Full text of tribute to the late Sir Adesoji Aderemi the Oni of Ife by Chief Obafemi Awolowo on 11 th July, 1980. It was titled: 'Adesoji Aderemi- Radical Traditionalist'continues from weekSome people demand honour from their fellowmen, and sometimes, by sundry devices, succeed in forcing and enforcing it. Others, who are very rare in their breed and number, command honour: they evoke it; they deserve it; and they do so because of their profound, worthy and abiding contributions to the welfare and happiness of their fellowmen, and the greatness of their fatherland. OBA ADESOJI ADEREMI belongs to this latter breed of mankind. Adesoji Aderemi became the ONI OF IFE in 1930. At that time, fifty years ago, the only reputation Ile- Ife had was that it is the Cradle of the Yoruba people. But within ten years of his rule, Aderemi had transformed Ile-Ife, by Nigerian standards, into a modern town - a virile business centre, and a haven for the acquisition of Secondary Education which was a very rare facility in those days. He personally initiated and took charge of plans for the beautification of Ife town. The first set of modern buildings in lIe- Ife were designed by him. He personally supervised their construction in all cases where the owners lived abroad - in Ibadan, Lagos or elsewhere. As a Natural Ruler, Oba Adesoji Aderemi can be described as a RADICAL TRADITIONALIST in the same illustrious brackets as Oba Ladapo Ademola, the late Alake of Egbaland. Reformation - especially radical reformation - 'and traditionalism go ill together. But Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the occupant of the throne of Oduduwa, was always one of those in the forefront of every radical socio-political change that occurred in Nigeria throughout his time. He advanced the cause of education, in all its facets, in Ile- Ife. Without his unrelenting efforts and his tremendous weight, the Local Government Reform introduced in the Western Region in 1953 would never have passed through the House of Chiefs. The Education and Health Levy, introduced in the same year, would have had a much rougher and more turbulent reception without the resolute backing of Oba Aderemi and Oba Ademola. Oba Aderemi wholeheartedly supported the 5- minimum wage, and saw to it that the local government staff and his personal staff were among the first to benefit from it. The motion for the creation of a Midwest Region out of the then Western Region received his blessing. There was scarcely any innovation or major measure in the Western Region which I did not clear with the late Oni (and of course the late Alake Oba Ademola) before embarking upon it. To me as Leader of Party in Power and as Premier, the late Oni of Ife was indeed a pillar of strength: he was guide, philosopher and friend. Sometimes, it did take time for us to reach a concensus. But once an agreement was reached, Oba Aderemi could be absolutely depended upon to fulfil his part. He was a frontline nationalist. If he had not been an Oba, he would, in my judgment, have occupied a position of leadership in the affairs of the country as from the late thirties such as some of us have occupied since the early fifties. The progress of Nigeria towards independence was greatly accelerated by the motion-for-self-government-in-1956 filed by Tony Enahoro in 1953 at the instance of the Action Group of Nigeria. Without the mighty backing of the late Oni and the late Alake, the motion would not have even reached the Order Paper. Late Sir John Macpherson had left no stone unturned in trying to get Oba Aderemi and Oba Ademola to dissuade us from pursuing the motion. In the alternative, he had urged them to mobilise all Western Region Obas and Chiefs to oppose the move. This is not the place to disclose the diverse forms of cajolery and veiled threats employed by Sir John during the discussions. But the late Oni and the late Alake immovably stood their ground. The emancipation of their country was of greater concern to them than any material thing or official honour that could be gained, or any inconvenience that could befall them. When the motion for Independence was killed in the House of Representatives by the NPC's dilatory tactics, the Action Group and NCNC Members walked out of the House.
Click here to read full news..
