From Palace demolition to modernisation: Admiring Aragbiji’s emulative royal style
By Jimoh Olorede
Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV is the fifteenth Aragbiji of Iragbijiland. He ascended the throne of his forefathers on 22nd of May, 2008, and since his ascension, the town has been leapfrogging developmentally as one of the fastest growing communities in Osun State. For reasons of his eagerness to develop his community, and because of his high taste, the Aragbiji makes haste without making a mistake, just as he doesn’t hesitate to initiate any unprecedented development-oriented project in selfless and public interest of his community.
Since ascension of the 15th Aragbiji, there has been a lot of tremendous transformation in the palace. Today, there’s a cluster of monumental buildings at the Aragbiji palace courtesy of Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun the 4th. For instance, a dumpsite at the Palace, which remained a dungeon for some creatures before his ascension and royal assumption, is what this development-motivated monarch has now turned to a Recreational Palace Pavilion.
The conception of the idea of the pavilion was both novel and foreign, as Oba Olabomi got an inspiration from the Asantehene of the Asante Kingdom in Kumasi, Ghana in 2009 on his entourage of the late Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade to the 75th Reunification of the Asante Kingdom. As someone who is highly interested in development, the growth-joyous and desirous Aragbiji came back home and replicated what he saw at the Asantehene’s palace in Ghana.
Also, the main Palace, known as ‘Aganju,’ which is the Aragbiji’s Royal Office built in 1959 as a modern Palace, has been reworked, rejuvenated and totally remodeled by Oba Abdur-Rasheed.
In December 2017, nine years after his installation as the 15th Aragbiji, Oba Olabomi did the unprecedented by demolishing the Aragbiji’s palace residential building built via communal efforts between 1992 and 2002, when it was eventually commissioned, and which he inherited consequent upon his installation! The reason for the demolition according to Oba Abdur-Rasheed was mainly because of some defects and deterioration of the building which rendered it almost uninhabitable, as there used to be pools of water forming a flood whenever rain fell!
So, a Building Committee was set up and headed by the then Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, who later became governor of the state and now Hon. Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, wisely decided that the building be demolished.
However, a few people received the act of the demolition with amazement and bewilderment! This set of subjects opined that Oba Olabomi had goofed by removing the palace roof. Reacting to the demolition, there were disgruntled and scornful comments from the critics, who in their opinion, believed that Oba Olabomi wouldn’t get the resources to rebuild the demolished palace.
Meanwhile, as a classic, highly exposed and well-educated traditional ruler, Oba Ayotunde’s choice of a palace is a magnificent royal edifice that befits the magnificent throne of the eminent Aragbiji of Iragbijiland. With his versatility and novelty, this great monarch has given the Palace a facelift befitting of a royalty, and today, the successful completion of the elephantine, gigantic ultra modern new Aragbiji Palace has made the commissioning epochal, celebratory and eventful.
The newly constructed Aragbiji Ultra Modern Palace is worth N500 million. The Palace, according to the site Engineers, has 9 Rooms, a Throne Hall, a Mini Conference Room, a Double Volume Area (Gallery) and a spacious Sitting Room. All these features make the new palace not just a residential building but also a presidential edifice.
Also, with the permeation of his royal grace, Oba Abdur-Rasheed embarked on a ten-room Standard and Royal Suite for guests at the back of the main residential palace building. This is a rare feat in any palace in Nigeria given the modernity of the structures of the new building and the quality of materials used. This has also been completed and will be commissioned with the new ultra modern palace. As the Head of his monarchical government, Aragbiji rules over his subjects and community with unwritten constitutional-cum-traditional norms with his government deriving its authority and sovereignty from people’s acceptability. Aragbiji doesn’t rule autocratic but democratic, and this is exactly what distinguishes his monarchical style of government from others. He doesn’t belong to the category of some traditionalists who exhibit the habit of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, and by so-doing consequently sacrificing their future gains to satisfy their present needs.
Another uniqueness of the Odundun’s leadership has to do with the openness and transparency of his traditional government. This, because of their corruption tendency, is lacking amongst many of our leaders who are in positions of authority in Nigeria. The Aragbiji would work very hard to raise funds for communal project execution by leveraging on the acceptability, goodwill and love of his subjects, the new Ultra Modern Aragbiji Palace building inclusive, but he won’t involve himself in the expenditure of the funds.
This has earned him and his emulative monarchical government public credibility and acceptability. As Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun the IV will be playing host to prominent dignitaries from all walks of life at the commissioning of his newly built humongous palace this Thursday, sincere appreciation goes to all who have made an indelible mark in their contributions to the success of the new palace and development of the ancient town.
Dr. Jimoh Olorede is an illustrious son of Iragbiji, Osun State
