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Tag: Lamidi Adeyemi

  • Beware of those who wants us divided, Alaafin warns Yorubas

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has called for unity and oneness among the Yoruba speaking people of the country, saying only through that can the desired development of the region be accomplished.

    The monarch made the call on Tuesday while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executive council and committee members of the umbrella body of all Ibadan sociocultural groups, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) at Ibadan House, Oke Are, Ibadan.

    Some of the prominent dignitaries at the event include the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, Ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Bode Amoo, the state commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, CCII President-General, Mr Yemi Soladoye among other prominent indigenes and friends of Ibadan.

    The event also saw the Ibadan House headquarters of the Council, a police station among others commissioned by the dignitaries.

    Alaafin who chaired the event, in a brief remark noted that there are some indications that some elements are bent on dividing the Yoruba’s for different reasons, but warned that the people must be careful and ensure unity of purpose.

    He also emphasis the place of living in love and peace for unity to be achieved in the region.

    He said, “Some people want to divide the Yorubas but we should be very careful.

    “We should continue to live in peace, in one love and in unity so that we can have the desired development for our region.

    “There is no love within us in Yorubaland, and we have to learn how to live in love and peace within ourselves and I can assure you that this will foster the development we are yearning for in our region.”

    In his speech, former Governor Ajimobi said the quality of the leadership of the CCII often makes him a proud Ibadan man any day and every time, noting that the exemplary leadership styles of the Soladoye led Council is worth commending.

    Read Also: Alaafin: talking straight to Buhari

    He recounted that during his tenure as Oyo state governor, some amount of monies were raised to build an ultra-modern central palace for the Olubadan, but was quite surprised that the project has remained uncompleted till date.

    He however assured that he will not be discouraged from doing more in his capacities to contribute more to the completion of the project.

    He said, “During my tenure as governor of this state, we raised the sum of N240 million to build an ultra modern palace for Olubadan but it is quite unfortunate that the palace is still yet to be completed.

    “I suspected that some people that are in charge of that money and the project were not judicious in its usage. But I will continue to contribute my efforts to make sure that the project is completed.”

    Earlier in his address, CCII President-General, Mr Yemi Soladoye called on all indigenes of the ancient city to always be ready to contribute to the development of the city, especially on terms of ongoing projects to uplift the state.

    He recounted the various achievements of the immediate past executive which he led, noting that the city is still a long way to go.

    He said, “Despite the fact that we have made some modest progress in the life of Ibadanland, there is still a long way for us to go as a people.

    “The fate of Ibadanland has been left for too long in the hands of basically nobody. Most of us see just the privileges of being Ibadan indigenes and not the responsibilities.

    “The aspects of Ibadanland that is known to the rest of the world are a people that lack political unity, people with crisis in their traditional system, people with fragmented leadership and the most populated single ethnic group in Nigeria that does not have its own state, palace or united ethnic agenda.

    “We are a people that do not appreciate our self-worth and the leadership role that we must play in Yorubaland in Nigeria. We are loved and respected by others, but we hate ourselves with passion.

    “We are a people that prefer to cede our love outsiders than to ourselves and our fighting strength exhibited more at home than outside”, Soladoye lamented.

     

     

     

  • 2019: Ibadan stands still for Buhari , Osinbajo

    Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Saturday stood still to receive President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who were in the state on a campaign tour.

    This is coming even as the President solicited for the support and understanding of the traditional rulers and people of the state in his bid to take the country to its next level of development.

    The two-legged event which started with a consultative meeting with traditional rulers from across the pacesetter state ended up with a presidential campaign rally at the famous Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

    No fewer than 103 traditional rulers from Oyo state led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi met the President, the Vice President and other top party leaders at the consultative meeting which held at the House of Chiefs, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

    Addressing the traditional rulers, President Buhari who said he was in the state to meet the traditional rulers to thank them for the support his administration has enjoyed so far since assumption of office in 2015 recounting his attempts at winning earlier in 2003, 2007 and 2011 but not until 2015 when he won.

