Meet The Monarch: HRM Alaiyeluwa Oba Babatunde Olaogun Ogunlaja (JP)
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Royal Title : Kalejaiye 11
Given Name : ALADESHOYIN OF ODO NOFORIJA KINGDOM
Kingdom: ODO NOFORIJA KINGDOM
Kingdom coordinates: 6.627838, 3.984110

Background: HRM Alaiyeluwa Oba Babatunde Olaogun Ogunlaja (JP) Kalejaiye 11. The Aladeshoyin of Odo Noforija Kingdom, Eredo Local Development Authority, Epe Division of Lagos State was awarded Over six decades ago, a boy was born into the family of late Pa Chief Michael Obayomi and Madam Christiana Adesola Ogunlaja. Pa Chief Michael Obayomi was then the Oloritun and head of Oligbe Ruling House. That boy was the third and only son of his father’s five children. His late grandfather was Ogunlaja, Ogunbotu under the lineage of Magunshen and Kalejaiye Ononlu family of Oligbe Ruling House of Odo-Noforija.

That baby boy was Babatunde Olaogun Ogunlaja who became the (twelfth the second period, or the seventeenth since the foundation of the Aladeshonyin dynasty of Odo-Noforija Kingdom) Today he is the present Oba Aladeshoyin of Odo Noforija Kingdom, HRM, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Babatunde Olaogun Ogunlaja, Kalejaiye 11, The Aladeshoyin of Odo Noforija Kingdom. It was also noted that Oba Ogunlaja’s mother Christiana Adesola is also from a Royal family in Odo-siwoloye. So he has royal blood flowing in his veins both paternal and maternal. Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja after his educational school proceeded to Lagos, where he gained employment as a store-keeper with a British Company and afterwards with Ilupeju Supermarket then at Obanikoro, Lagos. He also took a course in Electronics among other part-time courses He worked as a Director with Enterprise Gomez (Nig) Limited and later set up his personal business as an importer and exporter, his major business was exporting used cars for sale in Nigeria. It was John C Maxwell who said ‘’the truest measure of leadership is influence’’ Today his HRM Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja is one of the most influential, gallant, patriotic, eloquent and valuable Royal Fathers in Nigeria.

OBA’s BASIC INFORMATION

Birthday: 0000-00-00

Kingdom Coordinates: 6.53112N, 3.97729E

Lineage of the Oba: Oligbe Ruling House

Kingdom Population: 

Member of USA R.O.Y.A.L Since: 2019-03-21

Year of Ascension to Kingship:

Class of Oba: First Class

Relationship to Oduwawa: Direct Descendant

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

PERSONAL AND KINGDOM INFORMATION

Personal Achievements:

Interesting facts about him:

Accomplishments for his subject and kingdom:

Kingdom Vision:

Kingdom History:

Odo-Noforija is an ancient settlement, which came into existence during the expansionist period of Ijebu Ode Kingdom. This was dated to be in the middle of the 18th Century when the Ijebu people moved out to occupy the southern part of the territory. According to tradition, the founder of Odo-Noforija was a resourceful Ijebu Prince called Adeshoyin who with his wife, Omitu, and his children, followers and slaves formed the nucleus of the settlement. Ijebu historians told us that occasionally, the Awujale, the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, conferred the title of Otunba on members of the royal family. According to tradition the founder of Odo-Noforija was a resourceful Ijebu Prince called Adeshonyin who with his wife (Omitu) and his children, followers and slaves formed the nucleus of the settlement. Ijebu historians told us that “occassionlly, the Awujale” (paramount ruler of Ijebuland), conferred the title of Otunba on members of the royal family. These members of the royal family must, like other citizens have distinguished themselves in their professions or have made immense contributions to the growth of the society. But there are some members of the royal family who became ambitions to rule. These must be sons of a reigning Oba or must be very close male relations of a reigning Awujale. As a security measure, such a prince is then made an Otunba by the Awujale and assigned to an Odo (an Ijebu settlements) over which he rules. Among such Ijebu settlements are Odu-Arawa, Odo-Potu, Odo-Lagowe, Odo-Ragunsen, Odu-Lewu, Odo-Noforija and Odo-Aogun.

