Unknown to many, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi would have studied law. In early 1960, he had secured admission to study law in the United Kingdom. He got a loan through Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, his father’s friend, from the African Continental Bank, (ACB) Yaba Lagos and was to proceed to the United Kingdom, when unfortunately, his father, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, died, 48 hours to the London trip on the 14th of February, 1960, at the age of 88 years.
This death, truncated his career training in Law in the United Kingdom. He later became an insurance executive with the Royal Exchange Assurance Limited, Marina Lagos, where he rose steadily.
In the course of his career in the insurance industry, an incident happened, at the Iga Idunganran Palace of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II. Oyekan was installed the Oba of Lagos in 1965.
How He Met Oba of Lagos
Some bulglars invaded the Iga Idunganran palace and carted away, various items,like air conditioners and all sorts. Luckily, these items were assured by the royal exchange assurance. Lamidi Adeyemi was asked by his employer, as a loss adjuster, to visit the palace and recommend appropriate payments, to cater for the loss.
As a prince of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi introduced himself to the Lagos Monarch, and that as a future Alaafin, he was only in the Palace to extend traditional courtesies and not to ask questions about the incident. He nevertheless recommended handsome payments to the monarch; and that was quickly settled by the Royal Exchange Assurance. In an attempt to repair the leaked roof of a rented apartment in Lagos, he discovered some iron metals needed by the Railway Corporation, at the roof top of the apartment.
The Railway Corporation, bought from him all the iron metals and was even asking for more. At an impressionable age, he was able to buy his first house in Lagos, with the proceeds from this “manna” from heaven, that eventually prepared him for the throne, after the death of Alaafin Ladigbolu, who succeeded his father and whom he also succeeded as Alaafin.
Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu also made SLA Akintola, the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba Land. He has also, on the throne installed two Aare Ona Kakanfos- M.K.O. Abiola and Ganiyu Adams.
Culled from www.vanguardngr.com
