As the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, prepares to mark his 60th birthday, the monarch reflects on an extraordinary journey from the streets of Mushin to the newsroom, the lecture hall and ultimately the throne. In this revealing interview with Sunday Okobi, the professor of Communication Studies recounts how journalism shaped his worldview, speaks on faith, leadership and public service, and delivers a strong warning against the growing politicisation of kingship selection, which he says is eroding the dignity and credibility of the traditional institution. Excerpt
In few days, you will be 60. What life’s lessons have shaped your journey from academia to the throne?
Firstly, I have to thank the Almighty God for sparing my life to 60, and I hope to spend many more years on earth. Right from my youth, I’ve learnt so much. I was born in Mushin, Lagos; you know that’s a turbulent area. I attended St Jude’s Primary School at Ilasa. Later, I moved on to Ansar-u-Deen Primary School, Isolo, and because my mom was a primary school teacher, I had to move with her to Isolo. But from age 7, I had been minding the shop for my mom. That was when we used to have morning and afternoon school. My mom would go to work in the morning, and I would go to school in the afternoon. During the morning time, I would be in the shop, just within that Ladipo Street; you know how busy Ladipo Street was, and still is, up till now. At seven, I had been selling goods for my mom, and I did very well. It was because I was useful; that’s why she had to go in the morning, and I would go in the afternoon. And by the time I was leaving for afternoon school, she wouldn’t be back, so I had to lock the store myself and keep the key somewhere where she would pick it up when she returned. So, right from my primary school days, I had been taking responsibilities; so, my life’s journey was a bit difficult, but I think that up till now, I’ve been capable.
