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FAREWELL TO THE LATE ALAYELUWA OBA (DR) JOSEPH OLUWADARE AGUNBIADE OTUTUBIOSUN III, JP, THE PARAMOUNT RULER AND OLOBA OODAYE OF OBA-ILE FROM 1987 – 2025
By
The Rt Revd Dr Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi, FICT, FAT
Some struggle to reign while some are destined to reign. It is amazing how circumstances of life turn around.
What becomes an ill-fated encounter for some could be an opportunity for others to shine. In all, life has to be lived the way God allows it. And no one, absolutely no one, has a direct control over it. We can only pray for the grace to spend our time well.
Much of these are true in discussing the life and times of Kabiyesi, Oba (Dr) Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade, Otutubiosun III, JP, whose nearly 38years reign as the Oloba Oodaye and paramount ruler of Oba-Ile Kingdom, Ondo State, formally ended on 9th May, 2025 when Eketa Iare, Elemo Epeparise, High Chief Gbemisayo Oluwatimilehin, formally announced to the world the transition of the great Oba Agunbiade Otutubiosun.
Yoruba Obas are not said to die; rather they join their ancestors or in some local parlance the pillar is said to have disconnected (opo ye) or the oba is said to have ascended into the roof or ceiling (oba w’aja), an indication that he has ascended to a higher realm.
Truly, the essence is that the throne that holds the community is never said to die. Even when the human being on it departs, the throne endures as, sooner or later, another individual will be chosen to occupy the throne.
As it is in many places, especially now in Oba-Ile, the eldest daughter of Kabiyesi Oluwadare Agunbiade, Princess Adefoluke Adu (Agunbiade) was chosen and installed as the Regent of the Oloba nine (9) days after the passing of her father. In modern history, one remembers late Princess Aderosoye Omodara who was Regent after the demise of Oloba Amos Omodara in July 1966.
Also fondly remembered is late Princess Aderemi Otutubiosun who became Regent after the short-lived reign of the dynamic and charismatic Oloba Samuel Omoniyi Otutubiosun II in 1968.
It would amount to a disservice to Oba Agunbiade Otutubiosun III if this ode were not written.
The reign of Oba Agunbiade witnessed peace and tranquility, which some would argue was too quiet, certainly because he was such a man of peace.
The period that preceded his reign was full of turbulence, characterised by tension, crisis, fear and division in the community, such that those who knew the time would never wish for a return to that era. This culminated in the deposition of Oba Agunbiade’s predecessor, who was banished to Ikaramu Akoko by the Ondo State Government of late Chief Adekunle Ajasin.
In contrast, the coronation of Oba Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade on September 19, 1987 marked the beginning of a long period of healing, reconciliation, peace and stability in the community.
And it was within the peaceful atmosphere that he reigned, which witnessed progress and various developments within the community.
Oba Agunbiade was truly destined to reign. Owing to the tension and fear that gripped the community following the rejection, deposition and banishment of the erstwhile oba, it was difficult to find a successor. Who would dare to become the next Oloba? No one would; but the then Prince Oluwadare Agunbiade of Egbe Mercy, as registered at St John’s Church, Oba-Ile.
He was of the Akayedo Ruling House, and his grandfather was Oloba Olaluwoye Otutubiosun, who also had a long reign of more than 50 years over his people.
Even though he was the sole candidate for the exalted throne of the Oloba Oodaye of Oba-Ile, the struggle to reach the throne was not easy. Yet the then Prince Agunbiade exhibited humility, courage and dogedness. Between the deposition of the erstwhile Oloba Ilesanmi Orioge II, it took seven (7) years before the Military Governor Ekundayo Babakayode Opaleye formally assented to his selection by the kingmakers.
As if no previous efforts had been made, the village meeting for the old Akure Local Government held at Iju/Itaogbolu Anglican Grammar School gave the clearest indication that an answer might finally have come for the long yearning for royal leadership by the Oba-Ile people. It was when my father of blessed memory,
_Ayapin oberukosayo, Asamo Omolewo Fagbemi presented to the Governor the long standing request of the people for a new monarch.
