BY SEYI AFOLABI
Exactly 40 years ago today, the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rowland Ereola Adedeji 1(The Great) answered the Divine Call after a brief illness.
The royal father who was a great visionary was just 56 years old and had spent only eight years on the reverred throne of the Okeho Kingdom when he passed.
But forty years after his very painful exit, his lofty legacies loom large in Okeho and even beyond.
Without dispute, Oba Adedeji’s brief stint remains the most transformative period in the annals of Okeho.
It is on record that he transformed the ancient Okeho into a modern society.
Before ascending the throne of his people on January 25,1975, Okeho was largely a rustic, peasant, agrarian community which was not even on the socio-economic radar of Oyo State.
But with an enviable pedigree and influence which he brought to bear on his Royal office, Oba Adedeji was a game changer.
Prior to answering his people’s call to ascend the throne, Oba Adedeji(of the Adeniji Ruling House)had served the nation meritoriously as an officer of the Nigeria Police Force for twenty four years.
He joined the Force in 1950 and rose to the rank of an Inspector in 1974 when he retired. He served as an instructor at the Police College in Ikeja.
In eight years as Onjo of Okeho, he brought phenomenal transformation to the community and even the Onjo office.
Oba Adedeji was the first Onjo to wear a beaded crown and that honour was bestowed on him on September 1st, 1979 by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Some of the landmark projects which he superitended include linking Okeho to the national grid in 1979 which brought electricity to the community.
In the same year, the Co-operative Bank opened a branch in Okeho.
These projects were to lay the foundation of transforming Okeho to a commercial and industrial hub.
Earlier, in October 1978, Oba Adedeji who knew the value of education founded the Okeho Commercial High School.
Upon ascension of the throne, he modernised the Palace building and built a market near it.
Oba Adedeji also sponsored the publication of the 1st History Book on Okeho in January 1979.
Apart from the landmark projects, Oba Adedeji engraved his name in the hearts of many with his several acts of benevolence too numerous to be listed here.
He was a philanthropist par excellence, a man with a heart of gold who was passionate about doing good and supporting noble causes.
Oba Adedeji was born on October 24th, 1927 to Prince Salami Adedeji of Adeniji Ruling House of Onjo Chieftaincy and Ashiawu Ajoke who hailed from Igbo-Ora.
He had his primary education in Methodist Schools in Igbo-ora and Agbeni, Ibadan between 1935 and 1942.
He lived with white Methodist missionaries who sponsored his primary education and influenced his conversion to Christianity.
It was at this point he changed his name from Ramoni to Rowland.
After his primary education, he took up a teaching job in Ojoo near Ibadan(1943) and Itasa(1944). In 1945, he proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo as one of the pioneer students.
His dream of pursuing a secondary education was aborted due to financial handicap. Thereafter he decided to become a professional photographer and served an apprenticeship under Mr. C.A. Abimbola of the Onireke African Photo House in Ibadan.
He later established on his own and set up a studio which he managed until 1949. In 1950, he joined the Nigeria Police Force where he served for twenty four years before ascending the throne of Onjo of Okeho.
The late Oba Adedeji is survived by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The children are Princess(Mrs.) Mopelola Ogunbiyi, Princess(Mrs.)Remilekun Igbinoba, Princess(Mrs.)Adunola Kuti, Prince Adeniyi Adedeji and Princess Modupe Adedeji
