Iyin-Ekiti
Early hours of Friday, 21st September 2019, I got tonnes of messages from people either informing me or trying to confirm the upward transition of His Royal Majesty (Rtd) Justice John Ademola Ajakaiye, the Oyinyosaiye II of Iyin-Ekiti. This news came as a rude shock to me. The last time I visited the palace to see Baba, I walked with him from his office to the car park and I was almost jogging after him, he had been hale and hearty and so full of life.
His demise at this time was unexpected but I take solace in the good works he left behind.
Most of the questions I had about Ekiti were answered by Baba and anytime I visited he was always receptive and I went home with loads of information.
Iyin had been lucky and of all the worst hit by this unquantifiable loss.
He had used the wealth of his influence in so many ways to make Iyin-Ekiti more visible in Ekiti State and in Nigeria.
I am glad that the Justice Ademola Ajakaiye building at the Ekiti State Judiciary Complex was built in his lifetime. He was celebrated while he was still here and we will keep celebrating his good works.
In the Ekiti culture, the moment a king joins his ancestors, the first daughter(in most cases) of the late king ascends the throne as the Regent.
She is the king till the kingmakers declare a new king and the king is installed. A woman cannot be king in Ekiti, so when a king dies the throne must not be vacant. She becomes a gap king and help the town transit peacefully from her father's reign to the next king.
This royal system has proved to work well in Ekiti as you rarely hear of crisis after the demise of a king and since the Regents understand their roles as a bridge they mostly do not hold on to the throne, the main reason a man is not used as a regent (Lord Regent) is because getting him out of the stool after the kingmakers decision becomes alot of work. Most Lord Regent would always want to continue to be on the throne.
A regent should rule between 21days-24months. It could be extended if there is trouble picking a new king.
In the case of Iyin-Ekiti, they have not been left inconsolable by the departure of the king, a highly resourceful princess is coordinating the affairs of the town.
On Monday, 14th of October 2019, I visited her with some of my friends (Labisi, Kemi and Akin) to commiserate with her and the town and welcome her home.
Looking through her, I saw a woman who would do all within her capacity to make her father happy.
I saw a woman who put a hold on her own life and career just to be home to tend to the affairs of the town.
I saw a woman who will stop at nothing to uphold the great legacy her father left behind.
Being a Regent is a great sacrifice, you are not permitted to mourn your father properly because you have to be strong for all. You leave everything that matters to you to come and uphold tradition.
A Regent dresses like a man, she is given her late father's clothes to wear. And She is deemed to be a man.
I don't know the esteem the Government gives these set of women but I see them as superwomen who willingly relinquish their own will for culture and love for their people.
For Her Royal Majesty, Jackie Adeola Adebimpe Ajakaiye Okarevu, her sacrifice for the good of her fatherland will never be forgotten.
Leaving her own family in the United Kingdom to come to Iyin to uphold legacy is a great feat and is a call to all to join hands to develop our various hometowns in Ekiti.
We can only be gone for so long, one day we will all find our way back home.
How are you going to meet your father's compound?
Join hands and lets develop this land for our own good.
His demise at this time was unexpected but I take solace in the good works he left behind.
Most of the questions I had about Ekiti were answered by Baba and anytime I visited he was always receptive and I went home with loads of information.
Iyin had been lucky and of all the worst hit by this unquantifiable loss.
He had used the wealth of his influence in so many ways to make Iyin-Ekiti more visible in Ekiti State and in Nigeria.
I am glad that the Justice Ademola Ajakaiye building at the Ekiti State Judiciary Complex was built in his lifetime. He was celebrated while he was still here and we will keep celebrating his good works.
In the Ekiti culture, the moment a king joins his ancestors, the first daughter(in most cases) of the late king ascends the throne as the Regent.
She is the king till the kingmakers declare a new king and the king is installed. A woman cannot be king in Ekiti, so when a king dies the throne must not be vacant. She becomes a gap king and help the town transit peacefully from her father's reign to the next king.
This royal system has proved to work well in Ekiti as you rarely hear of crisis after the demise of a king and since the Regents understand their roles as a bridge they mostly do not hold on to the throne, the main reason a man is not used as a regent (Lord Regent) is because getting him out of the stool after the kingmakers decision becomes alot of work. Most Lord Regent would always want to continue to be on the throne.
A regent should rule between 21days-24months. It could be extended if there is trouble picking a new king.
In the case of Iyin-Ekiti, they have not been left inconsolable by the departure of the king, a highly resourceful princess is coordinating the affairs of the town.
On Monday, 14th of October 2019, I visited her with some of my friends (Labisi, Kemi and Akin) to commiserate with her and the town and welcome her home.
Looking through her, I saw a woman who would do all within her capacity to make her father happy.
I saw a woman who put a hold on her own life and career just to be home to tend to the affairs of the town.
I saw a woman who will stop at nothing to uphold the great legacy her father left behind.
Being a Regent is a great sacrifice, you are not permitted to mourn your father properly because you have to be strong for all. You leave everything that matters to you to come and uphold tradition.
A Regent dresses like a man, she is given her late father's clothes to wear. And She is deemed to be a man.
I don't know the esteem the Government gives these set of women but I see them as superwomen who willingly relinquish their own will for culture and love for their people.
For Her Royal Majesty, Jackie Adeola Adebimpe Ajakaiye Okarevu, her sacrifice for the good of her fatherland will never be forgotten.
Leaving her own family in the United Kingdom to come to Iyin to uphold legacy is a great feat and is a call to all to join hands to develop our various hometowns in Ekiti.
We can only be gone for so long, one day we will all find our way back home.
How are you going to meet your father's compound?
Join hands and lets develop this land for our own good.
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