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Tag: Alaafin

  • Scholars canvass study on Alaafin in varsities

    History departments of tertiary institutions in the country have been urged to come up with a course on the institution of the Alaafin of Oyo.

    This is in view of the intricacies, depth, myth, as well as deeper understanding of Alaafin’s input in Yoruba culture and history.

    This formed a part of the communique issued at the end of a three-day conference to commemorate the 80th birthday anniversary of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III.

    The conference, initiated by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) and hosted by Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, had as its theme: ‘Alaafin in Yoruba history, culture and political power relations’.

    “Alaafin institution should be developed as a course of study in departments of History in Nigerian universities,” participants stated in the communique.

    “There is a greater task ahead for the academic and non-academic historians, archaeologists, sociologists, anthropologists, linguists and other scholars for further research and investigations into the institution of the Alaafin for deeper understanding and appreciation of the important role of the Alaafin institution in Yoruba history, culture and political power relations.”

    Participants equally called on culture-oriented bodies and parastatals to embark on increased awarness as well as educating the children and adults on the nation’s cultural values.

    “The federal and state ministries of cultures, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) and other relevant agencies should provide proper platforms and policies for the promotion of indigenous cultural values. This is because our cultural values are capable of restoring our pride and providing the basis of our development,” the communique added.

    The conference, which featured over 150 local and international papers by distinguished scholars, noted that traditional rulers, despite the enormous powers they wield, are still the closest to the grassroots. Participants, therefore, underscored the essence of having traditional rulers being accorded their rightful place as in the days of old if Nigeria must again experience a polity devoid of rancor, skirmishes and uprising.

    “The conference concluded that the Alaafin’s place in Yoruba history is a study in history, culture, politics, sociology and religion. Through our studies of the Alaafin Institution, we have seen that traditional rulers are the cornerstones for building a great Nigerian and until traditional rulers are returned to their rightful position in governance, peace, progress, unity, integration and development of Nigeria may continue to be elusive.

    “If we truly want peace, unity and progress of Nigeria, then the Alaafin institution and other traditional institutions and traditional rulers have to be acknowledged as agent of positive change and important partners in national progress and development,” it added

    The event had as its keynote speaker a professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, Toyin Falola, as well as a professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University, Lawrence Richardson. Other presenters at plenary sessions included:  Prof. Akin Ogundiran of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Prof. Tunji Olaopa of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy; Emeritus Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun and Mr. Seye Oyeleye of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission); as well as a team of archaeologists led by Prof. Ogundiran.

    Panels’ discussions covered such areas as Oyo’s Martial Tradition; Palace Administration; Traditional Religion; Religious Culture; Rituals and Festivals; Islam and Christianity in Oyo; Inter-Group Relations and Diplomacy; as well as Sounds and Music of Oyo.

    Others were: the Alaafin Institution and Administration; the Art, Crafts and Architecture of Oyo; Language and Literary Perspectives; Oyo and the Colonial State; Oyo and the Post-Colonial State; Women, Politics and Leadership; Pioneers of Change in Oyo; Socio-Political Issues; Oyo’s Economy, Culture and Contemporary Society in Perspective; as well as Oyo in Contemporary and Modern Politics.

  • Alaafin to crown Eleyinpo

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Ola Lamidi Adeyemi will,tomorrow, crown  the new Ekeyinpo of Ipapo, in Itesiwaju Local
    Government area of Oyo State,Oba Yekini Ademola Abioye.

    The secretary ,Ipapo Descendants Union,Mr.Hassan Ariyibi,said the event will be led by the paramount ruler and representatives of the Oyo State Government.

    The state government recently approved wearing of crown by the Eleyinpo.

  • Akure regent urges Ooni, Alaafin to caution Deji over Osolo stool

    The Regent of Isolo community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Princess Adebusola Oluwatuyi, has urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to caution the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, against his involvement in Osolo’s stool.

    Adebusola, who addressed reporters yesterday in Akure, the state capital, said no Deji had ever appointed anybody to the stool of Osolo in the history of the community.

    According to her, Akure’s monarch has no right to suspend the Elemo of Isolo, High Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo, since the monarch did not appointed him.

    Princess Oluwatuyi insisted that she was still the Regent of Isolo, adding that her return to the throne was not sacrilegious.

