Alafin Oyo, Falkland Islands and 51st Coronation – Adeniyi Olowofela

Fifty one years ago, the foremost King in Yoruba land and one of the foremost in Nigeria was crowned, the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye Alase Ekeji Orisa.

Kabiyesi, I wish you long life and prosperity on the throne.

I have seen many Kings in Nigeria but Alafin of Oyo is in a special class. Expecially in terms of cultural preservation, erudition, knowledge of history and current affairs is applauding.
I have seen kabiyesi talk extempore on Several occasion and on different subjects, his submission, undoubtedly is always full of Wisdom and knowledge.

What has Alafin got to do with Falkland Island?

Falkland Islands is 12,955 Kilometres from Great Britain and 1,521 kilometres away from Argentina. The air travel is equal to 8,050 miles from Great Britain while it is 945 miles from Argentina. it is internally self-governing overseas territory of the Great Britain, in the South Atlantic Ocean.

There is a primary school (or some primary schools) in Afijio Local Government geographically yet the name of of the school also appears under Oyo East Local Government.
So when I was a Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology under Senator Abiola Ajimobi (may his gentle soul continue to rest in peace). I insisted that no single school can appear in the list of two local Governments at the same time, I said for the ease of administration the school can only appear under one local Government, and my Principal (Governor Ajimobi May his soul continue to rest in peace)agreed to that too. I insisted that since it is located in Afijio Local Government Geographically, the school should be under Afijio local Government not Oyo East Local Government .

One day Alafin of Oyo, came to the Governor’s office, he discussed so many things with the Governor but when the matter dovetail to issue of Education, Senator Abiola Ajimobi summoned me, we were discussing the issue of that primary school. Alafin said the School belongs to Oyo people.

I said Sir, the residents or owner of the school is not what we are looking at, but it is administratively wrong for a school to appear twice in the record of Government. I said we have similar situation in Ibadan, whereby some one will have two local Government (Ile ati Oko), but the name of a school can never appear under two local Government.

Iku Babayeye then asked who owned Falkland Island? He retorted that it is owned by Great Britain despite the great distance from Great Britain. My insistence on Geographical location falls like a pack of card on the historical submission of Iku Baba Yeye, the Imperial Majesty Lamidi Adeyemi, Iku Baba Yeye.

As you celebrate your 51st year on the throne, we celebrate you and we are proud of you. May Olodumare, the Almighty God continue to strengthen you.