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Tag: Alaafin of Oyo

  • Buhari, beacon of hope for Africa – Alaafin

    Buhari, beacon of hope for Africa – Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has assured Nigerians not to be unnecessarily apprehensive about the present administration, saying the era of oligarchy and corruption-ridden governance has gone for good.

    Oba Adeyemi stated this on Saturday while fielding questions from journalists shortly after hosting the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Adesola Lawal Laminisa1, and his entourage who were in Oyo town to felicitate with the Alaafin on the ongoing Oranyan festival.

    Alaafin said the good governance and accountability being witnessed presently in Nigeria is serving as a beacon of hope for the rest of West Africa in particular and Africa as a whole.

    ‘’Until recently, lack of transparency, probity, and accountability in Nigeria translates into a pandemic across the sub-region and the continent as a vacuum is created by the absence of effective Nigerian leadership. President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015 was that of hope and transformation will translate into the beginning of a new renaissance in the sub-region and the whole of the African continent for a new democracy in which wanton corruption, abuse of power, lack of transparency in governance, deceit of the citizenry, ineptitude, ethnicity and impunity were orders of the day,’’ he said.

    The monarch asserted that changing a government under whose the “mass of ordinary people were unnecessarily and needlessly burdened by pervasive corruption, deliberate oligarchic mismanagement of abundant natural resources,” was a feat worthy of emulation by other African countries.

    ‘’The track record of the President and his unassailable commitment to democratic processes since constitutional governance in Nigeria in1999 gives hope that under his leadership, Nigeria will once more instill the values of good and accountable governance not only in Nigeria but also in West African and the continent at large,” the Alaafin added.

  • Oyo Lawmaker declares free weekly medical service in constituency

    Oyo Lawmaker declares free weekly medical service in constituency

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency of Oyo state, Hon. Olatoye Sugar as set aside every Wednesday as a day for free medical services for old people and pregnant women across his constituency.

    The free medical services include ultrasound scanning for pregnant women, eye treatment with glasses and drugs, malaria treatment for children and adults as well as blood sugar level, HIV, Urine and stool test aimed at reducing the astronomical medical fees for rural dwellers in the constituency.

    In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Sola Omotayo and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the lawmaker appealed to wealthy Nigerians to also support less privileged members of the society.

    The lawmaker urged citizens to remain patriotic and committed to the Nigerian project even in the face of economic hardship, assuring that better days lie ahead of all of them.

    Hon. Sugar commended the spirit of togetherness, oneness and peaceful coexistence exhibited during the just concluded sallah festivity, saying that, it is only in an atmosphere of peace devoid of political, ethnic and religious acrimony that Nigeria could achieve the desired greatness.

    In his words, he said: “People should exhibit a high level of care and concern to fellow human being during the Sallah celebration and beyond as only the living can partake in the joy of the season now and afterwards”.

    While urging members of the public to celebrate in moderation and be security conscious to avoid any form of disaster as criminals take advantage of this kind of season to perpetrate evil, he charges all security agencies to be at their best in ensuring a hitch free Celebration.

    Hon Sugar however congratulated the President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Aseyin of Iseyin and all Muslim faithfuls across Nigeria on this year’s Eid – el-Kabir celebration.

  • Oyo clash: Traditional religion elders rise in defence of Ifa priests 

    Oyo clash: Traditional religion elders rise in defence of Ifa priests 

    Elders of Traditional Religion worshipers under the aegis of the Concerned Committee of Yoruba Traditional Culture and Faith Ambassadors have stood in defence of three Ifa priests accused of impersonating the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and extorting some foreigners, who are Ifa practitioners.

    According to them, their findings have not implicated the three priest as reported by a section of the media.

    At a press conference in Osogbo, Osun State capital, the chairman of the group, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, said their interaction with the priests, Ikusanu Faleye, Fasola Olaniyan and Olaniyan Awoyemi, revealed that they are notable babalawo in Oyo town and respected people in Orisa community worldwide and not fake priests as reported.

