The Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, has provided reasons for not charging his newly installed chiefs and obas before and after their installations.
The paramount ruler made the revelation during his acceptance speech following the conferment of an honorary doctorate award on him by John Wesley University, Ondo State.
Owa (Dr)Clement Adesuyi Haastrup recounted how his father, Oba Adeniyi Haastrup, was financially drained for four years by kingmakers before ascending to the throne of his father as Wasare of Ijana Wasare.
He stated that the children, wives, and family suffered the brunt.
Owa (Dr) Clement Adesuyi Haastrup urged his chiefs to desist from the exploitative act, emphasizing that their lives could change for the better without exploiting others.
He noted that, after removing two of his chiefs for offenses bordering on land grabbing and misconduct, he requires cooperation and commitment amongst the remaining chiefs to achieve the goal of making Ijesaland great again.
The vice-chancellor of Wesley University, Professor Samuel Sunday Obeka, underscored the institution’s accomplishments and commended the Ajimoko family for pioneering Ijesaland’s development through the introduction of Methodism to Nigeria
Earlier, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Ilesa Diocese, Most Reverend Akindeko Akinlosin, noted that Ajimoko’s reign is always characterized by development.
He attributed the establishment of the Oro Ajimoko Primary School, the first primary school in Ilesa, Wesley Guild Hospital, the first fire station in Ilesa, a police station, an interstate road, water, and electricity, as well as layouts to the peaceful reigns of the Ajimokos.
According to him, Wesley University would not have been located elsewhere if Ajimoko had been on the throne.
Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, used his goodwill message as an opportunity to advocate for the relocation of the university to Ijesaland, in recognition of the pivotal role played by Owa Alexander Kumokun Haastrup Ajimoko I in founding the Methodist Church in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Obaala of Ilesa, High Chief Adeniyi Ibitoye, thanked the university senate for the honor accorded the paramount ruler of Ijesaland and expressed his gratitude to God for his installation as the paramount ruler of Ijesaland.
During his vote of thanks, Chief Lateef Bakare from Ajirowa and Ijesaland took a trip down memory lane to recount how Owa’s singular initiative to conduct palliative work on the Ilesa-Ife-Ibadan road motivated the federal government to approve a complete overhaul of the road, valued at over 300 billion Naira.
He assured the Wesley university of the readiness of the people of Ijesaland to ensure the establishment of the Wesley college of medicine in Ijesaland, noting that this can be achieved through a robust collaboration with the prelate.
