FOOTPRINTS OF A ROYAL TITAN, OBA (PROF) P.A.O. ISE-OLUWA OLUYEDE

As the Ayede Ogbese Royal Council and the people of the gateway kingdom to the North- East of Akure, the capital of Ondo State, South – West Nigeria unite and celebrate the life and times of their monarch, His Royal Majesty Peter Adetunmbi Olasehinde Oluyede IV, Ise Oluwa I, who was caught up with his ancestors and the common wealth of the celestial in the early hours of Tuesday July 14, 2015, the formative and transformational footprints of the Oluyede Dynasty in the last one hundred years or more take the front burner.

Oba P.A.O. Iseoluwa Oluyede consolidated the foundational legacies of his forebears, particularly, his own father Joshua Amudede Oluyede I, who gave the community of Ayede – Ogbese, an identity of its own and autonomy within the larger Akure sub ethnic group. Instead of an hegemonic closed community, the Oluyede Royal family conceived and nurtured with other savvy members of the town, a truly multi – ethnic and properly integrated sub-urban Nigerian settlement. Thus before bowing to the will of God and the overwhelming demand of his people as the leader they wanted, Oba Oluyede, an accomplished Professor of law, distinguished member of the Nigerian appellate bench, erudite author and scholar, a dedicated family man and committed Christian first ensured that his means of livelihood was secured in firm way.

He was always at total peace on how to inter-face between the rigors of being a first class public servant and notable academic and the required common touch and native intelligence requisite to leading rural folks.

Life started for Oba Peter Iseoluwa Oluyede by understudying his father, Joshua Amudede Oluyede, the first major community head for Ayede Ogbese and his mum, Mrs. Ogunseyin Oluyede perform rudimentary, and sometimes hard, routines on the farm, preparing herbs, games hunting and perfecting his skills of roofing and carpentry technology learnt from a master carpenter in Ijebuland.

The home in which he grew up was vast, royal and polygamous. He had to relate with all the eight women in his father's life as if all of them were his biological mother. His siblings, the late Oba Samuel Adelegan Oluyede, Olori Deborah Welola Adesida, Prince Adekunle Oluyede, Princess Elepuru, Oba Sunday Aderemi Oluyede, Prince Ayodeji Oluyede, Princess Fadeke Obe (one time reagent of Ayede Ogbese), Princess Elizabeth Bello, Prince Adeniji Oluyede and Princess Aarinola each and all had very unique relationships with him. Baale Joshua Oluyede always reminded all his wards and wives the golden immortal injunction in the Holy Bible that they must do whatever their hands could find in order not to be idle, lazy or poor. All the sires of Oluyede grew up strong and had good skills.

Apart from carefully watching his parents as the first agents of socialization and role models, as a prince, he did not toll the path of many princes or princesses of the time, some of whom savoured the vulgarity of avoiding schools because anyone from royal lineage was not expected to be flogged. He learnt very quickly in life that education was a rapid path to social ascendancy in the new Nigeria the colonial masters were running. He brazed up and latched on to schooling opportunities. He was passing brilliantly at his tests as an elementary pupil at St. David's Anglican School, Ijomu, Akure. He excelled in sports, especially soccer and music

After elementary school, he proceeded to Ondo Boys High School where he wrote and passed his General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams in 1951. He would later join the public service and work as a produce officer.

In 1952, he rode on his bicycle on an Ibadan street and met the acquaintance of then Miss. Titilola Dorcas Ajayi and her friend Susan. The two friends had come to Ibadan the then seat of the regional colonial administration for Western Nigeria, on a break from Saints John/Mary Teachers College, Owo, in the defunct Ondo Province.

Titilola was the daughter of Mrs. Julianah Oladunni Ajayi and Mr. Solomon Falade Ajayi. Titi's mum came from Otunga while the father came from Isinbode Ekiti. The father worked as registrar in the courts established by British authorities in colonial Nigeria.

The opportunity of riding into the two friends developed into a significant friendship that would culminate in a lasting marital union. Olori Titilola Oluyede captured the details of that meeting in an interview with this writer. “He was smartly dressed. He rode on a glistering bicycle. My friend Susan and I did not know who he was, but not many men of his age grade had such a ride (bike) in those days. We did not know whether he was a prince or not, but he was quite alright”. He rode towards us and we were embarrassed that he might have heard what we were saying on the impression we had about him.