    The regent said the Lisa of Isolo, High Chief Joshua Omotayo, who claimed she could not return to the throne, was not familiar with the culture and traditions of the community.

    She urged the traditional head the Deji appointed for the community, Edward Adewole, to vacate the Osolo palace.

    Princess Oluwatuyi dared him to wear the ancient royal crown of Osolo and see the repercussions.

    She said: “In the history of Akure and Isolo, no Deji has ever appointed somebody to the Osolo stool. What Oba Aladetoyinbo has done by appointing a chief for Isolo is historical aberration.

    “The Deji also said he has removed one of the Isolo high kingmakers, High Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo, the Elemo of Isolo community. Let me say here that the Deji has no right to suspend or remove Elemo or any other chief of Isolo because he was not the one who appointed them.

    “The Deji wants to use the man he imposed on the people of Isolo, Edward Adewole, to relegate the stool of Osolo. Oba Aladetoyinbo should wait for the Supreme Court judgment on the obaship status of Osolo.

    “I am still the Regent of Isolo; Adewole is not acceptable to us since Isolo kingmakers had no hand in his selection. Therefore, he has no right to host Owayoko Yam Festival.

    “Let the whole world know that I am planning to enter the Osolo palace on September 15 and 16 when the festival will hold. I will wear the ancient royal crown and enter the palace. If Adewole likes, let him wait for me. He knows the implications, and I hope nobody will blame me for what happens to him later.

    “I would like to call on Oba Ogunwusi and Oba Adeyemi, as well as other Yoruba traditional rulers to prevail on the Deji not to desecrate the culture and tradition of Isolo people. He should desist from interfering in how we chose our traditional head.

    “It is not a taboo for me to remain the regent. I have consulted widely on this issue. The chief who said it was a taboo does not know the culture and tradition of the community. He is a stranger and he has always been a traitor.

    “If the Deji’s appointee is still claiming that he is the traditional head of Isolo, let him come and wear the ancient royal crown and see what is going to happen.”

    The regent noted that those who should have performed the traditional rites of ascendance for him were not involved in the process of his appointment by the Deji.

    She added: “He is not our traditional head.”

  • Ajimobi, Alaafin, Ayefele to resolve face-off over Music House demolition

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and proprietor of Fresh FM in Ibadan, Yinka Ayefele, met yesterday to resolve the face-off that followed the partial demolition of Music House, the structure housing the private radio station.

    Ayefele arrived the governor’s office in Agodi at 11.30 a.m in a black Toyota Sequoia Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number (Lagos) AAA700FE.

    He was ushered in by a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joseph Tegbe.

    Ayefele was accompanied by a director in his company, Mr David Ajiboye, a radio host, Mr Isaac Brown, among other officials.

    The popular singer was led into a private waiting area ahead of the governor’s arrival.

    Ajimobi went straight into the Executive Chamber where he met = executive members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    Also, Ayefele’s visit to the government secretariat coincided with that of traditional rulers from Oyo town and Oke Ogun, who paid homage to the governor for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

    The over 30 monarchs comprised of first-class and second-class obas from the zones.

    They were led by Oba Adeyemi.

    The NURTW members were on a condolence visit to the governor over the death of the union’s Oyo State and Southwest Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele).

    Ajimobi proceeded into the private suite to meet Ayefele and his team.

    The governor was accompanied by Oba Adeyemi; the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle; the Iba of Kishi, Oba Moshood Aweda; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran, among others.

    Top government officials at the meeting included the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun; the Director General of Bureau of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Waheed Gbadamosi, who also doubles as the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Physical Planning and Development Control; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji and the APC governorship aspirant, Joseph Tegbe.

    Others are Special Advisers to the Governor (on Efficiency) Dr. Isaac Ayandele and Mr. Abidemi Siyanbade (Community Relations).

    The meeting, which ended around 7 p.m, was said to have proffered a political solution to the controversy surrounding last Sunday’s partial demolition of Ayefele’s Music House on Aare Arisekola Alao Way at Challenge in Ibadan, valued at N800 million.

    It was learnt that Ajimobi expressed the willingness to resolve the controversy, insisting that neither himself nor his government had any issue with either Ayefele or Fresh FM but with the structure housing the radio station.

    According to him, the issue is a battle for the supremacy of the rule of law and respect for constituted authority.

