The Oniworu of Woru Olamese community in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State, Oba Yekeen Babatunde Olaniyan, in this interview by SAM NWAOKO, speaks on his plans to attract development to his community and how to achieve the plans.
You are reputed to be a crop farmer since your graduation from the university. Is this as a result of your studies or just a hobby?
I ventured into agricultural practice after my graduation from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). I felt that with my first degree, there would be prospects and advantages, and I saw these farming activities. You see, agriculture has been a blessed work right from the days of our forefathers. Agriculture can never go out of fashion because no one can do without eating. My decision and action attracted many youths into agriculture practice in my area when they saw the way I was moving. Today, many of them are thanking God because they have grown in the business and are no longer searching for white-collar jobs. They are now settled due to the fact that they have become self-employed and are even employers of labour and they have been highly blessed from their farming work.
How did Woru come to be? What is the story of your town?
We migrated from Oyo Alaafin. Our forefather, Tokunlola left Oyo Alaafin as a result of childlessness. He had left with the instruction that he will get to a location where Agbigbo birds are singing ‘moun-moun’; the instruction was that he should settle there when he got there. We are from Oke Isokan in Oyo Alaafin. On reaching Worun, it was Oba Oludo of Ido-Osun that received us. So, that’s just a brief history of how we got here.
Now that you have ascended to the throne of your forefathers as the new Oniworu, what should your people expect?
I promise that by the grace of God I will not disappoint them and I will work hard to attract investors to Woru town. In Woru, there is enough land to accommodate various kinds of investments, and our community is very safe and is quite conducive for investments. During my reign, I will cooperate with the government of the day so as to enable them to provide us with social amenities such as good road network, potable water and stable electricity. We also would love the government to help us in construction of drainages against water erosion and so on. To the best of my ability, I will also encourage the young people to understand the importance of job creation, and we would encourage them to shun evil activities for their personal and community health.
My ascension to the throne of my forefathers is also through the instrumentation of some people to whom I express sincere gratitude and appreciation. For instance, I appreciate Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for his approval of my selection as the traditional ruler. I also hail the late Oludo of Ido-Osun, Oba Adeen Adedapo Sapoyoro; the Yeyelua Chief Mrs. Modupe Adeleke Sanni; Alhaja Abiola, my family and the good people of Woru kingdom. I also thank all the monarchs that witnessed my installation especially the Olobu of Ilobu as well as my well wishers who came to celebrate with me during my installation ceremony.
Governor Ademola Adeleke is marking his second year in office, what are your expectations from him?
Although I am a traditional ruler but I must say that Governor Ademola Adeleke has really done well within these two years and I will like to congratulate him on his meritorious and commendable achievements. I also want to call on the people of Osun State to continue in their support for and cooperation with the government of Governor Adeleke because I believe that, before the end of his first four years, with the way things are going in the state, he would make tremendous impact in the state, and Woru kingdom will be a beneficiary of that.
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