    It would be recalled that the priests were accused of giving chieftaincy title of ‘Oba Ifa Adimula of South America’ to some foreign nationals.

    They were also accused of forging chieftaincy title certificates which they presented to Franciva Leoa Nobres, whom they christened ‘Ifatowo Adebayo;’ Dasiel Guerra, christened as ‘Awotunde Ajisola;’ and Jose Lara, christened with the name ‘Ifakayode Falade’ without the consent of the Alaafin.

    The priests, who are members and leaders of Ijo Ifa Adimula Temple, Bara, Oyo, reportedly attracted their victims through the Internet and collected unspecified amount of money in foreign currency with the promise that the Alaafin would confer chieftaincy titles on them.

    Elebuibon said: “These priests represent an Ifa Temple in Oyo town. From the ages, Ifa priests have the prerogative to handle some matters without the express permission of the Obas. So, the Obas also have some prerogative and rights exclusive to him without informing Ifa priests. However, there are many other matters that require synergy between Ifa priests and the obas for peace and tranquility in the society.

    “It is established the priests involved and their temple have in the past conferred Ifa chieftaincy titles on Orisa practitioners of different races including Nigerians and Americans. Some of them are recipients of Ifa titles also which were conferred on them from within the temple.

    “In Ifa practice, the title of Araba/Oluawo of a town which is the highest in Ifa religion is the only title conferred on a babalawo by the oba on a consensus priest presented by the Ifa community of that town and the king exercises authority over his domain.

    “On investigating the priests and copies of certificates of chieftaincy title they presented, we found no evidence of impersonating the Alaafin of Oyo or any other monarch on the said title conferred on the Ifa practitioners from diaspora as such titles were not Oyo town chieftaincy titles but Ifa religious titles meant for propagation of Ifa religion in the home country of the title recipients. And there has been no information about displeasure raised by the chieftaincy title recipients or allegation of dupe.”

    However, Eleuibon disclosed that the group of traditional religion leaders are seeking an audience with the Alafin in order to forestall impending imbroglio between the monarch and the priests, adding that the embarrassment that the issue is generating would, no doubt, have adverse consequences on Yoruba culture and tradition.

     

  • Buhari, Alaafin of Oyo meet over Avengers, Boko Haram

    Buhari, Alaafin of Oyo meet over Avengers, Boko Haram

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the monarch said discussions at the meeting bordered on problems facing the country including the militancy in the Niger Delta and insurgency in the north.

    According to him, President Buhari requested traditional rulers to convey their advice on problems in the country in writing.

    He said: “As a Nigerian and one of the topmost traditional rulers in the country, over the time, I sent a memorandum to the President which he acknowledged and he asked me to come and endorse those things I have written.

    “I think it is time for me to use the proper channel to reach the President for suggestions and advice. Where he deserves commendation, I should also do that.

    “Especially as it concerns the multi-dimensional problems Nigeria is facing; the Avengers and the bombing of oil installations, MEND and Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    “One major diplomatic point the President scored recently was the visit of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry. America does not usually send top officers for such visits if they have not used certain parameters to gauge the country’s performance.

    “I have met with the President and offered some suggestions. We are losing huge resources to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers. Coming close to that is the infiltration of the militants in Lagos and Ikorodu where in the last three weeks, 10 landlords were massacred.”

    Noting that the Federal Government responded immediately to wipe out the threat, he said that normalcy has since returned to Ikorodu and Arepo areas.

    He added: “If they had successfully spread their activities to the South West, there would have been more destruction. Lagos is the economic heartbeat of the nation.

    “The President listened attentively and he has asked me to pass the information to other traditional rulers in my domain to assist the government by giving advice because he is a good listener but that such advice should be put in writing so that he can then relate it to the problems affecting Nigeria.”

  • Instal Oba-elect for Oyo community – Group

    Instal Oba-elect for Oyo community – Group

    A group, the Oke-Ogun Professional, has called for the immediate coronation of the Oba-elect of Ago Are, Prince Kofoworola Abodunrin Oyetunji.