    The governor, a source at the meeting said, expected every entrepreneur to maintain political neutrality.

    He said such persons may neither have friends nor enemies in the political class but must discharge their services to the public in line with the law.

    Ajimobi was said to have advised Ayefele and his team to mind their utterances and what people send to the public domain in their names.

    The governor said this was the reason the issue generated unnecessary heat.

    He added that the controversy would not deter his administration from respecting the law.

    The Alaafin reportedly urged Ajimobi to temper justice with mercy and allow a peaceful and amicable resolution of the matter.

    The frontline monarch reportedly said it was necessary to allow sound reasoning to prevail without any side claiming to be right or wrong.

    Ayefele was said to have apologised to the governor, acknowledging that he regretted not coming personally to see him when the matter first broke out.

    The musician reportedly said his efforts to meet Ajimobi before the partial demolition met brick walls.

    He expressed readiness for a peaceful resolution of the matter in the interest of peace.

    Neither Ayefele’s team nor a representative of the government agreed to address reporters on the outcome of the meeting.

     

  • Alaafin charges politicians to find solutions to Nigeria’s problems

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba [Dr.] Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has called on politicians to eschew primordial sentiments and be more pragmatic in finding solutions to the myriad problems confronting the country.

    He said national growth and development depend largely on the good sense of justice, moral worth and responsibility, conscientiousness, devotion to duty, selflessness, probity and honesty exhibited by the leaders and the led.

    Oba Adeyemi gave the admonition yesterday when a presidential hopeful on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party [PDP], Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, paid him a courtesy visit in his ancient palace in Oyo town.

    He said, “it is assumed that a nation’s value system is sacred and

    could extend beyond that nation’s boundaries. All nations are supposed to be proud of their value systems, just as a person is proud of his or her upbringing and character and would try to impress that behaviour and beliefs on others. Basic values are traditional and historic, reflecting aspects of the experience that each nation went through since its inception as a national unity.”

    The Alaafin noted that politicians must close ranks, logically brainstorm, and arrive at an in-depth and coherent understanding of the contending state-building issues in the country, which he identified as the fear of the predominance of one state over another, over-concentration of powers, lack of consensus politics and government based on a community of interests, absence of truly integrative national political parties, non establishment of the

    principle of public accountability for office holders; and inequitable

    system of revenue allocation.

    Earlier, Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and serving senator, lauded the intellectual sagacity and contributions of the Alaafin to national peace and stability, and described traditional institution as part of the working tools that could make democracy and development sustainable and be consolidated.

     

     

  • Alaafin urges Nigerians to unite against killings

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has urged Nigerians to unite against those behind the killing of innocent persons across the country.

    This, he said, would reinforce the collective will to take the country from those he said were obsessed with insanity and barbarism.

    The frontline monarch said the socio-cultural orientations that uphold the sanctity of life and the intrinsic dignity in the human person must not be surrendered to the ungodly.

    Oba Adeyemi spoke at the turbaning of 12 Fulani leaders in his palace in Oyo town.

    The ceremony followed violent clashes between nomadic herders from the North and sedentary agrarian communities in the Southwest.

    The Alaafin and other traditional rulers in the North had invited some Fulani for a peace meeting.

    The 12 Fulani were chosen as representatives of their people and conferred with chieftaincy titles.

    At the ceremony, Oba Adeyemi urged the Federal Government to ensure that those found culpable in the mindless killings in Benue and other states are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He said: “There can be no national development without relative peace and stability. There have been greater challenges of security in recent times than at any other point in our history, thus rendering our political stability fragile, democratic institutions and processes fluid and our economy debilitated.

    “The government, political leaders and followers and all of us must have the courage and honesty to get to the root causes of our current state of insecurity, underpinned by criminality, insurgency and of recent terrorism by herdsmen.

    “Our leaders and followers have taken the issues of security for granted. Yet, urgent and immediate steps must be taken to consciously respond to current threats by architectonically designing and building a security system which would create a stable and relatively peaceful environment, conducive for national development.

    “We must accept the reality that while it is necessary to create unity in diversity, we must identify and respect our differences, which is diversity in unity.”

    On security in his domain, the Alaafin said: “Before now, Oyo metropolis under the reign of Alaafin not only remained the first to provide cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen in Yoruba land, another 10 acres of land were made available for convenience of the herdsmen free of charge to ensure harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups residing in the metropolis.