It is therefore apparent that Odo-Noforija Kingdom is one of the off-shoot settlements of Ijebu people on the south eastern part of the Ijebu territory. Sufficient historical evidence exists that it was founded perhaps in the 1760s during the reign of Awujale Gbelegbuwa I, the 19th Awujale (though without historical proof). According to a French writer who interviewed Osifekunde, an Ijebu captive, in part in 1839, he was kidnapped by Ijoh pirates on his trading mission to Makun, near Ode Omi in 1820. Among the Ijebu towns mentioned to the writer was t “Noforija” thus establishing that Odo-Noforija must have been in existence before the beginning of the 19th century contemporaneously with the rise of Portuguese trade on the coast of Nigeria. According to local tradition the reign of the founder “Adeshonyin” was peaceful and prosperous and the settlement developed into a town. But after his death his children and descendants decided to preserve his name and legacy by adopting the title of “Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija” for the dynastic rulership of the Kingdom. When Adeshonyin left his father’s palace to go and establish his own kingdom, he was given the following materials as his royal indicator or signs; they are as follows: beads for the hands and feet, sword, the symbols as a warrior, beaded crown to be worn wherever he is settled, two (2) “Edan” i.e. the symbol of Oshugbo for power and prayers, an ancient pot for drinking water along his journey and wherever he may be settled. In his entourage were his surviving wife “OMITU”, his “Herbalist”, his “ORO” known as “Orungbe” and many followers including his slaves. The first spot he settled at Odo-Noforija with his entourage was known as “ODO-NLA” meaning a “Big Palace” where he and his wife were buried after their death.

The spot is now used as one of the places where rituals are performed for any in-coming Oba in Odo-Noforija. At the time of his settlement, he was looking for water to drink and discovered a stream known as “Gbenoye Alade Eri” meaning the “Obas’s River” which he commanded should be for drinking only. Furthermore, he later discovered another stream which should be used for domestic purposes, like bathing, washing, cooking, etc for the royal families only, the name of the stream was Ololo Eri-Oba, Eri means stream in Ijebu language. Besides “Gbenoye Alade Eri” he discovered wider stream called “Ipa-Nla”, The main stream of Gbenoye Alade-Eri and Ipa-Nla were to be used for general purposes like public washing, bathing, cooking and other domestic purpose. The eldest of the Children of Oba Adeshonyin was LIGBE who succeeded his father with total support of his siblings. He ruled for the many years before he passed away. Succession then followed strict seniority principle. Ajano took over the mantle of leadership or rulership of the Kingdom. He was succeeded by Kuti, Bashorun, Ososagu and Adeworo among others. This suggests that the list of names of the rulers of the Kingdom was not complete. The succession of Adeworo to the throne of Odo-Noforija was far being peaceful. He was reported that “he had a bad unpleasant character … (from) which they (his siblings) believed that his reign may be sad and uncomfortable for them, Apart from this he was alleged to be a bachelor and therefore he was barred from ascending the throne. In order to prevent anarchy in Odo-Noforija by the existence of interregnum it became necessary to appoint an interim administrator or regent to run the affairs of the Kingdom. The people met and decided to appoint a public functionary or Regent known as “OLORI-ILU” meaning “The Head of the Town and his duty was to act as “Aladeshonyin”.

Thus it apparently happened that a non-descendant of Adeshonyin become the Regent, who after many consultations, OLIWO-¬ODUEWU (the then Olisa) was appointed to direct the affairs of the town. It was during the regency of Oliwo-Oduewu that the British invaded the Ijebuland in May 1892, when a British expeditionary force took off from Lagos colony and landed at Epe. On May 17, 1892, there was a serious battle in which the Ijebu fought the British and “Noforija happened to be one of the serious war spots where there was a large war casualty on both sides, but the Ijebus suffered most. Noforija was abandoned by the people and was burnt by the invading British forces. It was said that the Divisional Officer (D.O) requested that the name of Olori Ilu should be changed because it was difficult to pronounce for them. The request was granted by the people of Odo-Noforija. After many years of the regency of “Oliwo-Oduewu” on Odo-Noforija, the title “Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija” was restored and the following rulers assumed the title as rulers. That period can be regarded as the first period of Odo-Noforija history, the British invasion ending that phase of history. Second and modern phase began apparently after the death of “Oliwo-Oduewu” The successor rulers were, (1) Degun, (2) Bashorun, (3) Alase, (4) Olugboteku, (5) Adefowoke, (6) Oguntola, (7) Abayomi, (8) Odunbomi, (9) Osonnaike among others including late Oba Afolabi Ayantuga who according to record began to reign in 1951 and died in 1994. Presently, there are four ruling houses in Odo-Noforij namely (1) Ligbe (2) Ajano (3) Eyindi and (4) Omo Ruling House. These ruling houses were named after the children of Adeshonyin except “OMO Ruling House who happened to be of “Ajano Children”. Odo-Noforija is located in the Eredo District, north of Epe. It is bounded on the North-East by Odo-Ragusen, North by Eredo and South by Pobo. The people are mainly farmers and fishermen.

Source of Information: Trumpet Media Group-4th June,2018, Fancy Tv Channel UK posted by Mayor Olafancy