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Tag: Alaafin

  • Alaafin condoles with Tinubu on son’s death

    Alaafin condoles with Tinubu on son’s death

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has condoled with All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the death of his son, Jide.

    In a statement at the weekend, the frontline monarch said Jide’s death “sent such shock of unimaginable proportion, not only to the Yoruba but throughout Nigeria and other parts of the world”.

    He added: “The death of an Aremo (the eldest son) in Yorubaland is categorised as ofo. In the Yoruba belief, ofo is a calamitous death that renders not only the biological family but also the extended family and all those who share common identity to the family a state of unmitigated mourning.”

    The statement expressed the condolences of the “the Alaafin, the Oyomesi, traditional rulers in Oyo State and the generality of the citizenry of our people”.

    It said: “We share the pain of the sudden demise of Aremo Jide Ahmed Tinubu.

    “We pray fervently to Allah to give you, the mother of the deceased and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu dynasty fortitude to bear the loss.”

  • Alaafin seeks China’s support for war against terrorism

    Alaafin seeks China’s support for war against terrorism

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has urged the People’s Republic of China to give logistics support to President Muhahamadu Buhari in fighting war against terrorism.

    The monarch gave the admonition yesterday at a colourful reception for Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, and his entourage who were on a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler in his ancient Oyo palace.

    He said wanton destruction of lives and properties by the Boko Haram sect and other groups engaged in terror acts have not only reached an intolerable level, Nigerians are becoming more apprehensive and worried about the state of insecurity, especially flagrant disregard for human lives.

    He said, “The country is going through serious security challenges and perhaps the most difficult trouble after the end of the civil war in 1970. What is more disturbing  is that  these Boko Haram insurgents and their allies cannot have such sophisticated and destructive weapons  to terrorise without receiving backings from somewhere.”

    The Alaafin noted that the People’s Republic of China as the second largest economy in the world can assist and mobilize other allied nations to come to the aid of Nigerian government in curbing terrorism, adding, “Threats to human lives are not only serious acts of terrorism but indeed an abomination. This is why every well meaning Nigerians and good friends of the country must see the current war against dreaded Boko Haram and other subversive elements as a welcomed development.”

    Describing the visit of the Ambassador and his entourage as ‘uniquely historic’, and attestation of China’s sincere concern for the preservation of cultural heritage, the royal father pointed out that the visit was a melting pot of human culture, and a testing ground for human ability  to co-habit, relate and work together for mutual relationship.

    Ambassador Pingjian who was excited at the reception and honour, said he was in school when he first learnt about the history of Oyo Empire, Oduduwa and Oranyan.

    While thanking the Alaafin for the opportunity to know more about Oyo Empire, kingdoms, kingships culture and tradition, he said “We are here to explore and understand the culture of the kingdom which is the greatest in Yoruba land, and one of the greatest in West Africa.”

    Ambassador Pingjian added,  “Oyo Empire was the most powerful in West Africa, with distinct and outstanding administration, as it shared the same philosophy with the China, which is people-oriented administration.”

  • Alaafin, Olubadan, others for Oduyoye birthday lecture

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji; Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, among others, are among eminent Nigerians expected tomorrow at the fifth Babatunde Oduyoye birthday lecture.

    The lecture, an annual colloquium on topical national issues regarding the development and growth of Nigeria, will hold at the Banquet Hall of Premier Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at 11 am.

    The lecture, with the theme: Imperatives of Nigeria’s Survival and Development, will be delivered by a political scientist and director at the University of Ibadan (UI) Centre for Distance Learning, Prof Bayo Okunade.

    The university’s Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Deji Omole, and former Special Adviser on Media to Enugu and Oyo states’ governors, Dr Festus Adedayo, are discussants.

    Pa Adebanjo will chair the event, while Bankole will be special guest of honour.

    The Alaafin of Oyo and the Olubadan of Ibadan will be the royal father of the day and host royal father of the day.

     

     

  • Tinubu, Ajimobi, Alaafin for Okeho centenary

    All is set for the centenary celebration of the return of Okeho from its old site to its original site.

    The event will hold from October 20 to 28.

    Okeho is the headquarters of Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    It had existed for over three centuries at the current location before the forefathers were forced to migrate to the old site (Okeho Ahoro) for security reasons, following incessant raids by slave traders from Dahomey (now Republic of Benin) and the attacks by Fulani warriors.

    At some auspicious times, the town’s founding forefathers were compelled by the colonial administrator, Captain Ross, to relocate to the original settlement.

    This was after a bloody civil disorder on October 19, 1916. The incident was a revolt against forced labour, strange customs and conventions introduced by the colonial administration.