    “Whenever there are skirmishes between farmers and the herdsmen, the royal adopted his age-long conflict resolution mechanisms, dated back to the old Oyo Empire, which provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, promotes consensus-building, social bridge reconstructions and enactment of order in the metropolis.”

    Hailing the Muhammadu Buhari administration for its steadfastness, commitment and determination to checkmate insurgency, Oba Adeyemi also stressed the need for the Federal and state governments to work together as well as take immediate steps to shore up security for herders and farmers.

    The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Abdul Muhammadu Pirowa, hailed the Alaafin for his visionary leadership qualities and unflinching commitment for unity, peace and national development.

    He said: “I have never seen any community or state where the Fulani are accorded honour and recognition in the course of peace and mutual co-existence like here.

    “Your Imperial Majesty, as the Permanent Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, you have set the pace in Yoruba land and indeed the country. I am indeed excited by this.”

  • Ajimobi, Alaafin to grace GOtv Boxing Night 15

    Governor Isiaka Ajibola Ajimobi of Oyo State and the Alaafin Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, are among several dignitaries expected to grace GOtv Boxing Night 15, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday.

    Governor Ajimobi is expected to be the special guest, while the Alaafin, a famous boxing enthusiast, is expected to be the father of the day at the event. Also expected are authority figures in Nigerian boxing and sports in general.

    Speaking on the event, Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director of Flykite Promotions, organisers of the event, noted that Ibadan has a rich association with boxing. The city hosted the first world boxing title fight in Africa when Nigeria’s Dick Tiger beat Gene Fullmer to win the world middleweight boxing title at the Liberty Stadium in 1962.

    “Ibadan is one of Nigeria’s sporting cities. We have been there before with GOtv Boxing Night and we are happy to return to the iconic Liberty Stadium. We are happy to receive the governor and the royal father, who is a former boxer and remains a big supporter of the sport,” said Alumona.

    GOtv Boxing Night 15 will feature seven fights, including the African Boxing Union (ABU), lightweight title bout between incumbent champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph of Nigeria and Ghana’s Nathaniel Nukpe. The fight line-up also includes an international light middleweight challenge between Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku of Nigeria and Franc Houanvoegbe of Benin Republic, a national challenge bout between ABU welterweight champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi and Kazeem “Iberu” Ariyo; as well as a national cruiserweight clash between Michael “Lion Heart” Godwin and Idowu “ID Cabasa” Okusote,

    Prince “Lion” Nwoye will square up against Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola in a national lightweight duel; Vincent “Dada” Essien and Segun “Showboy” Olalehin will trade punches for a national light welterweight contest; while Daniel “Big Shark” Emeka and Sulaimon “Olags” Adeosun will slug it out in a national light heavyweight clash.

    The event, sponsored by GOtv and Bet King, will be beamed live on SuperSport in 47 African countries. The best boxer at the event will go home with a cash prize of N1 million alongside the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

  • Alaafin to Fed Govt: heed intellectuals’ advice

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has urged the Federal Government to tap into the wealth of knowledge and researches of scholars for the development of the country.

    He also appealed to scholars, governments and the academia to always involve traditional rulers in academic discourse and latest research findings.

    The frontline monarch expressed concern about the ecology and the environment to educate the populace.

    Oba Adeyemi spoke at this year’s edition of the Nigerian National Merit Award Winners Lecture at Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State.

    The lecture, titled: Refocusing The Attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria on Ecology and The Environment, was delivered by Professor Emeritus Seth Sunday Ajayi, a 2013 recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

    The event was attended by members of the academic community, traditional rulers, scholars, researchers and students.

    Oba Adeyemi, who decried the dearth of a regulated ecosystem in the country, said the situation had impeded the ecological and economic development of the country due to poor management of human activities on natural environment.

    He said: “The greatest gift of life is the character. It emanates from heredity, environment and education. The Federal Government and the people of Nigeria must listen to the advice of our intellectuals.

    “It is disheartening that most rivers have gone dry, blocked or polluted with aftermath effects like flooding through human activity of dropping refuse in flowing rivers. A lot of things we engage in often destroy our environment, particularly indiscriminate burning and dumping of refuse inside the rivers.

