My becoming Ataoja was a miracle–Oba Olanipekun

Today, September 20, 2025, events marking the 15th coronation anniversary of the 16th Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, climaxed at a grand ceremony on the field of the Technical College on Osogbo-Ede highway. Earlier, Oba Olanipekun, in his palace at Oja Oba, had shared his life adventure from childhood through his journey to the stool with TheTabloid.net. Excerpts

You appear a shy but firm person. How do you combine these two contrasting attributes?

Let me consider your this description as a compliment. I think it is good for others to assess you than you praising or condemning yourself. Again, I appreciate this compliment because it tells me who I am in the eyes of those who see me. But am I really shy? Well, let me say I am reserved right from childhood. Firmness, yes, that is me. You could even say I am stubborn but positively. I am a determined person from childhood and my underprivileged status back then contributed to both my reservation and determination.

Can you expatiate on this?

I wasn’t born with silver spoon in my mouth, even though my late father was a successful farmer of cash crops and my mother a trader, for whom I hawked variety of items in this town after school hours. There was hardly a place I didn’t carry my tray of things to sell in this town. That was a little way I was helping my mother. I was following my father to his farm too at Dagbolu where we later have Steel Rolling Mill and Machine Too. Going to Dagbolu then was like travelling. I thank God today that development has transformed the place and others that used to be outskirts of the town.

How did that your status influence you?

I was a determined person but I didn’t have courage to do some things. It will surprise you that I didn’t know how to approach a lady for dating despite the fact that some of them had interest in me. This constraint checked me from doing some things which could have affected my later accomplishments in life. I concentrated with my studies and became the best Geography student among my classmates at St Marks Modern School Osogbo through the influence of an elder brother, Mr Lasisi Bamidele. I first read a Geography text book that simplified the subject for me in his room. But above all, I leave everything that comes to me as an act of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful. I believe Allah is in total control of everything that happens here and in the hereafter.

Which primary school did you attend?

I attended Baptist Day Primary School, Oke Okanla, Osogbo. I was enrolled in 1965. I participated in the school’s drama society.

Can you recall some of your memorable events in the drama group?

Something happened to me in our group, but whom I am today has healed it.

What was that?

I was showing interest in playing the role of a king but I would always be denied that role and left to play the role of subjects. I would be disappointed but I would accept it in good faith. That was the situation till I passed out of the school.

How do you reconcile that experience with whom you have become now?

That is an act of God. It is unbelievable that the rejected stone is now the pillar. I give glory to the Almighty Allah for pushing me to this height. I can say it that my becoming the Ataoja was a miracle.

How do you mean?

It was a miracle in the sense that I was the least qualified, in terms of money required to contest. Also, the stool was very attractive to my spirit when my mother was praising me with panegyrics of royalty of Larooye Gbadewolu. I also remember some soothsayers prophesy, especially one who said he saw a crown on my head and told my ailing father to send me to school and Islamic class. So, I attended Ile keu at Oluponna Compound. Can you believe that later I also attended a Celestial Church of Christ at Oke Ayepe, following brother Lasisi who had converted to Christian? Through my going to the church, I first saw head of the church, late Pastor Oshoffa when he came to Osogbo. It was my father’s threat that made me leave the church but I owe my broad knowledge today to my experience during my formative years.

I learnt you once worked as a teacher in Ila Orangun?

After I completed my Teachers Training College (Grade II), my first job was in Ila Orangun. As part of my destiny to the throne, I became close to the Orangun of Ila, late Oba Williams Ayeni. I was always visiting his palace and hanging out with Baba and a chief known as Obanla. Not only that, when I was a student of the St Andrew’s College of Education in Oyo, I was close to the Alaafin, late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.

Was there a particular thing you would always remember about your late mother in her lifetime?

There are many things to remember about my loving, precious mother who laid down her life for me to reach where I am today. But for the purpose of your question, I will say her consistent sermon to me comes to mind first. She was always urging me to remain calm in face of provocation. She would preach to me to distance myself from quarrel with anyone because God knew where he was taking me to in the future. Those words transformed into the compass through which I navigated my life till today.

You said your mother laid down her life for you to become whom you are. Can you shed light on this?

Every mother makes sacrifice for her children. That’s what I mean but more specifically, my mother was very sick, she died, but just a few months later, I became the Ataoja. I hope you can use that sequence to understand my submission that she laid down her life for me to live the life I am living today.

Fifteen years on the throne. How is the experience?

We shouldn’t go into that. If we start now, we may not leave here today. The experience is both positive and negative but in everything, we must thank Allah. I am thanking Him for seeing me through till today. Where do I start from? Was it a threat to remove me while in Ipebi? Or other issues related to challenges on the throne? I am happy that Osogbo of today is not the Osogbo I inherited from my predecessor, my father, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi who showed me love during his reign. He did his best for the town too. It was during his time we became the capital of Osun State, an achievement every Oba prayed for. But when he was out of the country, his fourth position among Osun State traditional rulers, was snatched away in favour of Oluwo. But I can’t fold my arms. I remain number four among Obas in the state.

How would you assess Governor Ademola Adeleke administration in the past two and half years?

I have said things about this admnistration and all I have said came from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate the admnistration; it is a doing admnistration; it is an admnistration which believes in honouring promises. That is government of integrity. By the time the Oke fia flyover is completed and commissioned for use, my town would have been opened up to further development. Yes, a royal father is a father to all political parties but a royal father also has right to commend an admnistration that is meeting his expectations, in terms of development needs of his town.