The designed crown on the arch entrance into the expansive palace is conspicuous as it adds to the aesthetics of the palace. Engraved on the arch is Olukare’s Palace. The leaves on the big baobab tree at the centre of the market serve as a shade, protecting people from the scorching sun. According to the monarch, Oba Akadiri Momoh, the tree has been there since 1923. The dark in complexion monarch looks younger than his age: Simple and humble with his fly whisk, the royal father appeared in immaculate flowing white gown (agbada) as he walked majestically with his beaded royal staff. He spoke using anecdotes and punctuating them with nuances on how he unexpectedly became the king on his arrival from America in 1978!
According to him, he never thought he would become a monarch, because when other contestants were warming up, it never crossed his mind until he was invited to come and contest by the “elders” who had consulted the Ifa oracle and asked God to choose the best. “ I did not have the notion, the idea wasn’t in my mind. People just told me sometime before then that if there was a chieftaincy vacancy I would be the one to pick. I didn’t believe that until when I returned from the United States in 1978, people were approaching me from my royal family for the royal stool saying ‘this vacant stool in your royal house why can’t you join them in the contest,?. But I said I did not have the energy, I did not have the capability of struggling, of running up and down. All my people continued advising me. I had a sister who is now late, she financed all the running around from Lagos to Ikare.”
His growing up
The Economics graduate of Ohio University, USA said he was brought up by his aunt, a disciplinarian. This, according to him, helped him in life later. “My aunt brought me up. She was a very serious disciplinarian, she was called Mama ‘Deoti, and was junior to my father. She made me. Anytime I was going to school she would give me money for my feeding and warn me not to go to anybody’s house to eat. I was always the first to get home when we finished from the school because if I was late mama was ready to discipline me. Much later, I discovered something. The first salary I got, I brought it to her in Ikare. I told her, “Mama this is my first salary, if you want you can take all. She did not say anything but prayed on the money and gave it back to me. They all liked me in all the places I’ve worked and that is the work of mama.”
Forced to be baptised
Though, he was born into a Muslim family, he was forced to become a Christian while at Victory College, Ikare. “When I was in secondary school, I became a Christian, though I was born into a Muslim family. My original name was Akadiri. I was named Saliu Momoh Akadiri. But when we went to Victory College, our principal, Rev. Akinrinle, said we must be baptised, and very many of us were. The baptismal name appeared in my certificate but when I became the Olukare I had to go back to my original Muslim name because we are originally Muslims. We have a soft spot for Christianity. When Babalola, the CAC founder, came here, it was the Olukare who housed him and helped him to establish. When Isaac Lenor came, it was Kabiyesi who first assisted him too.”
Friendship with the late Fawehinmi
Oba Momoh during his school days was a friend of the late radical lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi, “Yes, I’ knew Gani Fawehinmi, we were friends, we were boys together, and he was a good company at Victory College.” According to the monarch, the late human rights activist, “although was a little bit rascally but sharp. Gani had a friend, two of them were very rascally and they were very good in the class. I think the other boy is also a SAN now. He practised law in Kano. They were good boys. You know when you are in school, when you are young you would say if I had known I would have done this, or done that, it happened to everyone, almost everybody.,”
Why he broke his marriage vow
While many monarchs have harem of wives, Oba Momoh did not pray for such. However, due to circumstances he had to bend the rule of one man one wife. “I have two wives now. Before, I had only one but when I became the Oba they said it is untraditional for an Oba to have one wife. I said I was not so much interested in having plenty women. I only married one more just to obey my parents,” he declared.
Asked to look back and check whether he had made any mistake or the other with his years on the earth, he declared, “I am 75 years old and I can’t remember if I made any mistake because if my parents told me something I obeyed except when as a small boy I went to school to watch football and when I’m back my aunties will spank me.”
The first day to wear a crown
On how he felt the first time he wore the royal crown, Oba Momoh exclaimed: “I was firstly uncomfortable. But by and by, I got used to it and it was no more a new thing.”
When he assumed office a new palace had to be built because the old palace was built in 1900. “When I came to the throne I had no place to entertain my visitors, and it was during the military era when one of our sons who was an Ambassador died in Ikare. The President sent somebody to come and commiserate with us, so the governor came with him to Ikare. They came with an entourage, we sat down for 10 minutes and the place became very hot and I felt very, very uncomfortable. I came out, went in and was disturbed. After all said and done, they left. I now sat down and thought of how I would get money to improve the palace. I prayed and got help. Many good people assisted. And I was able to build a big one where I entertain visitors. Then I had a very small mosque but I said ‘no, we’re Muslims and my grandfather brought Islam to Ikare. I had a sister who was very rich, I talked to her and to some people, and told friends that if I have visitors where would they go and sleep or stay for the night? That was how the new building was erected.”
On how he manages the town
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, the saying goes. While the monarch did not deny it, he said he leads his community with comfort and with simplicity and with a cool mind. “I always listen before I pronounce my verdict. I soft pedal to carry the whole people along. If somebody has come to lodge a complaint, I would ask him to state his own case and if any one of them is wrong I will say he was wrong and that is one thing I do. The truth is bitter but at the same time I will have to tell it.”
The monarch said he listens to radio and read newspapers to know what is going on. “When I was young my hobbies were playing football and I used to run. They gave me a nickname. I enjoyed my youth. I don’t harbour any ill-feelings against anybody. I look simple and happy. I don’t put things in mind. I am very straightforward. Whether you abuse my simplicity or not, I take things easy.”