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| HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY,OBA [DR] SIR LAWRENCE A.A. OMOWOLE, AMAPETU OF MAHIN KINGDOM |
I’VE FACE SERIES OF PERSECUTIONS FOR DEFENDING
THE POOR MASSES OF ILAJE/NIGER DELTA
COMMUNITIES- Amapetu, Fmr. TROMPCON Chairman
The image of His Imperial Majesty [HIM],Oba Sir
[Dr] Lawrence A.A Omowole,the Amapetu of
Mahin Kingdom to an outsider or to a first time acquaintance is like
confronting a fairy character from an ancient literature book.
Though many who have been privileged of having
close contact with this frontline Niger Delta Royal father who radiates total
royalty is an embodiments of elegance,tradition, courage and cosmopolitan life.
Kabiyesi Amapetu, who was two times Chairman of
Ondo State Council of Obas and also
served as as Acting Chairman of the same Council during late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s
administration.
Amapetu was also the immediate past National
Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil & Mineral Producing Communities of
Nigerian (TROPCON), and Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Infrastructural
Development.
ILAJESTAR-247 is here representing this old but
still very fresh interview conducted by the then ThePODIUM Magazine
Correspondent in NigerDelta, JUSTINA DUPE ADEBAYO-LOGo who is now the Team
Leader of the ILAJESTAR247 some years ago with Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom at
during one of his traditional festival at Mahintedo.
During the exclusive interview HIM Oba Omowole,the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom opened up on his ascension to the throne over
15yeras ago, his lifestyle,cultural perceptions and challenges facing NigerDelta Communities...Excerpts
of the edited parts…
Can you tell us briefly
about yourself?
Am His Royal Majesty, Oba Sir
(Dr) Lawrence A.A Omowole the III, the Amapetu of Mahin and the paramount and
prescribed authority of Mahin kingdom. I ascended my father’s throne in 2002,
then there were no competitors and I was not the first or last born of my
family rather I was at number 67th position of my father’s children.Our
dynasty had been from father to son before but when Olayiwola came out, he
change it from dynasty to Akinnehin ruling house. And I enjoy the support of
all the good people of Mahin kingdom. My kingdom is very large,vast area which
covers both land and water we have Igbokoda which is the Local Government
headquarters of Ilaje. Igbo-Egunrin, Mahintedo, Atijere while by the coastal
side we have Ogogoro, Ori-Oke, Iwa-Mimo, Gbabijo and many more and all this
areas I mention are under my territories
and I have the final say on them and I also serve as the paramount ruler of
that kingdom.
As a successful corporate
player what was your feeling when approached by your kinsmen to come and ascend
the throne of your fore-fathers ?
When I was approached, I took it calm
and very simple because I was born and grew up in the palace and am used to the
traditions and culture of our land. For instance in my family, we can’t take
any chieftaincy title be it traditional or honourary chieftaincy. We are all
Princes and Princesses we only have entitlements to the Amapetu Stool which is
the kingship that we have. And if you look at that we cherish it as an
institution which belongs to my family.
As a Prince were you really
prepared for the throne?
I was never prepared for it then to
be the Amapetu because we are many, they went through the rogourous process
including Ifa Oracle divination here and there. It will amaze you that all
those periods, I was residing outside the country and because I was chosen,
they all had to wait for me to return back from London. I have my senior
brothers and very few that I senior but I was picked among them to be the
Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom.
In the last 15 years since
you ascend the throne as the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom how have you been
enjoying the throne?
It has not been so easy like I
thought,it is not easy to leave the city of London,New York or Lagos coming down
home to Ondo State to settle was never an easy task. But after the first two
years it became part and parcel of me, I have my family in Lagos and I don’t
even visit them in Lagos again, they now come down anytime they want to come,
they are used to the environment and culture of our land the Mahin Kingdom and
they are now very familiar with Ondo State. I was one of those people who
canvass for the creation of Ondo state, when I was in Lagos that is the Old
Ondo State. I don’t feel bad on anything, today now am used to the system.
In the area of development
what has been your impact and contribution to Mahin Kingdom and Ilaje as a
whole in the last 15 years?
I have done a lots in area of civilization,
a lots of development in Ilaje Community.For
instance during the last regime in Ondo State I mean the late Agagu’s
administration, I was the one who initiated the idea of Road Network for the
Riverrine Communities, before then we use to go through boat to any part of
Ilaje-Ese Odo but w hen I became the King of Mahin, I was able to convince the
former Governor and Dr.Agagu constructed the roads for us, now you can drive
from Lagos or any part of Nigeria to my Palace, even from there to Akure or any
state. Electricity was installed in the whole town, again solar energy have
come with it. Which is part of our development, the roads are paved and tarred.You
know before my ascention no asphalt laying it used to be just what we call patches,
we now have borehole water site in different places and many more. All those
things are there for any one to see. And I have been able to foster unity among
the people of Ilajeland as well as having networking and collaboration with our
brother across the Niger Delta Communities. By the special Grace of God my ascension
has brought and recorded uncountable blessing to the good people of Mahin
Kingdom.
