33 Years After, Senator Gbolahan Dada, Ota Royal Family Remembers Oba Timothy Talabi Dada

Olufemi Orunsola 

Some 33 years after he joined his ancestors, having reigned over one of the most significant indigenous Yoruba Kingdoms in Nigeria, Awori land, as the Olota of Ota for close to four decades (between 1956 and 1992), former Ogun West Senator, Omoba Gbolahan Dada has joined forces with the Dada Royal family to commemorate the 33rd Year Remembrance of the patriarch of the Dada Royal Dynasty of Otta fame. 

Senator Prince Gbolahan Dada in a press statement made available to OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News recalls with Royal pride the achievements and unforgettable positive impacts of the late Olota of Ota, His Royal Highness Oba T. T Dada on the entire length and breadth of Awori land during his reign as Olota of Ota.

The emotional press statement by Senator Prince Dada on behalf of the royal family titled 'The 33 years remembrance of the Dada regency patriarchal dynasty of Otta fame, The Alayeluwa his royal highness Oba T.T. Dada, mbe, qmc, frgs, jp, The Olota of Otta. Reigned (1956—1992)' reads, "Today, your children, grand children, great grand children and great great grand children remember you today as always, your blessed gentle memories will forever continued to linger on in our hearts. As for those we love never die but leave on in our hearts.May your beautiful soul continued to rest in perfect peace Amen."

In line with the premium placed on Oriki in Yoruba land, the former Ogun West Senator, in conjunction with the royal family further proceeds to chant the Yoruba Oriki of the late Olota of Ota as follows; 

"Kabiyesi omo ishorun eyo, omo olota odo, omo iganmode afeleja , kabiyesi omoba akinsewa ogbolu, kabiyesi omoba eleshi awogunjoye / ojikutujoye kinni. Kabiyesi omoba elesa ana dorun, omoba onigbesa maale, kabiyesi omonilogoto asowo ,omo ako ile owo loyo. Kabiyesi omo epo wewe ita ileshi ,a ko ile kan idinabi oba.Sun re o."

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News recalls that among other things, the Invaluable contributions of the late Oba Timothy Talabi Dada to the social, health and economic development of Otta has been rated as priceless, as he was reported to have master minded the giving out of landed property, free of charge, for the construction of many government agencies that made Ota, Ogun State's industrial hub till today during his reign. like the Police Post built in 1965, the lnternational Labour Organisation in 1972 and the former Fire Brigade Office.

His special interest was Football and he was also a tennis player. As a manifestation of his zeal for football, he became proprietor of T.T.Dada's Eleven in mid - thirties which featured prominently among others, Chief T.O.S Benson (SAN) a Minister in the First Republic and Otunba of lkorodu, Lagos: Mr. Idowu Akinbo , Mr. Justice Oki of Federal Appeal Court, lbadan etc. The Club had its training ground on the former Nigerian Railway ground in Ebute Metta.

Dada saw to the welfare of his subjects, the economic growth of OTTA, the peacefull co-existence of all settlers in OTTA and the emergence of the same town as one of the fastest growing industrial centers of the nation for which the kingdom is known till today. 

OTN News further recalls as reculled from royal archival records confirmed by Wikipedia that the late Olota of Ota, Oba Timothy Dada, the Alayeluwa Adesoji Ojikutujoye 1, was born in lga lsorun Otta to an active middle class family at Eyija and Anwoyi in 1896. He was born into two royal ruling families of lleshi and ljemo/lsolosi. His father being a descendant of the primodial settlers who through intermarriages became a member of lleshi ruling family while his mother Anwoyi descended from Akinseinwa Ogbolu has son of Osolo, the first crowned Oba in Otta.

GROWING UP

He grew up in the environment of love and control due to maternal care and was greatly influenced by his mother's pleasing traits of kindness and generosity. He was one the few children who grabbed education at a time when the popular consensus denounced it as wasteful and burdensome. It was against this background that his mother, being a woman ahead of her time undertook to pay his school fees.

 *EDUCATION* 

kabiyesi, began his academic journey in 1908 when he was enrolled at the Saint James (CMS) Primary School, lpate Oyinbo Otta with full encouragement from his parents particularly his mother an only son and the last born of the family of four. 

