I was shot for not supporting Awolowo — 98-yr-old monarch

9 years ago

I was shot for not supporting Awolowo — 98-yr-old monarch

A former teacher and the Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti, 98-year-old Oba Dr. Michael Ayoola Arowolo II, J.P, tells KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE his journey in life

How old are you and how was growing up like?

I am 98 years old. I was born by pagan-parents because there was no Christianity in our place at the time. My parents were farmers. Whenever they went to their farm, they used to leave me behind with a neighbour. My mother, a firewood seller, used to strap me on her back when I was still a baby until I came of age. We used to strike stones together to make fire then. We used palm fronds for bed as there was no mattress and clothes were expensive. Special attention was given to children then because no mother would leave her child below four years behind. When I was four years old, I noticed a church behind our house. The congregation was in service, so, I decided to go into the church to observe the environment because I was attracted by their songs. Unknown to me, my parents had started searching for me in the town. My people then approached the priest, Mr. Aina Omotade, who hailed from Usi-Ekiti to help them search for me in the church. There I was, a little boy sitting down and observing the congregation with no clear understanding of what was happening around me. I was in a strange world. My parents frowned on my attitude because they didn’t like the church. After the event, they decided to tie my legs with ropes so that I won’t be able to go to the church anymore whenever they went to the farm. When I became of age, I was taken to the farm in Oro, now known as Iloro, of which I am now the king. I used to sit by an iroko tree watching my father tilling the land. I started learning from there. Today, by the grace of God, I have built a house in that place. We used to eat roasted yam. My mother worked very hard to buy clothes for me then as the only surviving child of her nine children. My forefathers came from Ile-Ife and we were the first people to build a house on the land. Ijero is one of the few places in Ekiti where it is very convenient to build a house. There is nothing like rocks or hills. At a time, a land dispute broke out between us and Odo-Owa people. The Odo-Owa people contacted Osun, another town, to support them in fighting against us over the land. We were not prepared for the war. But we were lucky that the day they came for the attack coincided with the day our hunters were on expedition. On that fateful day, my father did not go to the farm with us. I was with two other children. We had just left the farm settlement when I started hearing war drums. I climbed the tree and saw the enemies approaching. They entered our farm and ate our food before leaving. Hence, we changed our route and quickly left. The news spread to the town very fast. Our hunters repelled the attack and disarmed the invading army and collected their guns; 42 of them. The leader of the mercenaries died on his way to the town. The District Officer, who was a white man, then intervened. Our people were arrested alongside the 42 people from Osu and imprisoned by the district officer for the death of the leader of the army from Osu. So the two towns were barred from going to the farm settlement because of the war.

How did you start school?

My father relocated to a farm near our village. One day, I went with an old man to Ila-Orangun for farming. There was a school called UNA in Ila-Orangun. Ila-Orangun was famous for palm wine tapping. We worked very hard. I spotted the school and showed interest. But I was told I would not be taken because I had grown beyond elementary school. Then, if you could stretch your hand over your head to touch your ear, you were considered to be above the school age because there was no birth record. At the time, I could make up to 200 heaps of yam daily. I was unhappy and felt disappointed. There was a man from Ibadan whom I met and told my problems. The man who saw me as a humble boy promised to help. He taught me a trick to use for the white man who was in charge of the school. He taught me never to allow my hand touch my ears. He said if the white man, Mr. Philips, dragged my hand over my head, I should never allow it to touch my ear. Philips told asked me to kneel down and stretch my hand over my head to touch my ear; I did not allow it to touch my ear. He tried to drag my hand to touch the ear to no avail. That was how I passed the test and got enrolled in the school. Then, it was just nine days to leave for our town with the man that took me to Ila-Orangun. The man said he could not leave me behind because my people would accuse him of selling me if I did not return with him to Iloro. So, we agreed that I would escape back to Ila-Orangun after returning to Iloro.

Did your parents support the idea of going to school?

My parents were not in support of my schooling. My father wanted me to and learn Ifa (oracle) in Omu-Aran in Kwara State. He asked me to return the next day for a trip to Omu-Aran. Before sunrise, I sneaked out of the house and returned to Ila-Orangun. I took up menial jobs to train myself; I tilled the land on weekends and attended school on week days. There, a man volunteered to teach me in extra mural classes. The man who housed me then supported me a lot. I later attended a High school in Kaduna owned by an Ogbomosho man but had a Calabar teacher. It was there I learnt how to speak and write Hausa. Then I was staying in Governor’s quarters. Every morning, on my way to school, I used to pack coals because I was going through the railway line. I would first take the coal to the house of a teacher called Mr. E. U. Bassey before going to the school. Mr. Bassey was a no-nonsense man. He would flog me for coming late to the school. The day he realised I was the one bringing the coal to sell to his house, he stopped beating me. Mr.Bassey gave me extra lessons so that I would be ahead of others. He also offered me free breakfast. In Kaduna, I changed my name to Ayo d!ckson after a white man because my father did not train me. When we finished schooling, they took some of us to the army, police and scouts. I was the first Scout Master from Ekiti. I learnt swimming. One day I almost got drowned while learning but the white man insisted I must learn. As a scout master I learnt how to serve the community selflessly. To answer your question, my father did not support my education, it was only the family of my mother that supported me.