    “Most of the food we eat today are from inorganic sources, therefore, making us to live unhealthy lives. Many animals we were acquainted with during our time are not available for today’s youths to see because they have been killed through bush burning and other erroneous human activities.

    “If our generation knew lion and tiger and such other animals, do our children even know or recognise them anymore? We have devoured all of them in the forest. That is the implication of the ill-knowledge.

    “The guest lecturer made us to understand that the situation in Sokoto, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Zamfara and other parts that are witnessing killings is as a result of Sahara Desert getting closer to us. There is no more forest or what the herders could feed their cattle with. That is what is causing us trouble.

    “Our appeal is also to the Federal Government and scholars to involve traditional rulers in a discourse like this so that we will be informed of latest researches and findings on ecological issues and our environment so that we will be able to advise our people accordingly.”

  • Reform religious studies’ curriculum, Alaafin urges

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olaywola Adeyemi has advocated the need to reform the current curriculum on religious studies in schools.

    The reform, he said, should include comparative religious studies to expose students and pupils to basic principles of Christianity, Islam and traditional religion.

    This, he added, would entrench religious harmony and moral instructions.

    Alaafin, in his Ramadan message pointed out that all religious communities must understand that there is no alternative to inter-faith dialogue, as there can never be a universal religion or an exclusive society for adherents of a particular religion.

    Admonishing Nigerians not to perceive religious diversity as a barrier to human relations and development, but rather a tool or resource for national development, The royal father noted that religious faithful should, therefore, realise the fact that religious tolerance and harmony are both legally sanctioned and socially inevitable, as the world can never be composed of one religion or culture.

    Accordingly, he stated that, whereas every religious group has the right to uninhibited religious practice, this must be done with commensurate or reciprocal respect for the rights of other faithful to practise their own religious duties; provided that such does not constitute any derogation to the right of others to observe their own rituals.

    Oba Adeyemi said: ‘’This desirable scenario of religious harmony can be achieved in Nigeria only through the establishment and sustenance of a neo-religious educational praxis that would generate a culture and orientation of multi-religiosity in our children, as well as a commensurate programme of re-orientation of the adult population. Hitherto, the dominant model of religious education in Nigeria has been faith-oriented and overwhelmed by religious indoctrination and dogma’’.

    ‘’Religious education is used to get people to embrace Christianity or Islam, rather than as a process or formation for religious tolerance and dialogue. Consequently, most children and youths are educated within this framework and are thus inclined to adopting a blind faith. This religious pedagogic gives little room for inter-faith understanding and harmony; hence religious intolerance is rife even among school children’’.

    While calling on Muslims in the country to see the period of Ramadan as abstinence from sins and all acts inimical to peace and development in the country, Oba Adeyemi counselled all religious communities to educate their leaders or preachers on the need for religious harmony and the toleration of other faiths.

    ‘’While also educating their leaders on the need to keep their sermons within the realm of moderation and modesty, there is also need to strengthen inter-faith dialogue at the national, state and local levels in order to prevent future manifestations of religious violence,” Alaafin said.

  • Ramadan: Alaafin urges clerics to be moderate

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has advocated the need for Clerics and other preachers to keep their sermons within the realm of moderation and modesty. In his Ramadan message, Oba Adeyemi pointed out that all religious communities must understand that there is no alternative to inter-faith dialogue, as there can never be a universal religion or an exclusive society for adherents of a particular religion.

    While calling on Muslims in the country to see the period of Ramadan as abstinence from sins and all acts inimical to peace and development in the country, Oba Adeyemi counseled all religious communities to educate their leaders or preachers on the need for religious harmony and the toleration of other faiths.

    He admonished Nigerians not to perceive religious diversity as a barrier to human relations and development, but rather a tool or resource for national development. The royal father noted that religious faithfuls in the country should, therefore, realise the fact that religious tolerance and harmony are both legally sanctioned and socially inevitable, as the world can never be composed of one religion or culture.

    ‘’This desirable scenario of religious harmony can be achieved in Nigeria only through the establishment and sustenance of a neo-religious educational praxis that would generate a culture and orientation of multi-religiosity in our children and youth, as well as a commensurate programme of re-orientation of the adult population. Hitherto, the dominant model of religious education in Nigeria has been faith-oriented and overwhelmed by religious indoctrination and dogma.”