OBA AJAYI PALMER, AJIFOLOKUN II

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A PROFILE OF H.R.H. OBA ALAIYELUWA J. AJAYI PALMER, J.P., AJIFOLOKUN II

OBA OF IJEBU-JESA, 1974 – 1996

His Royal Highness Oba Alaiyeluwa Joseph Ajayi Palmer, J.P. Ajifolokun II, by the grace of God was born in 1925.

His late illustrious father, Prince James Daramola Palmer who was called to join his ancestors on March 30, 1946 was born into the Aiyapaki-Ekun Ruling House of Ijebu-Jesa.  During his life time, he was a successful Cocoa farmer a prominent merchant and prosperous produce buyer.

Oba Ajayi Palmer

His late mother Madam Marian Moloju Palmer was a devoted Christian and a successful personality in her own right.

Young Ajayi spent his early life with his parents who, without the faintest idea of what posterity has for our Oba, laid the foundations of honesty, integrity, chastity and all the virtues a prince requires to rule or reign in his domain.  He was educated at Holy Trinity School, Omofe, Ilesa but like many children of his age he was privileged to enter the preparatory class of Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa in 1936 when the late Rev. Cannon J. H. Doherty was the principal of the school.  By 1939 when he was admitted into class I at the same school that renowned educationalist and great disciplinarians; the late Rev. N. O. Lahanmi was the principal.  Our beloved Oba passed out of the school in 1994 as class VI.

There are two avenues of employment in those days when secondary school leavers were in great demand.  There was the Private Sector with companies like U.A.C., John Holt, etc. and there was the Government Service.  Like his contemporaries, he left for Lagos to seek employment.  He was immediately employed as a Third Class Clerk by the Old Public Works Department (Electrical Division).  The division later became the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (E.C.N) and subsequently the Nigerian Electric Power Authority (N.E.P.A).  He rose from the humble beginning to the post of an administrative Officer in the training Department, Lagos District Office at Ijora, Lagos.  During his years of service, he not only did his work conscientiously to earn him justified promotion but was selected on merit; to attend several in service training courses in General Administration and Industrial relations and he attended short courses on a subjects relevant to Administration at Yaba College of Technology and University of Ife (Ibadan Campus).

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By dint of hark work; he earned excellent reports which paved the way for his steady movement up the ladder in the establishment.  By the time he was called to serve his people as the Oba of Ijebu-Jesa on October 15, 1974, he had served the country for 30years I the same Ministry and in different parts of the country including the old Northern region.  He has brought the same degree of thoroughness, diligent approach to intricate matters and matured experience acquired over the years in the Civil Service to the service of his people.  No wonder he is loved by all – old and young, men women and children.

Before his accession to the throne, the Oba belonged to many social clubs especially those whose main objective is to improve and bring honour to his fatherland and his God.  He was for years, member of:

  • Ijesa club, Lagos.
  • Auditor and later Treasurer of Ijebu-Jesa Union Conference.
  • President, Ijebu-Jesa May Morning Club, Lagos.
  • The Chairman of Ijebu-Jesa Societies Coordinating Committee, Lagos.

The Oba is a devout Christian of the Anglican denomination. Whilst in Lagos, he was for many years and at different times the Pastor’s warden and the Peoples Warden of Holy trinity church, Ikate, Surulere.

Our Oba has among his classmates’ contemporaries at Ilesa Grammar School, some eminent men who today are renowned in their field.  Some of them are:

  • Mr. Justices Kayoed Esho, Judge of the Supreme court, Lagos.
  • Mr. Justices Agbaje Williams, now the acting chief Judge of Oyo State.
  • Mr. J. A. Ogunyemi, retired controller of Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.
  • Mr. I. O. Daramola, Oyo State Civil Service.
  • Chief F. O. Fatiregun, retired stores manager, Kingsway stores and now the Odofin of Ijebu-Jesa.

Our Oba is married and he is blessed with many children.

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Source:
A Commemorative Brochure for the 10th Anniversary of the Occasion of Alaiyeluwa Oba J. Ajayi Palmer, J.P., Ajifolokun II

Oba of Ijebu-Jesa 1974 -1984
December 17-23, 1984
Ijebu-Jesa