The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has said there was no strain in his relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
He said this yesterday when the governor visited him as part of his tour of local governments to distribute appointment letters to teachers.
The monarch said he supports the governor’s aspirations.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has said there was no strain in his relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
He said this yesterday when the governor visited him as part of his tour of local governments to distribute appointment letters to teachers.
The monarch said he supports the governor’s aspirations.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has called on parties to live up to their responsibilities by applying rules to aid good governance.
The monarch spoke at the weekend while addressing residents, who stormed the palace to show their solidarity for his son, Adeniyi, who is contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Oba Adeyemi said parties should organise debates for the candidates to ensure that credible and dedicated got the mandate.
‘’During the debate, the incumbent must tell the public what projects they have been able to do and the aspirants must lay down proper manifestos.”
He said such steps would prevent aspirants who have no programme to get the party’s ticket.
”If a young serving political office holder of less than 30 years can boast of N300 million mansion when his total pay package for four years is not up to half of the amount spent to build the mansion, is that not disturbing and worrisome?
The monarch urged the people to exhibit the concept of Omoluabi, which is an integral part of Yoruba culture and tradition.
He warned that unless parties brace up and refocus their operational modes, there may be no end to impunity, corruption, poverty and unemployment.
Alaafin later presented N2.2million to his son and N500,000 to the member representing Atiba State Constituency, Waliu Adekunle Alagbom to buy expression of interest forms.
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, as a quintessential African leader.
Congratulating the monarch on his 76th birthday, the party said the monarch used his endowment and resources to champion the people’s cause.
In a statement yesterday, the party said: “We pray God Almighty to elongate his reign, grant him sound health in his many more years on the throne and make his kingdom as well as the rest of the society peaceful always.
“Oba Adeyemi is a pride to the black race and this is acknowledged globally. The quintessential monarch has never left anyone in doubt about his robust knowledge of history, enviable leadership skills and large heartedness.”
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has lamented how hatred, distrust and prejudices have developed into monsters threatening the unity of the country and its citizenry.
He spoke at the weekend while addressing reporters in his palace, shortly after performing the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at Agunpopo praying ground.
Oba Adeyemi said: “Our differences also define our perception of one another. The distrust is so deep-seated that we have an incongruent group of people rather than compatriots with a shared destiny. Our diversity has become our worst nightmare.”
The paramount ruler wondered why the citizenry often exhibit the worst form of ethnic, religious and primordial prejudice toward one another.
The Alaafin noted that intolerance has led the nation to the brink, threatening its unity with deep scars in the national psyche.
“After more than 50 years of independence, we are still not more than strange bedfellows forced to cohabit under the same roof. Our co-existence as a people has long been defined by our differences rather than the strength of our diversity.”
The Alaafin, who advocated aggressive value system re-orientation, warned that there would be continuous agitation and unrest until the country’s system was able to guarantee economic justice and equality to the people.
He also stressed that poverty in the midst of plenty was unfathomable.
“What is more, the growing apathy about governance and increasing rate of poverty, especially at the grassroots, is due to defective concept and implementation of local government administration in the country .The political, administrative and judicial powers of traditional rulers had been undermined first by the British and then the creation of local system of government, which made the monarchs powerless on-lookers.
“One of the greatest negative consequences of this whittling down of powers of traditional rulers is the non-involvement of traditional rulers in the concept and implementation of grass-roots governance.”
Oba Adeyemi noted that traditional rulers can effectively mobilise their people for active participation in community development because of their place and status among their people.
The Alaafin of Oyo and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has urged traditional rulers to sustain the existing harmonious coexistence of communities in the state.
The paramount traditional ruler gave this charge at the presentation of instrument of office to the new Amoorin of Akinmoorin in Afijio Local Government area of the state, Prince Solomon Iyiola Olayemi.
Positing that no meaningful development can be achieved in any community where there is hatred, disunity and rancour, Oba Adeyemi also advised both the federal and state governments to be more conscious about cultural rebirth, adding that a people without a distinct cultural identity would be lost in the annals of world history, in addition to having their contributions to human civilisation forgotten.
Presenting the staff of office to the new Baale, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajiomobi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Fatai Buhari, described the Alaafin “as a veritable reference point in traditional and chieftaincy affairs whose submissions, coupled with due consultations with relevant stakeholders resulted in the choice of popular candidate as the new Amoorin.”
Responding, the new Baale thanked the Alaafin for his unflinching support and the state government for ensuring his selection.
•Grand Finale of Oranyan Festival holds in Oyo Town
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has decried what he described as “relegation of Yoruba to the background in the country’s scheme of things.”
The paramount ruler spoke at the “Grand Finale of Oranyan Festival” at the weekend in Oyo town.
He said there was no doubt that the Yoruba nation today, was “in dire need of empire builders in the mould and character of the legendary Oranyan.”
The monarch noted that despite the tribe’s heroic contributions to the nation, it was almost relegated to the background in the scheme of things.
He said it was as if the Federal Government had decided to relegate Yorubaland in the allocation of resources and political power sharing.
He added that the situation of the Yoruba within the context of the Nigerian state was disturbing, bearing in mind the Yoruba’s resources used to build the Nigerian nation.
Oba Adeyemi, however, noted that the life and political career of the legendary founder, Oranyan, would provide a template for effective political system or statecraft, empire building and mass political participation.
“Oranyan was an astute political leader, who in spite of all odds, created a most enduring political system in sub-Saharan Africa. The archetypal monarchy embroidered with central authority was a product of the wizardry of Oranyan, who left the cradle of Yoruba consciousness to create a system of government whose effectiveness, creativity, relevance, suitability and appropriateness is not in doubt even in contemporary Nigeria.