That was among the final tasks performed by Governor Ekundayo Babakayode Opaleye before leaving Ondo State as its Military Governor (Aug. 1986 – Dec. 1987).
He was succeeded by Navy Captain Olabode Ibiyinka George who later signed the letter of appointment, and presented the instrument and Staff of Office represented by Mr Dele Johnson, Chairman of Akure Local Government.
The pivotal role played by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Professor Ishola Olomola, cannot be forgotten.
He was a contemporary of my father, High Chief Asamo Fagbemi in the Teachers’ College.
The road to the throne was long, arduous and challenging. The interregnum had been tough but ably led by no other than the truly dynamic and charismatic Prime Minister and Oba Ode of his time, High Chief Odofin Adebayo Fabilola supported by Eketa Iare, Elemo Williams Komolafe(Chairman of Kingmakers) and the Iares, Ikomos, Elegbes and the others. Sadly, High Chief Japhet Ogunniyi Aro had died during the struggle in a very frightening circumstance.
With the installation of Oba Joseph Agunbiade, Oba-Ile finally had an Oloba on the throne who was to face various challenges of his own. It was his ability to maintain the peace in the face of various provocations that marked him out.
He was cool, calm, level-headed, determined and destined. Surely, he was the man of the moment for that dispensation! Oba-Ile must not forget.
He was blessed by God, I believe, to reign for long against all odds. The pessimists within and outside Oba-Ile who saw the whole situation did not believe that Oba Oluwadare Agunbiade would last three days let alone three months. Remarkably, he not only exceeded three months or three years, he actually reigned for almost thirty-eight (38) years, having royal relationships with many obas in Ondo State, and especially with Kabiyesi Deji Adelegan Adesida, Deji Adebobajo Adesida, Deji Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju(who was later dethroned) Deji Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo and the incumbent Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.
I have highlighted Akure because the relationship between Akure and Oba-Ile is a specially significant one. They are inseparable just as their monarchs cannot be separated, even if they have moments of disagreement. It is only the duo of Oloba and the Deji that can resolve their differences.
This relationship dates back to the emergence of Oba Gbeyi the eleventh (11th) oba of Akure who came directly from Oba-Ile accompanied by some chiefs to reign in Akure.
With Kabiyesi Deji Adelegan Adesida, Kabiyesi Oloba Agunbiade Otutubiosun III used to meet at the bank of River Ala near Iyeoma Plaza/Fiwasaye Grammar School, as the boundary between Oba-Ile and Akure, to pray together for the peace of their two domains of Akure and Oba-Ile respectively.
That Oloba Agunbiade survived this long is very significant in view of his circumstances, and also bearing in mind that Otutubiosun II reigned for only 60 days while his immediate predecessor from the Elegbeje Ogbo ruling House lasted only 5years before he was dethroned is particularly remarkable and historic.
Surely, it was the doing of the Lord. Who can kill when the Lord does not?
Oba Agunbiade had many struggles as anyone would. Some, he surmounted while the rest he left for the succeeding generation.
Yet he must be remembered for his achievements. He rose from nothing to become a force to be reckoned with; from being a senior Store Officer at the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture to the royalty of first class.
The construction of the modern palace (Aafin Oloba Oodaye) at Umogun Oladeeye is one for which he would forever be remembered.
The story behind the building of the palace is a long one that must be left for another occasion. Suffice it to say that it was the focus and unrelenting efforts of Oloba Agunbiade Otutubiosun III that yielded the modern palace of today.
After the mandatory three-month stay in Elemo’s palace, Oloba Agunbiade moved first, to a family house, and later to his personal house until the completion of the modern palace which was commissioned by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, during the celebration of the 30th year of his reign in 2017.
Oba Agunbiade became the first Oloba to be formally recognized and accorded the status of a First Class Oba in Ondo State, as upgraded by the Ondo State Government of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON.
In the old Akure Local Government, as recommended by the Morgan Report, it was only the Deji of Akure and the Oloba of Oba-Ile that were recognized as beaded crown Obas.
Yet it took Oba Agunbiade 35 years to be upgraded to a first class position, thus becoming the foremost Oba in present Akure North Local Government.
