Kunle Adelabu
A first class traditional ruler in Lagos State and the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) AbdulaHakeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, has revealed features of his massive royal castle that will be commissioned soon.
The palace, which is strategically located opposite the Lagos lagoon and by the Egbin Thermal Station in Egbin, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), when commissioned, would be a tourist destination and important landmark building in Ikorodu Division of the state.
According to the classy royal father and businessman, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, would be commissioning the palace with the new site of the Egbin Kingdom Nursery & Primary Schools which he started but has now been taking over by the government.
Obateru,while speaking with THE IMPACT in his palace, revealed the features of the magnificent palace for the first time since its construction started.
The highly revered monarch, who is a professional artist, told our reporter that most of the things used in providing aesthetic value in the palace were crafted in his own studio located within the palace.
“Everything in the palace itself, apart from the blocks used in constructing it, are crafted. They are made by hands and not Chinese stuff. They are all produced in the palace here. We have the studio where we produce them gradually:, Obateru revealed.
“I tell you, I have a collection of over 250 paintings that will be hung all over the palace for people to see. We have lots of sculptural works like the ‘Iyemoja’, a huge sculptor of the river goddess placed on the castle wall facing the lagoon. Some people are even coming there to pray”.
Aside the sculptural works and paintings, the monarch also revealed that the symbol of Obateru royalty, which is a bird, woukd also be placed at a very strategic location within the massive castle with waterfall around it.
“We are still working on the symbol of Obateru himself which is a bird. ‘Omo Areye, a roko, ka to roko tan, eye ti fo lo’ (reciting Obateru’s cognomen). I am working on it and it should be completed in the few weeks”, he said.
“We are going to mount it somewhere within the palace and we are going to have waterfall around it. We are also planning to have a studio where we can teach up and coming artists and that will be handled by me and my other junior colleagues like son of Toyin Aroyewun, who is also an artists like me”.
While stating other features of the palace, Oba Oyebo said that:
“We have a swimming pool. There are about 7 siting rooms, 2 palace halls, 12 guest rooms, 7 other private rooms for my family and an open space for party. There is a walkway for early morning exercise. These are some of the things that I have been dreaming of and thank God Almighty that they are now a reality”, he said.
The royal father, who holds a Degree Certificate of Doctor of Arts in Public Leadership, Peace and Community Leadership, Honoris Causa of the European-American University, speaking on his library, said:
“Oh my God! If I open my library for you, you will marvel, just name any book and author; just mention me any best seller and you will find them all in the library. They are there already. People come here to read and borrow books from me, but they don’t return them”, he said.
“I have books on business world, Medicine, Culture, Religions and others, just name it. I have a book on Tai Solarin beside my bed that I am reading in a bid to find a guide to what I am about to write about 22nd of May, 2013.
“I have very good books that are definitely readers’ delight. I have foreign books that will tell you how to do your business and how people breakthrough in life…..”.
Other features of the Obateru’s palace are museum, bars and others.
Obateru, who holds Higher National Diploma (HND) in Graphic Designs from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, and has second degree in Industrial Product Designs, said that he would also be training up and coming artists in his studio sited within the palace, to build future generations in the creative profession.
“We will be training our students and give them idea about what art is. Art is word; word is art; God is the creator, creation is human being and artist is a creator and what we create is the art”, he said.
“If an artist does not design, an engineer cannot do anything. It is the artist that adds aesthetic value. I want to use the studio to tell our people in this part of the world and in our area, that this is what life is all about.
“The school that I started last year, the government has taken over it and they are continuing with the construction of the school. I give that glory to my Governor, Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo – Olu. I give it to him and I am sure that before the end of this year, he will come around to commission the school and the new palace for my community”, he said.