“The time is just right for a new Yoruba genius to emerge and provide leadership for the Yoruba nation. Let our aspiring politicians approach the foundation of knowledge, and every pretentions, arrogance and selfishness to embrace the ideals of Oranyan in politics,” he said.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Moses Adeyemo, praised the monarch for initiating a move to unite the Yoruba nation through the Oranyan festival.
“Oyo remains the Pacesetter State. Therefore, the Oyo State government will always play its role in promoting unity among the Yorubas. As such, it is ready to provide the necessary support towards the achievement of this aim and objective.”
The former Oyo State governor, Chief Omololu Olunloyo, told the guests the significance of reviving old culture, values and tradition inherent in the ancient city of Oyo.
“Oyo has remained the meeting-point in Yoruba history. There’s no way you can talk about Yoruba history without making adequate reference to Oyo, and Alaafin has, since a very long time, remained a force to reckon with,” he said.
Other speakers at the event hailed Oranyan as a brave warrior and leader.
They called on all Yorubas to join the Alaafin in his quest to ensure unity among the tribe and bring back the values and cultural heritage of the race. The festival started with a carnival after some royal blessing from the Alaafin to all the participants.
The guests at the event included the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu and the National Coordinator of Oodu’a Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, monarchs from Oke-Ogun areas, Lagos, Osun states, Republic of Benin and Togo.
Southwest states and indigenes have been urged to assist in rebuilding the Alaafin’s palace to reflect Yoruba tradition and culture.
Retired Methodist Archbishop and Deputy Chairman, Oranyan Festival Committee Lawrence Ayo Ladigbolu gave the advice at a briefing yesterday in Oyo town .
The cleric, who spoke on the theme of this year’s festival, “Our palace, Our pride”, said the rebuilding of the palace should not be left to the Oyo people alone.
He enjoined Yoruba to adopt a policy of palace development, renewal, refurbishment and replacement where necessary.
Ladigbolu said: “The institution of the Alaafin is about 1,000 years old.
“Over the years, the institution has served as a repository of Yoruba history and culture of the people.
“There are very few dynasties in the world that are older than the Alaafin.
“When the remains of such institution are threatened by the fire, there is the need to look at how archival and historical materials are collected and preserved for the edification of the past, education of the present and future.”
THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has hailed Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory as a “demonstration of people’s love” for his intellect, fearlessness and courage.
The monarch said the governor was an “uncompromising politician whose contributions to the well- being of the down-trodden remain indelible.”
Oba Adeyemi gave the remarks yesterday when a delegation of Osun State
Council of Arts and Culture, representing the governor at the on-going World Sango festival, visited him.
“Regardless of sentiments, Aregbesola operates a government that is indisputably adjudged by its results. The prosperity, security and the well-being of the people dictate his popularity. He is a man of vigour and an unequalled politician, whose contemporary will be difficult to find, at least in this millennium. His style of administration is distinct and rare in the present democratic dispensation.”
Four communities in and around the ancient city of Oyo in Oyo State now have clean water to drink thanks largely to the benevolence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
Egged on by his son and Caretaker Chairman Atiba Local Government Area, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the paramount ruler recently donated boreholes to Ilora, Araromi, Akeetan Titun and Molaba communities ostensibly to complement the efforts of the state government at expanding access to clean water, basic social amenities and improving sanitation especially in areas lacking potable water supply.
The borehole projects, an initiative of Prince Adeniyi was presented to the monarch and the Alaafin consented, leading to the formation of a non-governmental organisation known as Oba Adeyemi /Skimeh Foundation. The foundation comprising of professionals of various callings was tasked with compiling inventory of communities, especially core rural areas that are in dire need of assistance in terms of infrastructures and human development. The organization is wholly funded by the monarch.The foundation’s first assignment was the borehole projects which were recently commissioned.
Commissioning the boreholes, Oba Adeyemi noted that in some communities across the country waste-water and human waste are discharged into local rivers and streams and the teeming impoverished citizens depend on these sources for their domestic water use because they lack the funds to build waste-water treatment plants and modern water distribution infrastructure.
He said under this condition only those with financial wherewithal could afford to buy some few buckets or jerry-cans of water daily from private water vendors that haul water in rusty tanks that contaminate the water.
Recognizing the fact that provision of potable water is the responsibility of government, even though this requires huge financial investments, Oba Adeyemi wondered what the Federal Government in particular is doing to meet this challenge especially as the nation’s population continues to grow. “Of what use is a government that cannot provide basic services to the citizens?” he said.
‘’A society will starve without food because of water scarcity for agriculture. However, water for domestic use should be of higher quality. Because of inadequate provision of clean water and sanitation services, many people (mostly the poor) in Nigeria are suffering from some form of water related diseases, including diarrhea, cholera, guinea warm, hookworm, and typhoid fever. To worsen the situation, the poor lack access to good healthcare services to tackle these ailments, while the corrupt and powerful politicians could “jet out” of the country to obtain good medical treatment whenever they need one.’’
To expand access to clean water supply, the paramount ruler advised both federal and state governments to invest heavily on rural and urban water scheme. This, Alaafin asserted, should be part of the NEEDS and poverty alleviation programmes.
“Lack of access to clean water for domestic use, for farming and other productive purposes, is one of the causes of poverty in the rural communities. It is also among the factors that discourage local and foreign investors. Ensuring access to low cost water supply will improve the people’s welfare; increase their productivity and the wealth of the nation, because a healthy society is a wealthy nation.’’ Oba Adeyemi noted.
While eulogizing Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his visionary administration and unprecedented devotion to the wellbeing of the people of the state, Oba Adeyemi pledged to use his resources to complement the present administration’s transformation agenda, especially on rural development.
Earlier in his address, the initiator of the Foundation, Prince Adeniyi who thanked the Alaafin for the support, solicited for the peoples’ cooperation with administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.