at the hilltop-palace in the presence of all the people of Olode and Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who handed over the staff of office to him. Let’s hail the first and pioneer royal head from the Omisore family. This later paved the way for Oba Oluwakayode Charles Omisore who later became king also on a kingdom of Adekambi Omisore at Area 4, now called Olorunsogo town. Oba Olajide Omisore has since taken up the challenge, controlling the Olode town with other resident chiefs in love and harmony, strengthening unity both in the family and Olode town. This has resulted in the accelerated development of the kingdom. Setting up of a wood processing firm in the town and the discovery of precious stones and several mineral resources, Olode town is progressing in development. Oba David Olajide Omisore remains a respected monarch among his peers in the committee of Obas in Ife land. He is no doubt a loyal king and a great asset to Ooni’risa, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi.
Late Kabiyesi was happily married over the years to 4 beautiful Oloris; namely, Late Olori Emilia Adejola Omisore, Olori Juliana Sijuwade Omisore, Olori Modupe Magret Omisore and Olori Adenike Omisore.
He is survived by successful children who have distinguished themselves in various sectors of the economy at home and abroad. Senator Iyiola Christopher Omisore, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, and a nationally respected politician is the eldest child, followed by: Engr. Biodun Omisore, Engr Dr Segun Omisore, Princess Oyeronke Adewale, Princess Bosede Adegoke, Princess Oyefunke Akinwusi, Princess Oyesola Sanni, Prince Oyewole Omisore, Prince Akinloye Omisore, Prince Akinwunmi Omisore, Prince Ademola Omisore, Princess Adenike Omisore, Princess Oyebola Olatunbosun, Prince Kolawole Omisore, Princess Toyin Balogun, Princess Oyelola Omotoye, Princess Yetunde Ajayi, Prince Adedayo Omisore, Princess Bukola Omisore, Prince Adelowo Omisore and Prince Adeyemi Omisore plus lots of grandchildren.
