By Editor
Today, with heartfelt thanks to God Almighty and my forefathers, I honour myself in the face of all adversities and my tiny contribution to our kingdom and humanity over the last decade. I am proud of how far I have gone and how well I have handled my assignment.
I am deeply grateful to my father and mentor, HRM A. A David Ajay. PhD, MON, JP. Aweloye II, The Arinjale of Ise kingdom and Oloris, for their unwavering support and divine advice always. I am also grateful to my colleagues, Iare Oraye (Oraye traditional council of chiefs), Elumo Chiefs (Traditional Senate house), and the entire traditional chiefs of Ise kingdom, for their ardent support during the bitter struggle and fierce litigation. May God Olodumare continue to bless you with good health to enjoy your respective father’s thrones (Amen).
My heartfelt gratitude goes to Omo-Ule Daramola, Akinluaduse in diaspora, and the wonderful people of Ebi Elemo Oraye for entrusting me with this historical stool. I assure you that the faith you have in me will never waiver.
MY JOURNEY TO THE ELEMO STOOL
The crowned head will be ordained from above (by God). My father (Late Pastor/Prophet Paul Oke Daramola. a,k.a Baba Paul Aladura) predicted the future and logically groomed me for the Elemo dynasty pinnacle from boyhood by telling me stories about the dynasty and our rightful place in the clan.
As a devoted Christian and Prophet of God, he had never let his religion keep him from attending Ebi Elemo’s meetings, and he had always given his all whenever it was his turn to host the meeting as a legitimate male lineage of Elemo’s ruling family descendant of Igbaenijoke (Daramola).
After my father’s death, he is always watching over my steps to ensure that I do not misstep as a child with a purpose to fulfil, and that I do not unwittingly ruin my image, which could jeopardize my destiny for the stool.
The stool became vacant in 2014, and the process of filling it began in March 2015. After a fierce battle for the throne, I was installed as Elemo (Oraye) of Ise kingdom on June 4, 2015, marking the beginning of a new school for me. Both young and old in Ise Kingdom were thrilled with my installation, and excitement filled the air as news of my enthronement spread as not a few people in town saw my appointment as a response to months of prayer that God would choose a credible successor to the Late Chief Idowu Oguntuase (May his soul continue to find peace with God) for the Elemo clan.
His achievements to the Elemo clan and the Ise Kingdom will be remembered forever, and as Gen Z Chief, I have continued where he stopped, blending tradition and culture with modernity.
MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT FOLLOWING MY ENTHRONEMENT
Following my enthronement, there were many disagreements and squabbles within the household. Some people were dissatisfied with my decision, while others backed Arinjale and his council’s decision. As clan chief, I was tasked with uniting the family in all things. This assignment was really challenging and time-consuming for me. I seek guidance from my colleagues (Traditional Chiefs) who have shared similar experiences. I took one or two of their bits of advice, as well as my own limited experience in dispute resolution, to apply Law No. 12 of Robert Grene’s 48 Laws of Power. According to the 12th law of power, “Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim.”
To be honest, one genuine and honest move can make up for dozens of dishonest ones; open-hearted acts of honesty and kindness bring even the most suspicious people to their knees. I utilized selective honesty to win and pierce the armour of those who opposed my enthronement.
I took measures by visiting them at all hours of the day and night, and my kindness and timely present helped to bring them on board until they discovered the truth about the Elemo dynasty’s past.
I gained the trust and respect of people who resisted my installation more than those who supported it from the beginning. I can certainly state that all “OMO-ULE” that made up of Elemo Oraye clan are united under my umbrella, including Omo-Ule Olotin, Omo-Ule Ejemikin, Omo-Ule Anoun, Omo-Ule Owaporu, and Omo-Ule Saribi. This made 98% of the clan under my guidance, and we will continue to pray for the other 2% to join the progressives minds’ train and propel the dynasty forward.
ISE EKITI TRADITION AND MY THOUGHT
When I newly took the title, I learnt that some of what we thought we knew was false, and I discovered why. So, the first step was to challenge the status quo by asking questions and conducting a study in order to fix the error. My experience with our tradition since 2015 demonstrates that knowledge is acquired via practice. A child can not understand the misery of fire-burn unless he or she has experienced it.
Prior to my installation, I held similar views on our tradition to some religious people. Religion and tradition/culture, I understood, are two parallel lines that can not meet. Following my historical installation on June 4th, 2015, I learned that our traditions, culture, and heritage are our pride; they have nothing to do with evil, and we Africans were the ones who linked evil to our culture.
As Elemo and caretaker of the OGBESE deity, I am dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the family’s age-long tradition, which is our treasure.
MY SUPPLICATION
Isaiah 46:4″ Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.”
My prayer every day on this throne is that I should be greater than my forefathers who once occupied this seat while I also pray that by the time I leave this throne; whoever is coming after me should be greater than me.
EMPIRICAL FACTS ABOUNT ELEMO (ORAYE) OF ISE KINGDOM
(1) The Elemo Chieftaincy is one of the oldest, most known, and honoured chieftain rainy titles in the Ise Kingdom.
(2) The Elemo is the head of the ELEMO (Oraye) dynasty.
(3) Elemo (Oraye) is ranked third in the inner cabinet known as the IARE ORAYE (Oraye Traditional Council of Chiefs). The traditional council in general confirms the widely held view that the Elemo Chieftaincy is a pillar of the chieftaincy caucus. This explains the cognomen “Opo Eketa Iare” (which means “the pillar and third in the IARE rank”).
(4) The Elemo is the traditional spokesperson for lare Oraye, this also explains the titles cognomen as “AFOLUA KUA SE KANRIN” i.e, There must be total silent when Elemo is talking, He conveys the views of the IARE Oraye and reports the view of the people to the Oba. Essentially, the Elemo serves the sensitive position of traditional link between the “crown” and the populace and vice versa.
(5) Elemo is the custodian of Ogbese river deity under the authority of Kabiesi Arinjale.
Finally, Let’s join hands with our energetic Kabiesi to grow Ise kingdom together and share your thoughts, recommendation and worries with me as the traditional link between the “crown” and the populace, your views will definitely be conveyed to necessary authority.
Thanks
Long live Ise kingdom.
May the spirit of our kabiesi live long. (Ase Edumore)
