Amidst the rising calls for the enthronement of the next Alaafin of Oyo, some indigenes of the town outside the shores of Nigeria have called on the state government of Oyo State to provide a traditional ruler in the ilk of Prince Ajibade Adeladan who will transform Oyo and by extension improve the standing status of the Yoruba.
This formed the submissions of different Oyo indigenes that are foreign-based. They argue that the time was ripe for the government to install a candidate who will drive the economic and industrial of Oyo town and equally significantly contribute to the advancement of the Yoruba race.
Mutiu Sangodoyin, United States based, while affirming his support for the advancement of the Yoruba race, pushed that if Oyo town would join the league of develop communities, it is imperative that those saddled with the responsibility of getting a traditional with the required qualification already had their job done.
“We should be very truthful, especially at this juncture. Getting a traditional ruler who will transform Oyo town and improve the great standing of Yoruba culture and tradition across the globe is very important. We must not joke with this. The Oyomesi and the state government already have their job done. There is Prince Ajibade Adeladan. He has all the character traits that we need for the next Alaafin to be successful. I wonder why any delay is being noticed at the moment. The government should make him the next Alaafin and then the town and state can move forward,” he advised.
Akinyemi Ogunlana, a Paris-based technician whose roots is Oyo town, wondered why things are being slowed down when it is clearly obvious that Oyo needs a transformer. Speaking, he stated that “It is a clear fact that Oyo town needs an urgent fixer and transformer. This is important. The indices show that we need a person that will take the town to the next level. And also, we already have someone in Prince Ajibade Adeladan. Everything should be politics. Of all the candidates, he is the most capable. This is the truth. We must be bold to admit it. It must be done as soon as possible. The globe has left us in development and advancement. We must not be too petty to realise this.”
Lolade Gani, a United Kingdom-based Oyo indigene, pleaded with the relevant authorities to fast track the process of appointing Prince Adeladan as the new Alaafin considering the huge task to be done. “We must be very serious at this point in time. Why the delay? I have all kinds of nonsense that is being perpetrated. But I wonder why we should allow this. There is a task to be done. Look at what happened when the Queen died. Today, they already have installed a replacement. Must we waste time in all things? Oyo town needs a man that will deliver. The government should be quick about this process. It is very obvious that there is a candidate that will deliver and this is Prince Ajibade Adeladan. He should be made the next Alaafin for the good of the town and progress of the state,” she advised.
Prince Dr Ajibade Adedayo Aremu Adeladan was born in Oyo town, at the still existing General Hospital to Prince Samuel Adeladan, and Mrs Rachel Adeladan, on Wednesday, January 4, 1961, just few months after the independence of Nigeria.
He was raised in his early age in Lagos, Nigeria, where his parents were living at the time. His father worked for Pfizer in Lagos at the time andtravelled a lot across Nigeria (he was a National Manager for Pfizer). It was during his father’s travels across the country, that he found a Primary school, in Ibonwon, Epe, which he liked for the Prince and his siblings. He completed his elementary school at this school, at the end of 1972.He proceeded to Olivet Baptist High school in his home Town of Oyo from 1973 to 1977. He then did his Higher School certificate (Advanced Level), at Federal government college, Ijanikin, Lagos, between 1977 and 1979.
Prince Dr Adeladan completed his higher school education in flying colors, had the best results, and was admitted to the University of Ibadan in 1979. He graduated in June of 1984 as a medical doctor, and then proceeded to do his housemanship (internship) training at Adeoyo State Hospital in Ibadan from 1984 to 1985.
For his NYSC, Prince Dr. Adeladan served at Kukawa Community Hospital, in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State from 1985 to 1986. He served In Kukawa with distinction. He was in fact the only medical doctor in that local government at the time.
Dr Adeladan worked in a number of private hospitals in Lagos, including Ajayi Memorial Hospital, and Alalade Memorial Hospital, after which he did a specialist training in General Surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He became a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in 1995, at record time.
From 1995 to 2003, he worked as a surgeon in a number of Caribbean nations- including Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, and finally worked at the United States Virgin Islands.
Prince Adeladan then decided to move to the United States, where he first did a specialist training in Psychiatry, at the Ivy League Columbia University, in Manhattan, New York City. Dr Prince Adeladan was made a Chief Resident, at this institution. He became Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology in April of 2009. He also became Board certified in Addiction Medicine in 2012. He has worked in different states, and medical facilities in the United States, including New York, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, and finally in the US state of California.
Having submitted himself as one of the candidates to the exalted throne of the Alaafin, and coming from Agunloye Ruling House whose turn it is to produce the next Alaafin, Fausat Adeyemo, another indigene, argued that one would be stating the obvious that Oyo town and the Yoruba race need Prince Dr. Adeladan to be made the next Alaafin. She insisted that his wealth of administrative experience, personal poise of humility and piety, global exposure, education and sense of enterprise are the sterling qualities that mark him out. “Indeed, Oyo and the Yoruba race need a modern success like Adeladan to expand its frontiers in this modern age,” she concluded.