The Owa
Obokun of Ijesha land His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr (Prince) Gabriel Adekunl
Aromolaran has passed on at the age of 87 years. The much respected sovereign,
who passed on a brief sickness on the 11th of September 2024, ruled this big
kingdom for 42 blessed years. He died in the Obafemi Awolowo University
Teaching Hospital in Ile– Ife but the information got to the public next day
through the Asiwaju of Ijesa land.
A Lifetime
of Leadership
Aromolaran
was born on the 13th of October, 1937 in Ilesa within the former Southern
Region of the Nigeria he has been of Aromolaran royal lineage. He was
officially crowned the king on the 15th of May 1982 thus displacing his
preceding king, Peter Adediran Olatunji. His anointment began the reign that
was to last over forty years in which he became decisive factor in the cultural
and political activities of Ijesha.
Not only
Oba Aromolaran was a traditional ruler but he was a versatile man of many parts
and many achieved. He was a publisher before he became a king as evidenced by
his passion in knowledge and dissemination of information. Another major part
of his life’s foundation was his loyalty to the Christian religion that he
followed throughout his kingship.
A reign of
progress with tradition putting together the elements of the title it was clear
that the present reign referred to was a success which symbolized the progress
of the country with respect to tradition.
In the
four and a half decades that He ruled the Arakesh kingdom Oba Aromolaran was a
great force and pillar behind the progress of Ijeshaland. He was a patron of
the arts preserving the Ijesha traditions still he was a icon of the
modernization, his kingdom was progressive in many areas like education,
infrastructural development and growth. This leadership made him to be
respected not only by the people of Osun State but also the entire people in
Nigeria.
Besides,
as a custodian of tradition Oba Aromolaran had an opportunity to participate in
many ceremonies and traditional events which were important for Ijesha people.
He was able to bring back focus on traditional forms of governance while at the
same time meeting the challenges of a new age.
Legacy and Impact
He therefore becomes a symbol of a bygone era
in the history of Ijeshaland especially having just lost their beloved Oba.
This year sees the 42nd anniversary of his reign and his was a great accomplishment
in terms of development, culture, and leadership among the people. While being
simply an emblem of authority, as the 40th Owa Obokun, he was deeply engaged in
the political and social realities of Ijesha people.
All that he did for his people and for the
Yoruba culture in general will be felt by the following generations. Perhaps
the people of Ijeshaland and the Yoruba nation in general are now in a mourning
stead as they anticipate for change over to new leadership while still
celebrating the life of a worn out monarch who gave his best in the discharge
of his responsibilities with intelligence and love.
There is no more Oba Gabriel Adekunle
Aromolaran but his family, the entire Ijesha kingdom and everyone whose life he
touched will continue to remember him as a great leader and tradition bearer of
the Ijesha people.
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