Congratulations on your birthday Kabiyesi. On the list of your 60th birthday gig attendance were top names from different phases of life, including governor, kings, former president, former governor and big players in the business sector. How do you feel seeing them honouring you?
You call it 60, I call it another year. I really don’t feel 60 and I don’t look it. I thank God, He has been very faithful in my life. Nobody would be able to guess my age if I don’t tell them, based on my look. So, it’s just another milestone in life and I’m happy. I will continue to look after my health, exercise more and rededicate myself more to the service of my kingdom and humanity in general.
Turning 60 years of age is a milestone. How would you explain your feeling at 60 in terms of age and experiences on the throne?
I feel highly elated having arrays of people, very important personalities in the country, attending my landmark birthday occasion. I feel super happy seeing people from diverse backgrounds, from all walks of life honouring me.
What is your biggest dream for Kuta kingdom in twenty years time?
My biggest dream for Kuta Kingdom is to see it transformed into a megacity. This is my own London, this is my own Paris, this is my own Abuja and this is my own Lagos. I will continue to work hard to see Kuta transformed, like I said, into a megacity.
What is your favourite music?
When it comes to music; I love traditional music. I mean traditional genres like Apala, Juju and Fuji. I love them. And, at times, I enjoy Hausa music very well, like Dr. Mamman Shata, Dangworo, Dan Indo, and others.
In spite of your open nature, there still may be some qualities people don’t know about you. Would you like to share one or two with the public?
Not everybody can assess you and give accurate assessment of you except those who are close to you very well. Some of the qualities that some people don’t really know about me is that I put people first before myself. For example; there are times numerous when I would have about a million naira and people would come with various private issues and I would give out even more than a million naira. I would share it all, forgetting that I have a family to cater to or that I have to keep some for my emergency needs. Also, I don’t postpone whatever my instinct tells me to do. If there’s a need for me to do it and I have it, I do it almost immediately. I don’t tell you to go and come back for the help. That has contributed hugely to my social investments. That is why I’m being made a patron of various social groups.
The country is facing challenges from various angles. At the centre of this crisis are the youths. How would you encourage fellow kings as custodians of their domains in ensuring that the youths are not provoked to engage in untoward actions out of grievance?
We’re talking to ourselves within the council of Obas across the Southwest and we’re doing all we can do within our reach to making sure that the youths are encouraged to do better and discouraged from being tools for destruction. Our youths are our future, they’re the future of this country. Any country that neglects its youths is doomed to fail. So, we would continue to strive hard within the limited resources available to us to ensure that our youths are given the right place to excel and are well catered for. That’s why we keep advocating to the government to prioritize anything that has to do with our youths. They are the future of this nation and we’re not relenting.
What more activities are you going to rededicate yourself to from now in developing Kuta kingdom and your subjects?
As for now, I will continue to dedicate myself vigorously toward activities that will engender peace, activities that will bring about peace and unity like I have always done. I will redouble my efforts and refocus my attention towards doing things that guarantee development for my kingdom. I want to be more dedicated towards promoting the Yoruba culture and tradition in order to preserve the traditional institution from being diminished or erased.