“We thought he was going to ride into us, instead, he applied the brakes and softly asked to talk to me. I asked him to be sure that which of us did he want to talk to, he said it was me. I then said it was ok for him to talk to me in the presence of my friend. He got my name and asked where I was from. I told him I was a student of teachers' college at Owo”.

The two friends thought the short talk with the young man whom they hardly knew would end there, but to their amazement, when they finally arrived their destination, they met him in deep conversation with the individuals they had come to greet. The two hosts were Afe Babalola and Zacheus Adejumo. Unbeknownst to Titi and Susan, their new acquittance was a friend to their big brothers whom they had come to visit. The closeness between Zachi and Oluyede meant that a bridge had existed to cross to the next level in their friendship. The two fell in love and later married in 1958.

Afe Babalola would blaze on to become one of Nigeria's legal luminaries. Zacheus Adejumo worked on his Ph.D. in English studies, P.A.O. Oluyede with his wife, having consummated their marriage a first child, Ajibola, that came in 1958 and Segun (1960), later passed his G.C.E at advanced level, Intermediate LL.B, by private study before leaving for the United Kingdom with his wife in 1960 where he passed the English Bar Finals in 1962; the LL.B in 1963 and the LL.M in 1965.

His wife, on the other hand enrolled for GCE A' levels and passed, she then proceeded to the Institute of Education to earn a certificate in English studies. She would later obtain a degree in English from the University of Ife and taught in various schools before eventually rising to the level of principal at Igbobi Girls' College, Lagos and later at Wahab Folawiyo Comprehensive High School also in Lagos.

The future king returned to Nigeria and joined the University of Ife in 1965. In 1967 he went back to the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and obtained his PH.D and subsequently returned to University of Ife (now O.A.U), where he lectured for some years before he went to the University of Dares- Salam as a Senior Lecturer, in Tanzania, East Africa. Subsequently, he obtained his LL.D by examination from University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Oba (Prof) Peter Oluyede is one of only three Nigerians, indeed Africans to have obtained LL.D degree by examination from British Universities. The other two being Late Professor T.O Elias and Professor Ben O. Nwabueze.

Professor P.A.O Oluyede at various times taught at several Universities in Nigeria including Ife, Lagos, Benin, Ekpoma, Calabar, Ibadan, and Abuja. He was also a faculty member of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Lagos, Nigeria. He was an accomplished and brilliant member of the Bench. He was a foremost authority in Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Conveyancing, authoring several books and articles in these and other areas of law.

In 1975 Dr. Peter Oluyede (as he then was) was appointed an Assistant Director of legal Services at Federal Ministry of Defence where he served with merit until he was invited by the Ondo State Government in 1976 to serve as the pioneer Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary (S.G and P.S) Ministry of Justice of the State.  He remained in the Ondo State civil service until 1983 when he was simultaneously appointed as Professor of Law by both the University of Lagos and University of Benin.

He chose to join the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, UNILAG where he was a member of the faculty until 1985 when he was appointed by the Presidency to the office of Judge/Member of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja. He served in this capacity for over twenty years before he voluntarily retired on 30th December, 2008.

As a public servant, and later as a Judge, he kept dignified aloofness from politicians. Apart from his days in U.K. when he paid scanty attention to the manifestoes of the Labour Party, he tried never to hobnob with politicians or meddle in political issues. Yet, he always encouraged his family to pursue their own political dreams. He never objected to the hope of his first son to contest the primaries of the Ondo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic.

His second son, an Engineer, is a well known politician in Ondo state. More interesting is the fact that he never opposed his wife's involvement in tough political engagements. Olori Titilola Oluyede was a pioneer member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Following his retirement from the Tribunal, Professor Oluyede was persuaded to and served as the Pioneer Provost, College of Law, Afe-Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti in 2009.

Professor Peter Adetunmbi Oluyede was deeply involved in the activities that legitimately led to the creation of the Diocese of Akure Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria. He was one of the few that represented the Community at various stages and particularly before Archbishop T.O Olufosoye the then Anglican Primate and Metropolitan of the Province of Nigeria. For nine years, from 1983, he was Bishop’s nominee and member of Synod. He was currently an elected as well as the Bishop’s nominee for the present Synod. He was also an active member of the Saint David’s cathedral Standing Committee for many years. He was the “Baba Ijo” Saint Andrew’s Church Ayede Ogbese from 2000 and was awarded the title of Grand Commander in Christian Faith (G.C.C.F) by Oke Osun Anglican Diocese of Nigeria.

