•What HRM Oba Of OWORONSHOKI, BASHIRU SALIU told CityPeople
A few weeks back, Oba Bashiru Oloruntoyin Saliu, Oloworo of Oworo Kingdom Passed on, after being on the throne for 25 years. Till he died, he was the paramount ruler of Oworoshoki land. It was in 1996, that the first Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Bashiru Oloruntoyin Saliu was crowned and was given Staff of Office by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the then Lagos governor. CityPeople interviewed him a few years ago and Kabiesi told City People that his forefathers are the first settler in Oworonshoki, many years ago. Oba Oloruntoyin was a first-class Oba and he was well respected in Lagos. He attended both primary and secondary school education in Oworonshoki, Lagos and he later moved to the University of Lagos for his National Diploma. The handsome king revealed a lot when he spoke to City People’s Reporter, ISAAC ABIMBADE (08155107955)at his palace. Below are excerpts of what he told City People.
Recently, you celebrated years on the throne as the first-class king of Oworonshoki Kingdom. Can you tell us the story behind it, sir?
I was called to my forefathers throne on October 14th, 1996. I went into seclusion (Ipebe) and I came out as Oba. We were part of Shomolu then. In 1996, I was crowned as Oba of Oworonshoki here. Although, at that time, Kosofe was still under Shomolu Local Government and Kosofe was carved out of Shomolu. When I was capped on October 14th, 1996 Oworonshoki was under Shomolu local government. At a time, we went to court because many people were interested in becoming the Oba but I defeated them at the Court Of Appeal. The Governor of Lagos then was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he presented me with the staff of office and instruments of appointment as a first-class Oba of Oworonshoki. Since then, I have been the Oba. Glory be to God.
Tell us more about the man Saliu Oloruntoyin?
My forefathers’ name is Saliu and that Saliu was inherited by my father and later passed unto me and I will also pass the name to my own children. The name given to me by my father is Bashiru Oloruntoyin. When I became an Oba, I remembered what my father said about the name, that it’s only God worth praising, and we should always praise our God. When you hear ‘Ebo’ (sacrifice) People think you are not a believer of God. So, I now took a name from the names given to me by my father and my father had been calling me Oba since I was born.
Tell us briefly about your upbringing?
I attended Muslim Mission Primary School in Oworonshoki. I also attended Muslim Mission Secondary School, Oworonshoki, Lagos. Later, I moved to the University of Lagos for National Diploma. I was into many businesses. I was into hotels, I was into real estate. Most of these businesses are from my sweat. My father used to say that, before you become a leader of any community you must have your source of income. So, my father’s firstborn was female, second female, third female and fourth born was also female. All what my father was saying then was, “would there be anyone to take care of my Properties when I’m no more? Because all that I have so far are females and they would one day marry and go to their husbands’ houses. God so good, he begat a man. You know we are from Ile-Ife to settle in Oworonshoki. Our forefathers were from Ilare, Agbole Ogunmole in Ile Ife. My father was the founder, the originator and first settler in Oworonshoki Village, now Town. My mother came from Ijora. My mother was an original daughter of Ojoraland. Badia is a village under Ijora. Badia was an Ilaje man, who was banished from National Theatre Village when it was about to be constructed. The man was a lucky man. The father of my mother now took me to the suburb of Ijora, in one of the buses in Ijora. He was directed to the man called Obadia.
So, Ijora is Ijora, Ijora Oloye remains Ijora Oloye, Badia is a village under Ijora. The crown my forefathers brought from Ile-Ife then was packed inside a bag called ‘Oke’, our local bag. The crown was packed inside this ‘Oke’ and it was beautifully wrapped. It was brought down to Oworonshoki here. Our Ifa’s name then was Fujabi. All these were brought from Ile-Ife to Oworonshoki many years ago.
They told my father not to be bothered that he was going to have a male child who will be a king. When they delivered me, IFA told them that, this is the boy that would be crowned the crown your forefathers brought from Ile-Ife, your ancestral home. That was when my father started rejoicing, that ah! ‘Olorun’ oma to’yin o’. That is where they derived my name, Oloruntoyin. And today you can see me wearing the crown.
Unfortunately, my father is late, since 1960.
How was it when you came out to run for the post of Oba, how was the race?
It was tough. You know when you are about to become an Oba many people would like to show interest but when they consulted Ifa (Oracle). Ifa must have picked the best candidate that was ordained for the post. The community went ahead to the Standing Tribunal of Enquiry on Chieftaincy Matters, headed by Justice Ajao Oshodi, a retired Justice of Lagos State High Court. He was the man who headed that committee. They carved Oworonshoki out of Shomolu. Kosofe was carved out from Shomolu at the Tribunal and that Tribunal rubber-stamped my kingship, as Oba of Oworonshoki Town.
The Tribunal now ordered the government to give me the staff of office as Oba. Some of those who were competing to be Oba with me were given Oba at Basua village because Shomolu comprises of many villages but when the government fulfilled one part, by giving Bashua the Obaship and abandoned the judgement given to us by the Tribunal, That sparked up another court battle. My family took the government to Court, that once the Tribunal has given 3 judgements, you implement one and you refused to implement the other one. It’s either you implement the two simultaneously or you leave the two unimplemented. With the fear of God, the High Court Judge, Alhaji Abudul-fatai Adeyinka, a retired Chief Justice of Lagos State and before he retired he was the Baba Adini, Ikorodu Oriwu Central Mosque. He did everything with the fear of God.
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