    After the riot was quelled, the people of Okeho started returning to the present location (the original settlement) and in early 1917, they were fully resettled.

  • Oyo special education college honours Obasanjo, Alaafin, others

    Oyo special education college honours Obasanjo, Alaafin, others

    Year-long activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, climaxed in the launching of a N5billion Endowment Fund and conferment of the college’s Distinguished Awards on eminent Nigerians for their contributions to the growth of the school and uplift of the special class of disabled and underprivileged it serves.

    SPED, as it is otherwise known, was established by the then military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1997 to train manpower to meet the special education needs of physically and mentally disabled people, among others.

    The programme of activities to celebrate the milestone had begun in January with sensitization and awareness campaign through community rallies, documentaries, media jingles and social media.

    The college management led by the Provost, Prof. Kamoru Olayiwola Usman, had unveiled the 40th Anniversary logo in March and followed up with visitation to prisons, hospitals and media programmes on disability matters between March and May.

    The academic community also embarked on the planting of 5,000 tree seedlings to populate and enhance the greenery and aesthetics of the campus, while there were football and paralympic games competitions among students with disabilities, as well as colleges of education in South West, Nigeria.

    On September 25, the college hosted a colloquium with the theme: “FCES, Oyo – 40 years of providing answers to the challenges of Special Education in Nigeria.  How far?  How fair?”  The event drew dignitaries including past registrars, provosts and other academic and non-academic staff of the institutions who had contributed to its evolution.

    There was also exhibition of publications and products, while students of the Performing Arts Departments organized to stage an anniversary drama to further give the celebration colour.

    A minor student disturbance on campus in September, however, disrupted some of the activities.

    But on September 28, dignitaries from across all walks of life converged on the Jobele, Oyo campus of the institution for the award ceremony.  Among the honorees were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who bagged the award for Service to Humanity, two former provosts and registrars of the college – Dr. E. A Aromolaran; Prof. Taoheed Adedoja (former Sports Minister); pioneer registrar, Mr. Israel Oluwafemi Ogunsola, Registrar, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Mr. Hezekiah Fehintola; and Acting registrar, FCES, Oyo, Mr. Gbade Adesola.

    Others are the renowned blind lawyer, Ayo Adekanbi, the presenter of Beyond The Limits, a television programme for handicaps on NTA Ibadan and a host of other care special service givers.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and All Progressives Congress Deputy National Chairman/ governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Engr. ‘Segun Oni, both represented by Chief Layi Olakojo, a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State and Prof. Soji Adejumo, a former Chairman of SUBEB in the same state, had a School of  Languages Complex and a Virtual Library respectively named in their honour, among a series of buildings and road projects commissioned on the campus on October 3.

    The college registry held a seminar the following day with a public lecture at which past registrars and other retirees in the department were honoured for their contributions and services to the college.

    The star event was the launching of the endowment fund, which had the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Chief Launcher and eminent industrialist and Chairman of Bond Chemicals, Chief Debo Omotoso, as chairman.

    Although Dangote’s donation was not announced, renowned industrialist and First Bank Director, Ajibola Afonja gave N10million, while Omotoso dropped N2 million, among other big donors.

    Provost of the college, Prof. Usman, said the fund was to improve the state of facilities and drive learning, in the face of the dearth of financial resources accruing to the college.

    He expressed delight at the progress recorded by the school and the success of the anniversary.

    While paying glowing tributes to his predecessors, who, he stated, brought the college to its current status through dint of hard work, sacrifice and commitment, he described himself as lucky, being at the helm of affairs when the college was celebrating the success story.

    The chairman, Anniversary Ceremonial Committee, Dr. Theophilus Ajobiewe, expressed gratitude to God for making the celebration a resounding success.

  • Alaafin, others back restructuring

    Alaafin, others back restructuring

    The clamour for restructuring took the centre stage yesterday at the International Conference on the Yoruba Nation and Politics Since 19th Century, at the Olabisi Onabnjo University (OOU) at Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State.

    Most speakers insisted that the only way Nigeria will progress is to restructure.

    The conference was organised in honour of Professor Joseph Atanda, of the Department of History, at the University of Ibadan (UI), who died 20 years ago.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who led speakers, said true federalism is the answer to the nation’s sundry political challenges.

    He noted that the adoption of true federalism will end agitation from various zones.

    Oba Adeyemi, who hailed the former Western Region’s Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for recommending federalism during the constitutional conferences that led to Independence in 1960, recalled that when Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, called for a unitary system of government, Awolowo opposed it because of Nigeria’s plural society.

    He said only a federal system of government would work.

    The monarch advised political leaders to return to the federal constitution bequeathed to the nation by the colonial masters.

