| The trip to Ibeju-Lekki seemed long, the heavy down | | | | parked at the premises on our arrival. Chevrolet, |
| pour of rain didn’t help matters neither, don’t | | | | Nissan, Mercedes, Ford, you name it. |
| blame me, it was my first time. The seemingly long | | | | With a mass landscape, peaceful environment and |
| distance soon disappeared once I and my crew | | | | orderly people, the Onibeju describes the potentials in |
| arrived at the compound of the Onibeju of Lekki, Oba | | | | the land as enormous and therefore called on |
| Rafiu Olusegun Salami. | | | | government and private individuals to invest in the land. |
| As we drove into the town, serenity and order | | | | He further added that Ibeju is a tourist delight, |
| greeted us, and I was quick to ask myself can this be | | | | highlighting places like La campaign Tropicana, lekki |
| a part of Lagos? As we approached the King’s | | | | beach, as well as the presence of quite a number of |
| Palace my driver was quick to point out the changes | | | | hotels. To this end he’s also developing a website |
| that had taken place on the road, noting that it was | | | | to showcase Ibeju, her people, culture and potentials. |
| formerly not tarred. uummm I said to myself. | | | | If you think being an Oba is all glamorous and easy, let |
| After waiting for about two hours, the Oba finally | | | | me shock you with this, Oba Rafiu says he starts his |
| came out to receive us, I was told before then by his | | | | day as early as 6.00am and doesn’t get to rest |
| Personal Assistant that the King does not come out in | | | | until about 11pm. According to him the only time he gets |
| the rain,that was one of the reasons for the delay. | | | | to rest is when he is out of the country. Interesting! I |
| Uummm I said to myself again. | | | | must say, I thought it was only top CEO’s and |
| The king turned out to be more friendly and | | | | Government officials that have such busy schedules. |
| accommodating than I thought. He answered every | | | | Talking about government, the Onibeju says Monarchs |
| question with precision and clarity without trying to | | | | should not be left out in governance, as this was the |
| dodge any. The Onibeju started by telling us how Ibeju | | | | case before independence. They should be carried |
| came to being. It’s like this; | | | | along because “the words of Elders are the words |
| The founder of Ibeju hails originally from Ile-Ife, but | | | | of wisdom” As a religious leader, his view about |
| when he got to Ibeju he saw three parcels of land and | | | | religion is this,”religion is in the mind, religion without |
| just like every natural human instinct, he chose the | | | | character is rubbish, the end will justify the means”. |
| bigger one. That singular act gave birth to the name | | | | Food for thought I must confess. |
| Ibee-ju which means that place is bigger. With a big | | | | From a strong polygamous home, the Onibeju started |
| geographical landscape, today the Onibeju controls | | | | his educational background in Ibeju, from where he |
| 175,000 towns and villages. | | | | moved on to Ibadan where he had his secondary |
| With his exposure as a widely travelled man, Oba | | | | school education. He later got a degree in Insurance |
| Rafiu Salami says his desire is to make Ibeju like the | | | | from the University of Ife, then moved on to Abuja |
| Dubai of Africa. So far he has brought meaningful | | | | where he joined Nicon Noga Hilton hotel as a staff. He |
| development to his kingdom in the space of 1 year, | | | | later retired from there after many years of service. |
| and 8 months of his reign. The presence of Petrol | | | | Just like any Ibeju man his favourite food is Eba and |
| Stations, new schools, industries, new buildings, other | | | | egusi soup, and also beans and dodo. Oba Rafiu |
| construction works and even cars testifies to this. | | | | Olusegun Salami is blessed with wives and children |
| Now talking about cars, the Onibeju informed us he | | | | and says as an African man the door is still open for |
| had given out over 15 cars since his ascension. Wao! | | | | more. |
| Little wonder, a quick glance at the Oba’s palace | | | | Watch out for the television version of this interview |
| will show a fleet of choice cars, all of which he told us | | | | on the Goodlife show coming soon!!! |
| were gifts from people. There were about 10 cars | | | | |