    Noting how his administration had faired since 2015, the President said the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party’s rule could be likened to torment to the people with a dearth of infrastructures despite the availability of immense fund.

    The President added that his administration had laid the foundation for the development of the nation with physical infrastructures like the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the light rail from Ibadan to Lagos which was nearing completion among other projects in the pipeline.

    He said “I am here to warn you to please reflect on the conditions we met this country in 2015, where we are now and what we are able to do even with the little available resources to us. I keep on repeating this just as a reminder and I challenge any Nigeria to go to Europe, United States and Asia and check for the 16 years of PDP rule; I know you (traditional rulers) are supposed to be apolitical.

    “I challenge anybody to go and check, that for the 16 years of PDP, Nigeria was earning good money and the state of our infrastructure and of our people were worse when we came, the road, the rail were in decay and there was no power. Along the line, some of them admitted that they spent 16 million dollars on power and yet to no avail.

    “Once the roads are good, the rail is working and there is power, most Nigerians would mind their own business, they won’t even care about who is in government. But when there is no infrastructure, everybody will sit at home and curse the government.

    “I assure you that our plan is to secure the country and improve on the economy and things that will rub on the life of the people. You all know these things more than I do because you sit more around your people day-in and day-out.

    “So, please we need you and your constituencies, we appeal for your support and understanding. We assure you that we will not abuse the trust and we will not spare anybody who abuses the trust.”

    Read Also: ‘Lagos Ibadan standard gauge ready in Feb’

    Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Alaafin appealed to the President to give Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state the needed support for him to emerge the next Senate president, saying the governor has indeed transformed the state from been known as a garrison command to a modern state upon the assumption of office in 2011.

    While addressing the thousands of party supporters who had thronged the Mapo rally venue, APC National leader and Co-Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu warned the people not to be deceived with the lies of those he described as greedy looters.

    He pointed out that only the main opposition party is planning to rig election but that members of the ruling party must ensure that they troop out on February 16th to celebrate the final burial of the opposition and send some political opponents to their political retirement.

    Tinubu said, “Don’t let looters and greedy people lie to you and deceive you again. Have you been hearing that they have been threatening that they will rig the election? Will we still rig election with this huge population of supporters? Are they not the ones without members anymore? They are the ones without people. We are not going backwards again.

    “I won’t mention anybody’s name but I want to say that if they cannot vote or do politics again, let them go and throw in the towel. I implore you all to go out on the day of the election, don’t just say we have won already; you still need to go and vote because we need to prove that we have the number to win the election. President Muhammadu Buhari is the only choice.”

    He urged the people to keep their PVCs intact and ensure they vote all the APC candidates in the spirit of the true progressives.

    In his charge to the party members, APC National chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the opposition killed themselves with their deeds in the last 16years.

    “All the things that they have done in their 16years rule is now standing against them. They are the ones dead and on the 16th of February we will bury them all. What killed them is your PVC. I can assure you that on February 16th, some of them will indeed die politically. I am so happy because we have done what is right.

    “I will tell you the difference between the progressives and the conservatives. In the past, the PDP philosophy is just about sharing the money. They only share what belongs to everybody to the rich. But now President Muhammadu Buhari has come in and said no more stealing from the government treasury to be shared by the rich for the rich.”

    “I hope you listened to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku interview in Lagos who said if you make mistake to elect ‘those who are dead’, that he will sell everything that is owned by the government and that he will enrich his friend. Does Atiku know you? Is he your friend?

    “He did not say he will enrich Nigerians, he did not say he will empower Nigerians, he did not say he will support the youths, he said he will enrich his friends. Are you going to vote for a man who has told you his agenda to enrich his friends?

    “The partnership between a trader who doesn’t care about who is stealing the good from the store and the man who says he will enrich his friends through public treasure is a partnership in death politically and I know that all of you in Oyo state on February 16 will open and shine our eyes to vote them out and vote Buhari in.