How did you gain employment?

There was a teacher at Ora-Igbomina, who had a fall one day and got injured. I went with him to Yaba Orthopaedics Hospital, Lagos, for treatment. He was the one who took me to his father in Kaduna. I trained as a teacher in Ora before returning to Kaduna. From Kaduna, I went to Bauchi through Jos. I met three teachers in the school. I spent nine years, eight months in Bauchi but only spent one year as a teacher. The parent of one of my students later got me a job in PWD before I became Oba in February 1959. I bought a piece of land and established a Baptist Church in Bauchi in the 50s and took P.O. Box 001 for them before leaving. About 32 people from the church visited me last year.

How did you become king?

My mother visited me at Bauchi. Shortly after, I received a message that my mother was dyingand I should come home quickly to take care of her. As the only surviving son of her nine children, I had no choice than to go home. The Europeans I was working with loved me so much. They gave me eight months leave of absence with a promise to pay me if I returned. But when I got home, my people made me king despite my threat to run away. They told me the late king loved me so much and had decreed that I succeeded him. I am the 17th monarch. There are three ruling houses in Iloro. The late Oba was from Aje ruling house while I am from Arowolo ruling house. We are from Ile-Ife. We are direct sons of the Ooni. Our forefathers were twin brothers with the king of Ifewara. My kingship was confirmed by the then Premier of Western Region, Samuel Ladoke Akintola. I became the king in February 1959.

How many wives do you have?

I have six wives and I am blessed with over 20 children. Some of them are into missionary work.

How did you meet your first wife?

I married her at Ora-Igbomina. I loved to marry from among my people but I wanted an educated person which was difficult then in my place in Iloro. I knew my wife when she visited her brother in Bauchi. I approached the brother who supported me. She was of high class status. I too was rich because I had built my house close to the Emir of Bauchi’s palace. I was close to the likes of Tafawa Balewa.

What is the relationship between your town and the people of Odo-Owawhom you had problems with over land matter?

We are getting on even though the dispute over the piece of land is still on-going. We are still in court. But that has not affected our relationship. We have inter-married.

Have you travelled abroad?

When I became king, I was among the very few Obas that could speak the English Language at the time in the Ijero Local Government Area. After spending six years as Oba, I represented Nigeria in London and the United States in Cocoa Research Conferences. I spent two and half months in the US and London. I visited many countries in Europe and about 17 states in the US. I also went to Israel to represent Nigeria at an agricultural investment forum.

How would you rate your reign?

My reign has brought good roads, the first secondary school, water, telecommunications, health centre, police station, filling station, bank and new town hall among others. As a Christian king, I encouraged the coming of Islam into the town. The first mosque in the town was built in my palace despite resistance from some quarters. To add to the achievements, we have also become the headquarters of the newly created Irewolede Local Council Development Authority.

When did you become a Christian?

I became a Christian in 1944 at Ila-Orangun. I was a primary school student. There was a Christian Missionary School owned by the Anglican Church close to me.

Did your parents die as Christians?

My father died in 1952 while my mother died in 1963. They never went to church.

What are the challenges you have faced on the throne?

During the rift between the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his successor, Samuel Akintola, I was attacked for perceiving to be supporting Akintola against Awolowo. On that day, 10 men stormed my palace, dragged me to a bush where they shot me. They left after they thought I was dead and carted away my property. Luckily, I survived. I threatened to vacate the stool but my people begged me to stay. I was taken to a hospital for treatment after which I visited Akintola in Ogbomoso. During investigation, I was asked if I knew my assailants, but I replied no because I did not want them to come back and harm anybody. The Police gave me 12 escorts to Iloro. The people who attacked me died mysteriously one after the other.

How do you relax?

I have never been a heavy alcohol drinker. Although my friends used to drink when we were still young, I never went beyond one bottle of alcohol. I used to take one bottle just to please my friends so that they don’t read any meaning to my attitude.

What is the secret of your good health?

I eat good food, especially rice and beans. I eat yam once in a week. Even though I can’t walk about on my own again, I still do exercise by stamping my feet on the ground several times. Above all, God is the secret of my good health. He is the one that gives good health.