The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has advised Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to exercise restraint in criticising the palace’s decision to confer chieftaincy titles on Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his wife Prof. Hafsat.
Oba Balogun, through his media aide Oladele Ogunsola, said the response was needful to correct wrong notions raised by Igboho in a viral video.
The statement reads: “The video which was shot at the palace of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, showed Igboho advising the monarch not to join the Yoruba kings conferring vhieftaincy titles on people who do no merit them, and that the Olugbon should advise his fellow Obas to desist from such.
“Though there’s no particular mention of either the name or title of the Olubadan, the fact that the Saturday occasion was referenced was not hidden. As much as the Yoruba Nation activist is entitled to his opinion as well as conviction on the Yoruba Nation project, he must concede to the fact that others too have the right to do certain things that in their wisdom are considered helpful to Yoruba cause.
“It must be placed on record that the Olubadan is too refined to seek who to honour with titles for whatever purpose. But, when a case was made for the Kano State first couple by the Yoruba community in the ancient Kano city through their head, Alhaji Muritala Alimi Otisese, and the adduced reasons were considered on their merit, Kabiyesi gave his consent.
“It is advisable that Igboho ask questions before forming an opinion on anything that has to do with Yoruba as a nation to avoid hasty conclusion. The fact that some people from the north have taken to crime and criminality doesn’t mean all northerners are criminals. What is even more, if and when the Yoruba Nation project comes to be, are we saying there won’t be interaction between the Yoruba and others in the country again? I doubt it so much.”