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| Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Obalufon Alayemore, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare |
The Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Obalufon Alayemore, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare has explained why his grandfather gave Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola forbidden forest (Igbo Aiwo) for his revival.
In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, Oba Aladejare explained that:" When Apostle Ayo Babalola started his ministry in Ilesa, he was performing miracles and people were coming from far and near to be part of that great movement. People also went from Efon to Ilesa.
"They came back to relate to my grandfather, Agunsoye the First, that the man was calling “Olorun Alaaye” repeatedly. That enthused my grandfather, being the Alaaye of the Efon kingdom. He sent a delegation to meet the Apostle at Ilesa. His message was that he had been hearing about “Olorun Alaaye”, the Living God, who bears close affinity in name to his throne, and that he would want him to come to Efon. Eventually, Babalola agreed to come to Efon. When he came, my grandfather hosted him in the palace against all expectations of that time and entreaties against it. People complained that they could be noisy and might desecrate the palace and such other complaints against the delegation of Ayo Babalola. Why not give him somewhere outside the palace but Oba Agunsoye said no. He said whatever they did, that even if they passed excrement, he would ensure that all the undesirable things were evacuated. He insisted that Apostle Babalola would be in the palace.
Our father, Oba Agunsoye, the First was probably the first Yoruba Oba to be baptized following that encounter in 1930. He took the name Solomon as his baptismal name. As a result, he encouraged the people to do away with idols and so on.
"Many of these things were burnt in Efon at that time. In fact, the place he gave to Babalola for his revival was Igbo Aiwo, the forbidden forest. It was said that anyone who went to the forest would die. When he told Apostle Babalola that the only place available nearby was the Igbo Aiwo, he requested that the Kabiyesi should lead him to the place. Oba Agunsoye led Babalola who carried his bible and a bell. Babalola led prayers there and was the first to cut the bush. He now asked people to do it. That place was cleared and it became the revival ground for the people at that time.
"The place is very close to the palace. The first church built in Efon was built on that ground and they called it Oke Igbala (Mount of Salvation). Since that time, the affinity between our dynasty and the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) founded by Apostle Ayo Babalola has remained."