| How journalism‘ll
help me rule as Timi of Ede – Prince Wale Ojetimi, Editor,
NAN
By OMODELE ADIGUN
Wednesday,
December 12, 2007
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Ojetimi
Photo: SunNews Publishing
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Prince Wale Ojetimi, Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) and an aspirant to the stool of the monarch of Ede,
Osun State, says he would use his experience as a seasoned
journalist to lead his people if chosen as the royal father.
He spoke on this and other things.
Background
I am Prince Sefiu Wale Ojetimi, an Editor with NAN and practising
Muslim. I am an Alhaji. I was born 45 years ago into the famous
Oduniyi Olagunju royal family of Ede to a building contractor
father, the late Pa Shittu Ojetimi Olagunju and petty trader
mother, Alhaja Munirat Adunni Ojetimi. We are a big family
of 24 children and I am the 12th child of my father, the only
son of my mother’s six children.
I spent my early life in Ede, where I had my primary and secondary
education at Local Authority Primary School, Obada, Ede and
Baptist High School, Ede. I finished secondary school in 1978
at the age of 16. I am a Mass Communication graduate of The
Polytechnic, Ibadan. I also hold MBA and Masters in Financial
and Online Journalism from Wits University, Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Before I studied Journalism, I worked as a clerical officer
at the Federal Pay Office, Ibadan, for four years. My Journalism
career took me through NTA, The Guardian Newspapers and NAN,
where I covered several beats locally and internationally
for 18 years. As a recognition of my outstanding ability,
I was posted to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2000 as the
NAN Bureau Chief for the Central and Southern Africa operations
of the agency. I worked in this capacity for seven years until
last August. During my tenure in South Africa, I was privileged
to travel extensively in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa,
Europe, USA and the Middle East.
What prominence does the Timi of Ede occupy in Yoruba
history?
The Timi of Ede is one of the top three traditional monarchies
in Osun State and among the top 10 in the entire Yorubaland.
As one of the Esos (war chiefs) in the old Oyo Empire, the
Timi played a prominent role in securing the eastern outpost
of the then Oyo Empire for the Alaafin of Oyo against the
Fulani invaders. The Timi also ensured loyalty to Alaafin's
authority by the Ijesha traders by ensuring regular payment
of Isakole and other forms of taxes from traders to and from
the then famous Apomu market.
It is pertinent to mention that the present Ede is just over
200 years old as the town was moved from Ede Ile (about 20
km West of present Ede) following disputes between the royal
clan.
In the post inter-tribal war of the late 19th Century, Timi
Abibu Lagunju (my father's grandfather) played prominent roles
in the enactment of several peace treaties within the Yoruba
nation which gave rise to the modern day towns and cities
in Yoruba land. The venerable Timi Lagunju's noble role was
acknowledged in Samuel Johnson's book, History of the Yorubas.
It is also on record that Timi Lagunju was the first Muslim
Oba in Yorubaland who introduced and spread Islam religion
to Ede and its environs. He passed on in 1900 after about
60 years on the throne.
What qualities do you possess that make you suitable for the
post of Timi of Ede?
It has become customary for big historical towns, such as
Ede to choose capable young men for the throne. Apart from
Ibadan where succession is by elevation through the ranks,
younger generations have been the choice for most traditional
stools in Nigeria because of their ability to use their energy
and contacts to bring development to their area and its people.
So at 45, I intend to use the age on my side and my national
and international exposure as a leverage. Besides, my education
and experience in public affairs will also come handy in this
assignment.
I will be bringing on board to the throne of Timi Agbale the
diligence of public service, the versatility and goal-getter
of a journalist, the prudence of an entrepreneur and the finesse
of a foreign diplomat, so to speak, having served my agency
and, by extension, my country, Nigeria, as head of NAN in
the whole of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa for seven
years from November, 2000 to August, 2007.
With two Masters degree in my kitty, I possess the necessary
intellectual capacity that may be required in analysing issues
of local, national and international importance. With these
exposures, I am dutybound to bring forth some of the best
practices in guiding the development patterns in my area.
Regarding my pedigree, my late father was the immediate past
Magaji of the Oduniyi Olagunju Ruling House and chairman of
the Magajis of the Timi-in-Council. His legacy for us his
children and the Ede community as a whole is integrity and
this has always been our guiding principle. Suffice it to
say that I really learnt a lot from the way he conducted and
deployed his traditional authority during his lifetime.
What is the present state of things as regards the
vacant Timi stool?
There are five ruling houses in Ede namely, Agbonran, Oduniyi
Olagunju, Oyefi, Arohanran and Ajeniju.
The late Timi, Oba Tijani Oladokun Oyewusi, who joined his
ancestors on August 21, this year, was the 12th Timi and he
came from Agbonran Ruling House. Ascent to the Timi throne
is by rotation among the five ruling houses. Ajeniju Ruling
House, where the late Oba Adetoyese Laoye, who reigned from
1946 to 1975 came from, has produced five of the 12 Timis
of Ede. Arohanran got three chances, while Oyefi and Agboran
had two chances each. Oduniyi Olagunju had only one chance
out of the 12 Timis ever produced, with Oba Abibu Lagunju,
ruling for close to 60 years before he died around 1900.
The entire Ede community, home and abroad, has agreed that
it is the turn and the right of the Oduniyi Olagunju to produce
the new Timi to fill the vacant stool. The Oduniyi Olagunju
Ruling House, on its part, has commenced the selection process
by inviting the four units within the family to present a
candidate each. The units are Abangbe, Opopo/Isibo, Daodu
and Olomo Oba/Onikootu.
Presently, the Abangbe unit has presented me, Prince Wale
Ojetimi, for screening by the family while the Opopo/Isibo
ward also presented their own candidate. The family is still
waiting for Daodu and Olomo Oba/Onikootu to present their
candidates, if any. The four candidates will be screened for
their suitability before presenting them to Ede kingmakers
and the state government.
How close are you to Ede community and the people that matter
in the area since you have been away for the past seven years?
My parents and I are well known by Ede indigenes, home and
abroad. I lived my early life in Ede where I had my primary
and secondary education. I have a network of friends, families
and well wishers which cut across all age groups within and
outside Ede. Also, I have always participated in socio-cultural
activities in the town. One of the cultural festivals I cherished
most while growing up in Ede was the annual Ipedi Festival
where the Timi goes on a carnival-like procession around Ede
amidst drumming, singing and dancing.
I was the pioneer Secretary General (1983 -1987) and President
(1993) of Ede Unique Club - an organisation of young professionals
and business executives of Ede indigenes. Also, I have always
used my professional calling as a journalist to support and
promote every noble cause of the Ede people and their environs.
For instance, during the agitation for the creation of Osun
State, I published several articles in newspapers supporting
the creation of the state and called for Ede as the state
capital. The same agitation was made for locating Federal
Polytechnic in Ede, which eventually came to pass, just to
mention a few.
What added value will your profession bring to the
stool?
Journalists all over the world are known to be practical and
down to earth in their approach to issues. After occupying
some of the best positions in the profession, both locally
and internationally, I have acquired a global view of doing
things. With these exposures, I am duty bound to bring forth
some of the best practices in guiding the development patterns
in my area.
Precedent
Yes, of course, The Aholu Menu Toyi, the present Akran of
Badagry, was with New Nigerian newspaper before becoming a
royal father, while the Onitire of Itire, also in Lagos State,
was a journalist.
They are both good examples of seasoned journalists who have
yielded to the higher calling to occupy the throne of their
forefathers.
Who will be your role model?
God Almighty, the King of kings.
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