Professor P.A.O Oluyede became the Alayede of Ayede-Ogbese on 11th November, 2010. Oba (Prof.) P.A.O Ise-Oluwa Oluyede IV was given the staff of office on the 26th November, 2010 and ruled until July 14^th 2015 when he went to be with the Lord at the age of 86. He had 6 children and several Grandchildren.

Already established as a person of high repute, he always found time to attend to issues relating to the community of his birth. Professor Oluyede would travel a distance of about four hundred miles to assist in community development initiatives. He would sit with his siblings and his aged aunt, Mama Awopegba, give listening ears and proffer solution to seemingly complicated issues. Any harvest thanksgiving celebration hardly passed at his small parish, St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Ayede Ogbese, without him putting a regular, annual attendance.

He joined others like Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere, Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Femi Adekanye, Professor Williams Olu Aderonmu and Chief Oladipo Ojo Abitogun to maintain an elitist support for the clamour of the town for their own comprehensive high school. This demand materialised in September of 1979.

When he was later appointed to head the Chieftaincy Affairs Ministry of Ondo State, he made sure that matters relating to the rating of the headship of communities across the state were never relegated. It was a common occurrence to find Professor Peter Oluyede, at the invitation of the Principal of Community Comprehensive High School, Mr. Emmanuel Dupe Ayodele in 1985, hold chalk stick and take students preparing for West African Examinations, through salacious periods in Government and Civics.

Professor Oluyede was the then Chairman of the school's Board of Governors. He usually rode in his official and personal cars. He was always well dressed. Nonetheless, he left lasting impressions on the pupils and many of them determined to succeed in life.

As the Alayede of Ayede Ogbese, Oba P.A.O. Ise-oluwa Oluyede, decreed environmental and personal hygiene in the community. He disbursed personal funds as micro-credit to support businesses, some of the beneficiaries never paid back. He influenced the citing of magistrate and high courts in the community.

In addition, he suggested and counselled his royal court on matters of honour, integrity and transparency so that value could be added to their nobility. He also ensured and supervised the re-construction of the town's palace to a stunning edifice. He introduced unique style of administration and receipt of levies in the running of the popular market in the town to the envy of people far and near. He was royalty par excellence.

In line with the legacy of establishing schools, for which he and his wife, Olori Titilola were well known, they immediately established the St. Peter's Group of Schools within the precinct of their private quarters. Before ascending the throne, the Oluyedes owned and ran the famous Tunmbi Titi International School, Akure. They also started lobbying key government actors to remember the public schools in the community concerning standardization.

In tandem with the strategic position of Ayede Ogbese as a market town, he committed personal funds to the building of sheds and stalls. He never forgot to remind the government of the state to keep electoral promise of lifting the market up to the international level envisaged by Governor Olusegun Mimiko. More physical developments would have been witnessed in the community had the government acted with the same commitment displayed by Oba Oluyede.

However, the consistent marginalisation of persons from his domain in matters relating to socio-political developments and appointments remained a sour taste for him.

He led an onslaught on illicit cultivation and usage of marijuana in his community and restored the joy of arable and cash agriculture. He left the town better organised, disciplined and motivated than he met it.

In spiritual matters, Oba Oluyede worked assiduously with both Christians and Muslims to build befitting places of worship. His home church witnessed phenomenal reconstruction that would qualify it to be described as a mini – cathedral.

Oba Oluyede would always be remembered for reaching out in real diplomatic fashion to promote bond, trust, cooperation and peace amongst traditional rulers in the kingdoms that constitute Akure consciousness and Ondo state in general.

During his reign, Ayede Ogbese was named as the host community for Federal University of Technology, Akure's School of Health Sciences. In the five years that Oba (Professor) Peter Adetunmbi Olasehinde Oluyede reigned, he was the face of honour dignity and reckoning that Ayede Ogbese wanted and ultimately got. His time was Ayede Ogbese's finest hour.

The order of activities for his rites of passage runs from Tuesday August 4, 2015 with a service of songs at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Ayede Ogbese at 10:00am; candle light possession round town at 5pm on Wednesday August 5, 2015: Christian Wake Keep at Ayede Ogbese Palace grounds by 5pm on Thursday August 6, 2015 and; Christian interdenominational funeral service and reception at the palace grounds, Ayede – Ogbese on Friday August 7, 2015. On Saturday, August 8, 2015, his daughter, Princess Kofoworola Olagbaju would be installed as the reagent of the gateway kingdom.

Written by High Chief Oladimeji Abitogun, a Journalist and the Odopetu of Ayede Ogbese.