The Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, HRM Oba (Dr) Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, mni, JP, Arugbajoye II, has joined his ancestors to signify the end of an era. He died at 82. That was my King. He was the symbol of our cradle and the custodian of our cultural heritage.
The late monarch was a teacher, administrator and an accomplished technocrat before he ascended the throne of his forefathers about a decade and half ago when he became the Alara of Aramoko Kingdom. He was an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru. While on the stool, he once served as the Chancellor of the Ekiti State University.
Growing up, the name – Olu Adeyemi, just like his peers at the time, was always on the lips of any aspiring young man or woman who desired tertiary education in my hometown. His likes were not so many at the time, who had gone through the four walls of the university and doing well in public service.
I had the privilege of meeting my late Oba for the first time in 1989 when the lot fell on me to be a co-planner of the inaugural outing and launching of The Arcadian Club, Aramoko Ekiti, where I belong. The club was started by nine young secondary school leavers and aspiring university students, under the leadership of Niyi Osadola who was the Pioneer President.
I travelled to meet the late monarch in Akure while he was still in the service of the old Ondo State civil service to request him to be the chairman of the launching of our newly formed club and the swearing in of the newly elected executives and honorary members.
What attracted him to me the most on our first meeting was his oratory prowess. I am unable to tell if he could speak other languages other than English, Yoruba and Aramoko dialect but he spoke these three with finesse. If you don’t want to be convinced, don’t sit under the sound of the voice of Oba Olu Adeyemi.
The late Oba did not only accept to be the chairman of the occasion but was also gracious to accept our nomination for him to be our patron. He was sworn in on the same day by the Pioneer President. This was in December 1989. He was later to be our Grand Patron, an honorary title he held till his passage.
My second personal encounter with Oba Olu Adeyemi was when we had the inaugural edition of Aramoko Socio-Economic Summit in 2012, which I convened. I led my team to his house the night before the event to pay homage to him and to ask for his royal blessings and attendance as the royal father of the day.
Knowing what my late Oba was capable of doing as a former teacher and administrator, I had to specially beg the chairman of the occasion, Professor Sola Fajana, and the moderator, Professor Ayo Olajuyigbe, to appeal to him not to take over the role of the guest speakers because we had enough of them.
Oba Adeyemi was so rich in knowledge, native and emotional intelligence that if you leave him with the microphone, he could speak for hours and you would not be bored. He had a deep sense of humour that would sweep you off your feet as he captivates you with his impeccable diction and intermittent proverbs.
My departed King was not only cerebral, but he was also handsome and charismatic. He was a fashionista with regal carriage and composure long before he ascended the throne. He had a rich sense of history and cultural values of the domain he ruled over while his reign lasted.
The death of Oba Olu Adeyemi is a personal loss to me as someone he picked special interest in, based on my personal encounters with him on community issues on various occasions. Many times, he would call me to find out how I am doing. He would ask me, “Aunty mi siko?” (How is my Aunty?). He addressed my late mum as “Aunty mi” in her lifetime.
I was later to know one of his children, Adekunle Adeyemi, through his friend, Suleman Braimah, when I needed a Master of Ceremony for a social event I hosted sometime in 2011. Kunle defied the odds to meet us halfway into the programme late in the night, owing to flight delays as he flew in from the US to honour my invitation. Needless to say that Adekunle is as humorous as his father, if not more.
I take this moment to commiserate with Olori Adenike Adeyemi, Adekunle Adeyemi and all his siblings, the family of Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, The Alara-In-Council, the entire Aramoko community, Ekiti State and Nigeria, on the passage of this revered monarch. He will be greatly missed. May his fare be thorough and may his soul find eternal rest, peacefully.
Fare thee well, Oba (Dr) Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, mni, JP, Arugbajoye II, The Alara of Aramoko Ekiti (1942-2025).
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr
11 August 2025