His sister were Olaide, Aina Otapo and Oke Aga. His school life was marked by regularity, punctuality and he bore throughout a very good character. In 1914 he ended his formal education having read up to Standard V.

With his level of education he became one of the few enlightened and education men in the community.

ln 1915, he obtained his first job as a Time - Keeper on a monthly salary of Ten Shillings (i.e.) One Naira in then currency under Mr. Ajetunmobi, a Contractor who was laying pipes from Waterworks to Lagos and later another Clerical job under late Mr. Lucas as a Labeller at Ebute - Metta Railway Station. In 1917, " venturesome Timothy" as he was fondly called later became a member of the permanent staff of Nigerian Railway Corporation progressively as a trainee at the Traffic Training School, Officer - in - Charge (O/C) of Staff Opreation. Tally Clerk, and finally a Guard. Perseverance they say, has its rewards.

A man endowed with vision and the ability to plan, Kabiyesi left the Government Service for more lucrative jobs with African & Eastern Trade Corporation and Miller Brothers, the challenge of which had giving him insight into business circle.

Timothy later resigned and started a business of his own in partnership with his first wife, Omolola. 

Obviously, business was booming for Kabiyesi. He wealth and opulence were manifested in the purchase of his his first Car - Morris Cowley in 1927. A rare feat in those days.

Recognition and fame attended his business and exploits and as providence would have it he was conferred with the Chieftaincy title of the Oloregun of Otta - a traditional title in 1936.

ln the same years , he got the invitation from his business associates to visit England to know more about the rudiments of the business as a successful Nigerian lmporter.

A relentless worker, OBA DADA returned home imibibed with new techniques on the marketing of Benson & Hedges Cigarette, Jubilee Beer and Haematogen Tonic. While in London, he withnessed the Jubilee Celebration of King George V. He was later made a Fellow of the Royal Geograohical Society (F.R.G.S).

When the World War ll broke out, and inspite of his flourishing business, Oba Dada wasted no time in enlisting into the Constabulary Force as a Special Constable in 1939 which shows he had always been in the vanguard of the crusade for the protection of his peolpe. He was a Commader of a Platoon.

The politically conscious OBA DADA5 had been an active member of Citizen Hope Association founded in 1916. That body had since been renamed Otta lmprovement Union in 1926 and had accounded for many laudable decisions for the ancient town.

The would - be Olota gradually climbed up the rungs of societies through membership of many distinguished bodies like Yoruba Tennis Club whose Vice Patron he had become since 1954. He joined the Club in 1930, while his membership of Nigeria's Premier Society the lsland Club was 84.

HIS JOURNEY TO THE THRONE:

ln 1936, Timothy Talabi Dada came into political limelight in Otta when he was installed the "Oloregun" by the Ogboni Cult. That is the Head of Egan, an Ogboni Class. In 1942, he was appointed as Otta Native Authority Treasurer. And in 1944, he was made the Apesin of Otta by the then Olota Oba Arolagbade Oyelusi Oyede of lkogbe Royal House. The conferment served as a signal that he was a royal figure to watch.

From the foregoing one can draw the inference that at this time of his career he had become the most popular, articulate, wealthy and enlightened individual in Otta and this made him an aligible candidate for the succession to the position of Olota when it became vacant in 1947.

Becoming an Oba was not realised in 1947 due to the plebiscite method used by the Kingmakers which contravened the method of selection of an Oba. But which led to the crowing of Timothy Fadina in 1948.

1954 saw the remand of Timothy Fadina by the Western Region Government. In the course of all the troubles, people were anxious and impatient to witness a new era which they hoped would be fulfilled by Talabi's reign. It was in the light of this assumption of a peaceful and prosperous era that he did not face any opposition when it came to filling the vacuum created by the Fadina's remand. Seven month after the disposition of Oba Fadina, Talabi was sent for by the Kingmakers and was installed as the new Olota of Otta on the 16th day of December , 1954. 

He took the title , Alaiyeluwa Adesoji Ojikutujoye 1 of which the entire Awori land witnessed one of the most glamorous coronation of the Royal Father of Ota, Awori land as people sang the song " Timothy lo joba Ota....." with pomp and royal pageantry during his coronation, bearing testimony to the popular acceptance of his ascension to the throne of his fore fathers by the generality of Awori people, a popularity and love by his people, he was reported to have enjoyed and sustained till he joined his ancestors in 1992.