In this interview with The Nation, the first class traditional ruler in Ekiti State, the Obalufon Alayemore, the Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba (Dr.) Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare, Agunsoye II, ascended the throne in 1991 right from the lecture room where he was teaching Accounting and Finance at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife).
He gave account of how Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola influenced the development and growth of Efon-Alaaye to the enviable position it is today.
He said the development of Efon Alaaye ‘’…was a combination of spirituality as well as the industry of our people and probably it may interest you that you talk about Baba Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
He came to Efon when Agunsoye I, my grandfather, was the Alaaye and when they started the crusade at Ilesa, message got to my father on the throne, Agunsoye I; you have his picture in one of the new buildings we have here (in the place).
This man (Babalola) was saying Olorun Alaaye, Olorun Alaaye, that this man who was calling the name that was close to his home be invited to Efon. So, they had just finished what I call the annual remembrance of the founding of CAC (Christ Apostolic Church) because the first CAC started here. So the Baba came here, he came to Efon and when he came, there was a storey building there that was the first story building in Efon which was built by my father.
So, my father now decided to house him there and that was where they were doing the prayer vigils and so on and so forth.
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Prior to that time, my grandfather had the power to turn to a lion, to turn to an elephant and so on and so forth. But he decided to be baptised and he surrendered all the magical powers he had; he was baptised and given the name Solomon. He encouraged other members of the community who had such powers also to surrender them and these were burnt. That’s why today you will find so many churches in this town and Apostle Ayo Babalola prayed for Efon Alaaye and we believed that part of the prayers Baba said is coming to pass. When you look at the topography of Efon, it was through the grace of God and the industry of our people that we are able to reach the level of development we have now.’’
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