3 hours Ago By Ayo Yusuf
Former President of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, Chris Olufunmilola Okunowo will be installed as the leader of Christians in Ijebu, the Asiwaju Onigbagbo Akile Ijebu on December 7th. He speaks to Dike Onwuamaeze about how religious tolerance is rooted among the Ijebus, his role in community development, among other issues Looking back at your life, how will you describe yourself? That is interesting. First, I thank God for who I am.
I thank God that my entire life has been based on Christian values. I was brought up to appreciate the Christian values and I do not think that I have departed from those tenants. I will like to think that I am an easygoing.
I do not like flamboyance. I believe that less is more. I believe in doing things right and in being fair and to the best of my knowledge I like to be honest with the things that I do.
In total, it all means that I look up to God for direction all the time. Therefore, if anything happens to me I take it in my strides. For me, failure is not incompetence.
Failure is something that happens to every human being and it is a learning curve. If I fail on something I take it up again. I draw a better judgment from it.
How do you feel about the new title that will be bestowed on you on December 7? You have to understand the role and significance of the title Asiwaju Onigbagbo Akile Ijebu. The first time this title was ever given out was to late Chief Timothy Adeola Odetola, the then Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu. He was the first person to be made the Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians.
Back in those days it was never known as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Ijebu has a unique arrangement that predated CAN. So, you can see that it is rooted in the history of Ijebuland.
The Muslims, Christians and members of the traditional religious institutions have always cooperated in worship and in lifting up Ijebuland. Otunba Michael Balogun became the second Asiwaju Onigbagbo. Now for this title, December 7th will mark the first time in the history of Ijebuland that the appellation “Asiwaju Onigbagbo Akile Ijebu,” that is the head of Christians in Ijebuland, will be used.
Before it was only meant for Ijebu Ode. Thank God for the work of our Royal Father, Kabiesi, the Awujale, Oba S. Adetina.
He has been able to build the consensus around Ijebuland to bring everybody together. And I am the beneficiary of that recognition. My father had always been a very strong member of the movement that later became the CAN.
We have the annual week of prayer, the universal week of prayer in Ijebu headed by the Awujale who hosts all Christians on the first Monday of the year. The second day was given to Baba Odetola, who then was the Ogbeni Oja, to host Christians on Tuesday, and then my father would host on Wednesday. Thereafter, Prof.
Bayo Adedeji became a host on Thursday and late Baba Oduwale on Friday. My father passed on in 1987 and I became the beneficiary of that exercise and have been hosting it on behalf of my father. But I did not think that it would ever come to this.
Do not forget that Ijebuland is the only part of Nigeria, and perhaps in the world, where there is no religious conflict. Christians, Muslims and traditionalists are all united and do things together. My grandfather was formerly a Muslim but later converted and became Daniel.
We have always been involved with Christian activities. Your new title will make you the rallying ground for Christians in Ijebuland but you are holding a purely traditional title of Bobasuwa II. How do you hope to combine the two? There is no conflict.
If you remember, the way things are done in Ijebuland, few years ago a law was passed, which was promoted by the Awujale, stating that even Obas when they die would be buried according to their religious faith. The issue, in a manner of speaking, has already been regulated and we no longer have any conflict. When I took on as the Bobasuwa II of Ijebuland, I swore with the Bible.
My father was the first Bobasuwa. It has nothing by way of conflict with my faith. They complement each other.
How do you feel that your installation with a new title and your 77th birthday coincided on December 7? The title is not an age thing. It has to do with your contributions and what people perceive of you as an exemplar of what true Christian values should be. Candidly, it has nothing to do with age.
It has to do with your contributions; what people perceive of you; your integrity. Just look back into the past few decades of the previous holders of this title in the persons of Baba Odutola and my dear brother, Otunba Chief Michael Balogun. I feel quiet elated, humbled and challenged that the people and authorities considered me worthy of this position.
And like I said the title is about integrity which I have the benefit of showcasing in the past 37 years or so. And I hope and pray that for the rest of my natural life I will not become something else contrary to that. I will live the rest of my life as a Christian, as a God-fearing and principled, as somebody who looks for the betterment of the society.
This honour has been given to me by the grace of God and it is a challenge for me to make sure that the next person who takes it after me does not have it diminished. The next level will be enriched by me and then I will pass on a good torch to whoever will come after me like it will be passed to me on the December 7th. It seems to me as recognition of one as someone who can be found trustworthy, credible and a role model.
Looking at the pedigree of those that have held this title in the past, can you say that you can match up with them? It is not a competition. We are not in a competition. Anybody has an opportunity to do what he has to do.