    In a statement by the Secretary-General of the body, Chief Tiamiyu Adebayo, it praised the ruling house and the king makers for observing due process in the exercise leading to the emergence of the Oba-elect.

    It urged other candidates to join hands with the Oba-elect to ensure a smooth transition and avoid unnecessary bickering or litigation.

    The group said it was aware that the Edu ruling house met about five times in the house of the family head, Alhaji Lawani Oyebisi, to enable it accommodate all interests, resulting in not less than 15 princes showing their intention. Their names were transmitted to the king makers as stipulated by the extant Chieftaincy Laws of Oyo state.

    The king makers, said the group, in the presence of appropriate officials of the Atisbo Local Government, the Police, Secretary of Atisbo Local Government Traditional Council voted to elect Prince Oyetunji as the next Oba of Ago Are.

    It said: “With this substantial compliance with the laid down procedure and rules therefore, we are appealing to the consenting authority – His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo and the final approving authority; His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajumobi to graciously expedite action, so that pockets of discontent, which, of course, cannot be ruled out in most human contests, may not snowball into acts capable of contaminating the peace of the community.”

  • Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Oyo

    Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Oyo

    A rainstorm on Monday evening destroyed property worth millions of naira in Oyo town, Oyo State.

    Affected areas include Boroboro, Isokun, Sabo, Akesan, Obananko, Owode, Agunpopo, Alliance, Oke-ebo, Sakutu Ogbegbe, Ilora, Fiditi, Iware, Awe and Akinmorin.

    The storm, which started around 5 pm, lasted about 30 minutes and was followed by a two-hour downpour.

    Some of the victims urged the government to come to their aid.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Oyo Federal Constituency election, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, inspected the affected areas yesterday.

     

  • Jonathan greets Alaafin at 76

    Jonathan greets Alaafin at 76

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday hailed the continued support of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, for the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate the country’s socio-economic development.

    Writing to felicitate with the Alaafin on the occasion of his 76th birthday anniversary taking place Wednesday, President Jonathan applauded the monarch’s laudable contributions to peace, harmony and progress in Oyo State and Nigeria.

    The President wrote: “On behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to convey warm felicitations to Your Highness on the occasion of your 76th birthday anniversary.

    “You have not only continued to use your exalted throne to promote peace, harmony and progress in your kingdom and Oyo State, you have also continued to provide unwavering support for our administration in our determined quest to reposition our dear nation for enduring stability and sustained growth and development. For this, I thank Your Highness.”

    According to a statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan wished the monarch very happy birthday celebrations and prayed that Almighty God will continue to bless him with good health and many more years of worthy service to Oyo State and the country as a whole.

  • Alaafin’s absence stalls hearing on Onitede stool

    Alaafin’s absence stalls hearing on Onitede stool

    The absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, in court on Monday stalled the hearing of the succession tussle to the seat of Onitede of Tede between Oba Rauf Oladoyin and Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu .

    The presiding judge, Justice AL Akintola, while addressing the court on Monday, said the case should be adjourned till October for mention in view of the absence of the Alaafin and his counsel in court.

    The applicant (Olaniyonu) in suit number I/785/2001 between the state and three others (Oladoyin, the state governor and the Alaafin of Oyo) is challenging the right of the first respondent (Onitede) to the throne following a 2003 judgment to the contrary.

    Prof. Olaniyonu is asking the court to decide the validity of the consenting authority of Oba Adeyemi, to the appointment of the present Onitede in 2011.

    Counsel to the applicant, Segun Jayeola, said, “The whole matter now revolves around the Alaafin who is the consenting authority.

    “The issue before the court is to decide whether there was a consenting authority of Alaafin on the appointment of Onitede of Tede.

    “There was a judgment of the High Court in 2003 which nullifies all the actions of the governor in installing the first respondent as Onitede.

    “We want the court to clarify the issue on who among the two is authentic by law. The court is now to say whether the consenting authority given prior to the judgment of June 13, 2003 subsists or not.”