    He said if Nigeria returned to the system, as it was operated after Independence – where each region was allowed to develop at its pace – there would be peace and progress.

    An academic, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, noted that although restructuring has become imperative, its burden still rests on those calling for it.

    The executive vice chairman of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy said regional integration should translate to four cogent economic success for the Southwest.

    He said: “The first is the achievement of diversity in the capacity for internally generated revenue (IGR). Dependence on just one source of revenue will automatically spell the end of any development initiative in any of the states.

    “Second, the regional agenda must lead to the adoption of fiscal harmonisation, especially with regard to taxation, which will facilitate increased investment and the promotion of a new tax regime across the six states, which will encourage revenue generation.

    “Third, the Southwest states must also collaborate for economic diversification. This is the best means by which their revenue and development dynamics can be decoupled from the oil economy and its fluctuation.

    “An economic diversification requires that each state must (a) invest in the area of comparative advantage and (b) transit from primary commodities to the service economy.

    “Finally, regional integration must be driven by a certain collaborative effort bordering on specific economic activities that propel economic corridors, ventures bordering on specific economic activities that propel economic corridors across the partnering entities. This could be in the form of free trade zones, dry ports, transport corridors and agricultural settlements, among other factors.”

  • Alaafin, Ajimobi’s wife, Afolabi bags ACU honors

    Alaafin, Ajimobi’s wife, Afolabi bags ACU honors

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Chairman, AMNI Petroleum, Dr. Tunde Afolabi and wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi are the eminent personalities to be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the Ninth Convocation of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

    Additionally, a total number of 348 students will be conferred with bachelor’s degrees from the various faculties of the institution.

    Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Dapo Asaju made the disclosure at a press conference to herald the convocation ceremonies at the Institutions Senate Chambers.

    Highlights of the ceremonies include, a convocation thanksgiving service, slated for Sunday October 8, Library exhibition/Town and Gown Interaction fixed for Tuesday, October 10, and a book fair/Alumni lecture on Wednesday 11th, October.

    A convocation lecture to be delivered by a former minister of information, Prof. Jerry Gana, will hold on Thursday, October 12.

  • Alaafin gives recipe for national cohesion

    Alaafin gives recipe for national cohesion

    Religious and community leaders have been urged to  promote ethno-religious tolerance and accommodate opposing views as part of mechanisms for deepening peaceful co-existence and harmony in the country.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, gave the admonition at the weekend when a son of Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia, Hisa Ibn Ali As-Suhaemy, visited him.

    Oba Adeyemi said in Nigeria, intolerance of opposing views by adherents of major religions has heated the polity and caused tension. “Instigation of hatred in the name of religious practice by religious organisations is a negative attitude. While it is true that Christianity and Islam profess the slogan Love your neighbour as  yourself, this, however, is observed more in the breach. This is a bad wind that blows no one no good. It is high time religious leaders preached the genuine gospel of friendship and sincere love.  This is the vehicle that will take mankind to the abode of peace and security.

    “In addition, the Federal Government should take a step further by putting in place a legislation that will criminalise the incitement to hatred by religious organisations or individual(s) in the country,” he said.

    Oba Adeyemi stated that the Yoruba were the first to accept Islam in the 15th century, about 6,000 years ago. He noted that he was appointed in 1991 by the then Federal Government as theAmirrul Hajj who led Muslim pilgrims to Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

    The paramount ruler observed that ignorance was one factor that has engendered abject poverty in the midst of abundant natural resources, coupled with the increasing high rate of youth unemployment.

    He added that “the level of ignorance is deepening. Owing to incessant close down of schools in Nigeria, the educational system is in a state of comatose; thereby denying Nigerian students the opportunity of acquiring sound knowledge, moral rebirth and high levelof discipline especially on different methods of peaceful settlement of disputes or conflicts’’.

    Oba Adeyemi  therefore called on both government and the organised private sector to complement each other by improving the human capital development of Nigerians especially the youth and women. This, he said, is a sine qua non for the attainment of a progressive, just and peaceful society.

    “Governments at  all levels should rise above board, be non-partisanin its delivery of dividends of good governance and be seen as just intheir relationship with their people. They (Governments at all levels) should avoid discrimination and marginalisation of the people when dealing with developmental projects and religious matters in thecountry,” he added.

    Alaafin recalled that his father, Adeniran was the first traditional bruler in Yorubaland to construct a mosque for the town — the Central Mosque, as well as for the palace. According to him, “my father allowed all religions to flourish without hindrance as he was highly principled, committed, resilient, visionary, pro-active, thorough and staunch believer in social justice. Unfortunately, he was persecuted, intimidated, traumatised, and victimised to death, for no just cause, but sheer hatred, by the defunct Action Group government, led by the late Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He died a hero after spending 10 years on the throne.