What is your relationship
with other Obas in your communitie,Ilaje and across the entire nation?
It’s very cordial, I just installed
one King at Igbokoda, another at Igbegurin and one at Atijere. We been having
very cordial relationship that whenever I call them anytime anyday, they are
always very earger to respond to me and we frequently hold our meetings. So my
relationship with them is very cordial.
How cordial is your
relationship with Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom in
particular ?
He is Olugbo is Olugbo, while am
the Amapetu the paramount ruler of Mahin Kingdom very simple. In life everyone
wants to be seeing and heard and everybody wants power and in the process you
can step on other people’s toes, if you don’t guide yourself. Like I said, he once
took me to court at the end of the day the case was struck out, I don’t know
how it happened. I never had any grouse against him and if you offend me once I
forgive you that’s all but if you don’t am not bothered. I was with him when he
was given the staff of office in Akure and I piloted him to his house in
Igbokoda. As for the second coronation anniversary I don’t know what happened that
I was not invited but I was not the only
Kabiyesi that was absent so I don’t think you should take that to be rift.
The Ilaje-EseOdo are known
to be an Oil Producing Community in Ondo State and You had earlier mentioned
some of the goodwill and other developments you have used your positions to
facilitated, how have you been able to help the youth from these riverine
communities?
We have used our goodwill to
secure jobs for some of our youth with various some Oil Companies, there is no
way we can say we have hundred percent of everything in life, it’s not possible
but at the same time I will say we have lived up to over 65% above towards our Youths Developments securing jobs
for them with the Oil Companies,Government establishents and even helpingthem to
be independents running their private businesses, I will say it is quite
encouraging.
As the former National
Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil &Mineral Producing Communities of
Nigeria (TROPCON), how have you been able to cope with all your other responsibilities
then?
As the National Chairman of TROMPCON,
I have performed my duties efficiently to the best of my knowledge and ability in
fact I sill have an unbeatable records. And we have improved in some areas
where we helped the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] interfacing
between them and the different OilRich Communities.You know NDDC like OSOPADEC
are intervention agencies that is set up for the purpose of developing the Niger
Delta and Oil Rich Communities of Ilaje-EseOdo areas, so our oversight function
is to supervise them, so they can do fulfill their mandates and obligations.But
in the coruse of fulfilling these mandates I have to face many oppositions
ignited by some reactionary forces and enemy of progressive amng the Oil Rich
Communities.
You mean that you have face some
oppositions from the people you are advocating for ?
Yes that is exact what am saying I
was once taken to court by a fellow traditional ruler I my state here and some
other very wealthy but greedy citizens of the NigerDelta Communities have some
of their illegal operations and activities affected atimes affected by our resilient
push to salvage our people from poverty and ecological and environmental
degredations.
At a national function
during the last political era, you were introduced as Special Adviser [SA] to
the President Goodluck Jonathan on Infrastructural Development, how did you get
to this position?
It’s a Supervisory Position or
Appointment and before now, we have what we call Duplication of Projects
between the States and NDDC in the sense that they do the same projects but through
the TROMPCON we have been able to put it in order, like Ilaje and Ese Odo many
projects had been duplicated in the past. I will say that in Coastal Areas
today, Ese-Odo now has a Skill Acquisition Centre, where hundreds of our young boys and girls learn how to do one craft
or the other. In Ilaje we have a Housing Estate, there is another housing
estate project again that they have already acquired the land for it, we have
the Ministry of Niger Delta Office in Mahin. Another 2,500 Hectares of land has
also been acquired, though it is going to be an Estate but inside there we will
have Hospital, Barrack, Malls and so on, the budget for this has already been taken to the National Assembly
and we are waiting the approval, once
its approved the project will kick start.
Your appointment as the SA
to President on Infrastructural makes you the only Traditional Ruler with
federal appointment, how have you been coping among fellow Obas from your
locality who had hoped they will clinch
that position?
Everything in life is first about
grace from God, then your personal attributes like pedigree, capabilities,
competence and intelligibility will come to play.It is through that just a few
of my contemporary Oba’s even from my native land tried to distabilised this
divine arrangement on my life as the leading paramount ruler of the entire
Niger Delta Communities of Nigeria. Again few people or rulers have been somuch
privileged like I was it is rare one and I havd always shown God and my people
for that singular honour.It’s not about bribing,buying your ways through a
corrupt means or forcefully usurping opportunities or asserting authorities on
the poor people of your commities or I
want to be there issue because if you are there what do you want to discuss there
or offer as intelligent contributions and advice, if you don’t have what it
takes, then why do you have to be there, when you sit down in a Round-Table
deliberations that has a lot of core professionals
what advice or meaningful contributions are you going to make.What will be your
contribution?,Do you even have the character,pedigree or competence to be in my
position ? we are talking about people who can reason for their people, people
who can think ahead for the future that even when you are not there they will
remember you for what you have done, yes people will envy but I don’t care,
nobody or let me say anybody can envy me. The position as the Special Adviser
to the President is a call for service
to the people, it is an extension or enlargement of my role as a king.