Those Obas in the same class with him during the grading exercise of Morgan in the old Ondo State such as the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Zaki Arigidi, Onirun of Irun and Ajobu of Araromi-Obu had long been upgraded to the first class status.
He suffered the ridicule and injustice but maintained his calm and dignity until he was formally recognised and elevated by the Government of Arakunrin Akeredolu.
“Though weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b)
The massive expansion that Oba-Ile witnessed during his reign would appear to fulfill his dream and aspirations which he shared during his first interview with the defunct Daily Sketch Newspaper of Friday, October 16, 1987.
During his reign, many Oba-Ile sons and daughters were elevated in various careers, vocations and field of endeavours, including Directors, Permanent Secretaries and Head of Service in the Ondo State Civil Service.
These subjects include late Chief L.F. George, and the first Female Head of Service, Chief Dr Mrs Kosemani Kolawole. During his reign Oba-Ile was also blessed with Commissioners such as Honorable Commissioners Omoniyi Omodara and Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, among others who occupied important political offices in government.
In fact, it was during his reign that an Oba-Ile son became an Anglican Bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Ayodeji Fagbemi.
These and many others happened during his reign and the community has been better for it.
Before concluding this piece we should not fail to acknowledge the growth in the number of Christian Churches and prayer houses in the community during his reign.
In 1909, it was only the Anglican Mission introduced by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) that was known in Oba-Ile. In fact, while they suffered persecution; it was Oloba Orioge I that gave them succour.
Much later, the Christ Apostolic Church was established through the instrumentality of late Elder N.S. Oluwatimilehin who was initially a lay reader of the CMS.
At the inception of the reign of Oloba Oluwadare Agunbiade, the churches were very few, certainly not more than six (6); at the end of his reign the churches have grown astronomically.
The Islamic religion has not remained static either. In fact, there is now a very active and virile Central Mosque in the town.
Perhaps more remarkable was the elevation of St John’s Anglican Church, Oba-Ile, where Kabiyesi was a committed parishioner, to the status of an Archdeaconry headquarters for Oba-Ile Archdeaconry.
The church has since successfully hosted the Diocesan Synod and many other Conferences which kabiyesi actively supported during his reign.
The small Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Idalare, of Baba, Alagba ‘Natha’ Oluwatimilehin has also become a District headquarters. So the different churches and organisations have grown.
The small Housing Estate of 1987 has become a huge community today, accommodating various communities within it. The relocation of Shasha Market from Iloro Street, Akure, to Utamo Oloba at Oba-Ile is another important dimension of economic activities within the town, with dual carriage road replacing the old single lane, now leading to the airport.
Regrettably, the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation(OSRC) were relocated elsewhere; but the OSOPADEC secretariat has come to occupy the buildings and entire premises vacated by the OSRC.
Finally, as we appreciate the long reign of Kabiyesi, Oloba Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade Otutubiosun III, his many struggles and achievements, his reign has set the tone for a worthy successor that must be able to surpass him, building on his legacies.
He left a peaceful and united community and his successor must be eminently qualified to face and surmount the challenges of the modern times, possessing both academic and social credentials that are needed for the moment.
Surely, he must be a man of integrity who will command the respect of his subjects and fellow traditional rulers in the Ondo State Council of Obas.
May God guide the Kingmakers in the performance of this important duty.
Oba Agunbiade’s reign has shown that leadership is not only by force but indeed it is for those who have been called to it.
Little wonder, as the preacher has said, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). In humility, he led, and with peace he conquered.
“For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption” (Acts 13:36).
So has been the lot of the 53rd Oloba Oodaye of Oba-Ile, Oba (Dr) Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade Otutubiosun III, JP, _omo iye bi, iba bi, okirikisi omo atorunho, o mokunkun yugbo ebo mosupa ji ere bo; omo apano soro, a soro m’okunrin obitun; asoro mosaka soro, osaka ko ba ti sun on ju lon paja si lona oba; asoro mu gbegidi ori tani ore. Kaaaabiyesi, Ejioba Omo Olale omo ajigbgba urin. Sun un re o!_
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