    Earlier, As-Suhaemy accompanied by some Islamic clerics said he was elated to be in the palace and meet one-on-one with the Alaafin, whose father he had heard pof and read much about.

    He said through an interpreter, “I am indeed glad andcount myself very lucky to be with the monarch whose reign is not onlyuniquely divined, but his contemporary will be difficult to find afterhis demise. He is a shining sun, while all other rulers are starsaround him (Alaafin). Moving closer to him is a gift of blessing andgood fortunes. He is absolutely endowed by Allah.”

    Expressing appreciation for the honour accorded him by the Alaafin, whom he referred to as ‘a very great monarch,’ he prayed for his good health and long life, as well as unity, peace and prosperity for the ancient town, the state and the country.

     

  • Alaafin decries negative impact of globalisation

    Alaafin decries negative impact of globalisation

    Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 has said globalisation of cultural heritage has negative impacts on the nation’s culture as European adventurers  undermined cultural heritage of peoples around the globe through colonisation, imperialism and globalisation.

    “Cultural imperialism left the colonised in a state of cultural disorientation, which is vulnerable to cultural invasion. The most important far-reaching effect of cultural globalisation is the commer-cialisation of culture. Production distribution and consumption of cultural goods and services have become commodities along with the essentials of life. Music, food, clothes, fashion, art, sports images, etc are now sold in the market, imported and exported,” he said.

    According to him, commercia-lisatiion of culture has a disturbing impact on the people of Nigeria. “For example, what was once an element of Nigeria’s cultural way of life has become a product, rather than something unique, which they have made to suit their specific needs and circumstances? Nigerian markets are increasingly bombarded with new images, new music, new clothes and new values.

    “The impact is that the familiar and the old artefacts are beingdiscarded. The fact is that these will be lost simply because they are not valued by global markets. This undermining of the peoples existing values and cultures has a corrosive impact on the sense of who we are, what we want and what we respect. The cumulative effect is a crisis of cultural confidence, combined with economic uncertainty and crime which global integration often brings, he added.

    Today’s societies, the paramount ruler noted, are multi-culture in themselves, which encompass a multitude of varying ways of life and lifestyle, adding that most people are shaped by more than a single culture, which is brought about by globalisation.

    He said: “In Nigeria due to the impact of globalisation on cultural norms, socialisation processes and values are affected. For instance some parents are no longer frowning at what the youths put on. The traditional pattern of subordinating when greeting an elder has changed to “hi”. Today, the use foreign language, English, has always been an important aspect of official language in Nigeria.

    “Though there is high rate of illiteracy in the rural population, the use of our local languages has its limitations. Many elite families would like their children to learn English language better than their local language. Today, Nigerians use and read books written in foreign language faster and more fluently than those written in local languages. In Nigeria, cultural globalisation has impacted on the number of Movies produced by Nigeria Nollywood. Movies produced in English are much more than those performed and produced in Yoruba and other Nigerian languages”.

    On the way forward Alaafinsuggested that the only remedy in ensuring cultural stability is for the agents of change (government) to repackage and re-inculcate absolute values through the use of libraries, mass media, and advanced information technologies to counter negative changes that are emerging today.

    ”Therefore very few human communities will neither want to reject technological changes or globalisation, nor will they want to return to the traditional pattern of community organisation especially now that they have evolved new pattern to suit their immediate needs”.

    To him, ‘there is the need for the legal protection of the intangible cultural heritage, Government must revive traditional and popular forms of a people’s expression, incorporate programmes relating to traditional cultures, heritage and folklore in education curricular at all levels.’

    Government, Oba Adeyemi said, should develop legislative protection for culture, heritage museums, archives, and libraries in the country.

  • Alaafin hosts Sango festival

    Alaafin hosts Sango festival

    This year’s World Sango Festival is to hold from August 17 to 26 at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.The festival which is expected to attract foreign nationals from several countries and eminent personalities across the country, is a distinctive expression of the larger intangible heritage of Oyo town uniting all the forms of knowledge.

    A statement from the palace said the festival is one of the most ancient, traditional and major festivals of the Yoruba race, which encompasses all the range of techniques, skills, and crafts through which cultural values, customs, and traditions of Oyo people are manifested.

    The international cultural event will last for ten days and consists of intensive traditional beliefs and practices that accommodate many cultural features. Highlight of the festival will take place on the last day when the residents assemble in Koso and wait eagerly for the arrival of the Elegun-Koso representing the ancestral spirit of Sango.