You have also served on two different occasions as Chairman Ondo
State Council of Obas, how was that experience like?
In Ondo State, today I made the
history of the first traditional ruler to be elected twice, as Chairman Ondo
State Council of Traditional Rulers[Oba’s]. During late Gov.Olusegun Agagu’s
regime I served as the Oba’s Council Chairman before I handed over to Olowo of
Owo,Oba Olateru Olagbegi and after the demise of late Deji of Akure, I was again re-appointed
as the Acting Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas,that position is Current being
occupied by His Royal Majesty [HRM] Oba Akadiri Momoh,the Olukare of Ikare
Akoko. It is a lovely experience.
Having served for two
tenure as chairman,Council of Obas in Ondo State, why were you re-elec ted
again as acting chairman?
My re-election as acting Chairman
was because I am good to them, all the traditional rulers said it should be me,
while they did that was when I was the chairman, I initiated the building of
Oba’s Lodge in Akure here, I catered for their welfare and I also make the
government to realize they are not working for themselves,that was when Gov.Agagu
was in power, but that rather we are working for the traditional institutions to
the people of Ondo State and that we want to know whathis government is doing
or what he is about doing. Then I initiated the monthly interactive session
between the Governor and the Traditional Rulers. I also fought for their
welfare. Most Obas in Ondo State are still eulogizing me saying that my tenure
was the best, that they ever enjoyed in Ondo State as the Chairman Council of
Obas, so after the demise of late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, in one
voice they (Oba’s) asked me to Step-in as Acting Chairman. And up till today I
enjoy all my relationship with the entire Traditional Rulers in Ondo State
except those I don’t know.
Is it possible not to know
all the traditional rulers as a Two Term Chairman and now Acting Chairman of
the Council of Obas?
It’s possible and very possible.I
will give you an instance, few weeks back, we were holding a meeting, so there
is this particular Kabiyesi seated inside his car and could not come out, so
the other Kabiyesi’s whom they came
together called him Kabiyesi please come
out.I was surprised because I never met him before. But I can actually tell you that virtually all the Kabiyesi’s knows me just mention Amapetu and they will
tell you who I am.
As the 67th
child of your father, do you intend to also have or raise such a large family
like your father?
I have stopped having children,
my last born is in South Africa rounding up his doctorate degree programme,after his graduation from Babcock
University. It will interest you to know that I have only one wife and children
though not from my legal wife. It took me time before I decided to marry but I
have children. But when I decided that enough is enough because I was ladies
man, as a young Prince then, I was so handsome at that time that it never occured
to me to even settle down, then ladies were always swooping around me begging me
on the streets of Lagos and London to marry them, my first marriage was to a
white lady and we were together for 8 years and since the relashionship was without an issue
until when God used my late senior brother for me.He was the one who encouraged
me to try other ladies, if not I won’t go looking for child or marrying other
ladies. So I now have enough children and they are all doing fine, some of them
are married, one of my daughter is married to a man in England, another works
at OSUTECH here in Ondo State so I don’t think of marriage again. You see then
when my father was bearing children it was a beautiful society, it was good and
I enjoyed it, every one of us enjoyed it, we don’t know who is our mother, we
eat commonly in a big pot until we grew up and up till today we still enjoy
that communal relationship among the few of us that remains.
As a traditional ruler will
you give support to any of your children going into politics?
None of them, even the present
governor of Ondo state[Dr.Olusegun Mimiko] demanded I mean he asked me to give
him one of my children for Commissionership slot then in 2012 but I turned the
offer down, all because I don’t want to ridicule myself. I have told them that
none of them should contest for any election rather they should face their own
business responsibilities but they can not go into politicking as a full time
business.None of them belongs to any political party or another groups. One of
my sons is very close to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in fact they speak every day on
phone and he is always visiting Tinubu at his Burdillon,Lagos abode. He told me
how Tinubu tried to convince him to join politics but I told him not to venture
into politics and as at today none of my children is holding any political position.
What is your philosophy about life?
As simple as anything Yes am a
traditional ruler and I have one or two things to protect traditionally, which
I guide jealousy but after that I don’t see myself as a different person. I
talk to people freely, it is only I don’t enter peoples houses. I do visit
people that are within my environment. By tradition, if I am walking on the road, anybody coming on
the road will clear for me, the women will kneel down until I pass them, if not
tradition, I don’t enjoy all those things but tradition demands these respect
are accorded me as Amapetu.Another thing
about me is I hate people that tell lies
or deceive others.