When these revered men took this title they were probably younger than the age I am now. But if you put in mind to do the things that are right and proper, knowing that you are going to be an example to lot of people, then you need to fashion your life in a manner that it will engender respect, integrity and credibility. For me it is call to service to put Ijebu Christians in the forefront.
It is a privilege for me to be asked to lead Ijebu Christians at this time. What specific infrastructure projects have you facilitated or supported in your community? When you talk about infrastructure the tendency is to look at only bricks and mortar. But that should not be so.
We are talking about people. Without people there cannot really be any development. I may not have built bridges and in any case I am not expected to build bridges, all I can do is to support whatever government does and ensure that government recognises the value in the people of Ijebuland.
It is not about me building hospitals, schools etc, and of course I have participated in all of that. I am the chairman of the Ijebu Congress. It is a worldwide body of all the sons and daughters of Ijebu.
So I have the opportunity of galvanising both the Ijebus at home and in diaspora. I am also the chairman of the Ijebu Renaissance Group, which is a very unique organisation that looks specifically at developing Ijebuland. I am also a member of the trustee of Ijebu Development Association to actualise development in Ijebu land.
I am also the patron of the foremost age group in Ijebuland. And throw that organisation we have done so many things all around Ijebuland, including hospitals and education. How are you seeing the demand that traditional rulers should be given a role in government? There is absolutely nothing wrong in that and it is always for the betterment of the people that their appointed leaders are made to interface properly with government.
There is no way the Obas and our leaders should not be put in position to provide advice to government. They should have a channel for discussing with the government because they know the pains of the people much more than the politicians. I will support a channel by which government can reach out or create a forum for discussion with these traditional leaders so that the free flow of discussions can help the ordinary man and woman.
Where were you when the news came to you that you will become the next Asiwaju Onigbagbo Akile and what was your reaction? I was in Ijebu Ode when the title was mentioned to me. How did I feel? I felt very humbled. I felt that it was God at work.
For me, everything that I have done in my life, I have always put God first. I have asked God that I will not want anything that will not glorify his name. And I have also asked God to take away anything that will not give me peace of mind.
The best thing is to work for humanity. Therefore, this gives me an opportunity to also write my own legacy and live the way the way the previous Asiwajus and indeed my father, the late Chief Emmanuel Okunowo, had lived. How do you see the Ijebu Christian Association today and in the future? It is a growing organisation.
It is not perfect. We have to work at it to make sure that it gets better as we move along. And it is not one man’s journey.
Baba Odutola started it. Otunba Balogun continued it and now it is my turn by the grace of God. And I pray that I will also hand it over to somebody in a better fashion than it was given to me.
What will the Ijebus at home and diaspora expect from you concerning the titles you are holding? The title of Asiwaju Onigbagbo that I will receive on December 7th is purely based on service to Christianity while the title of Bobasuwa II of Ijebuland concern the whole Ijebuland, including women, men, Christians, Muslims and traditionalists. My prayer is that I can be a true representative of Ijebuland in all ramifications. I am a person who believes in doing the right things and forging forward.
I must have an impact and it is my prayer that I will have positive impacts in the lives of our people going forward. Ordinarily wives tend not to be supportive when their husbands are asked to take titles but we have noticed that your wife’s active support for this title? My wife is from Abeokuta. She is an Egba and she has her own titles in Egbaland.
She is the Otun Iyalaje of Egbaland. She is the Olori Erulu of Kemta in Abeokuta. She is the head of all the female titled chiefs in Kemta.
We have integrated. The interesting thing about the December 7th is the fact that while it is also my birthday it is also our 50th wedding anniversary. We have built up over the years similar values and have appreciated each other values.
She was the first managing director of Sony Music that was initially CBS Records that we founded in Nigeria with the Americans. The CBS was bought over by Sony Japan and it became Sony Nigeria until we shut it down a few years ago. What is your lifestyle like that you are still looking agile at 77? I have said it that I am not a flamboyant type.
I believe in less for more. I take life as it comes. I do things according to my Christian values.
I enjoy myself. I used to be an athlete. I participated in the world university games for the University of Lagos.
I exercise. I love music and dancing. I am involved in the entertainment industry.
Fela, Lagbaja, Shina Peters and so many other major artists went through Sonic Music and Premier Music. I was the one that got Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon’s permission to release Fela’s “Zombie.” I live my life in a very simple, but meaningful, way.
I enjoy myself within a limit that is acceptable. I have a family that is very supportive. The worst thing in life is to go outside and conquer the world and not be able to hold your home.
You will never have peace. I have peace and my family has always supported me in whatever I do. What is your advice to CAN and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria? It is to go back to this injunction of Jesus Christ: Love your neighbor.
Period! If we can do just that then we would have achieved our goals as Christians all over Nigeria. If we can sincerely do this it is not just Christians will benefit, our country will also benefit..