    Reacting to the sudden change of tune by Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare support to his former Vice as the PDP presidential candidate, the APC national chairman said, “you know in Yoruba land, we respect elders but when someone is old and also lies in the morning, noon and evening, such an old man doesn’t deserve our respect because respect begets respect.

    “So, that man who said Atiku is a thief. He said it in the morning, he said it in the afternoon and even wrote about it in his book and only came back to say he (Obasanjo) has forgiven him (Atiku), is he (Obasanjo) equivalent to Nigeria? I think that is very insulting for anyone who has been outsmarting as that old age cheating farmer, who has governed Nigeria for about eleven and half years to say that once he forgives, what was stolen, all Nigeria must forgive, is to assume that he is equivalent to Nigeria, that is not the tradition, even in Yorubaland.

    “So, I ask you all to recognize that it is not over until he is over, so, you come out and vote against privatisation of Nigeria. Vote against the auctioning of our national asset. Vote against the enriching of the friends of Atiku.”

    In his welcome remarks, the host governor Ajimobi said “I am appealing to you that this election is between the following: this election is between the progressives and the retrogressive, it is between development with healing and development with stealing.

    “It is between security of looting and security of saving. It is between integrity and decadence. It is between nobility of character and ignobility of character. It is between rectitude and dishonesty. It is between accountability and impunity. It is between corruptibility and incorruptibility. It is between APC and headache. It is between APC and dane guns, it is between daylight and darkness. It is between ‘we are dead’ and we are not dead.

    “And I want to say this, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo met Nigeria in bricks, in broken bricks, they have moved it to marble, the next level is granite and they want to move it to granite level.”

     

  • Stop electing leaders without education to public offices – Sanusi

    Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Saturday advised Nigerians to stop electing leaders without education into public offices.

    He said Nigerians in the past had elected or chosen to elect leaders who had no education and thus could not give an education when they were elected.

    The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor spoke at the 6th convocation ceremony of Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, where he was conferred an Honorary Degree of Science along side the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.

    He said: “We have to take an interest in the quality of our leaders and representatives in the level of education. If you look around this country at many levels of leadership, we have elected and we have chosen to elect people who do not have an education. And because they are not educated, they cannot give an education.

    “We need to lay more emphasis on the quality of people we elect to executive and legislative offices and we need to make sure that those to whom we entrust policy are themselves educated and know the value of education.”

    The Emir also advised the Federal Government to invest the trillions of naira it was spending on subsidising petroleum products on educating the young ones in the country.

    According to him, the money spent on building roads, bridges and trains should first be used to educating the young ones, noting that development was first and foremost about people.

    Sanusi said: “Let us invest more in education and let us give up some of the privileges that we have such as the trillions we are spending subsiding petroleum products. That money should go into educating our young people.

    “We are spending too much monies on roads and bridges and trains and too little money educating our children. Let us educate these young people and they will build the roads, train and bridges. We do not need to invite the Chinese to do that for us. And until the leadership at all levels in this country and the followership understand that this is what is most important, because I do understand sometimes that if a governor does not build roads or bridges, he is seen as not have been performed by the people.

    Read Also: Sultan, Sanusi, Ooni, others: embrace peace

    “We build all these highways and there are more pedestrians on the highways than cars and those pedestrians are most often people without education and help. Development is first and foremost about people.”

    He also blamed northern leaders for failing to provide the enabling environment for children in north to attend schools.

    Earlier in his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Huseyin Sert, said 21 students were awarded First Class degree out of the 365 graduands.

    He said: “In this 2017/2018 session, we are glad to celebrate our 6th convocation ceremony with a total number of 365 graduands made up of 21 first class honours, 67 Second Class Upper, 96 Second Class Lower and two Third Class.

    “Indeed, the turnover of graduands from the university has justified our vision and mission statement of producing quality graduates who shall be full of knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to technological and economic development nationally and internationally.

    “The university expresses its gratitude to all those that contributed to the success of this occasion which enabled us to actualise our dream of being one of the best tertiary institutions in the world. We particularly felicitate with both graduating students and their parents for their high sense of duty and commitment in making their stay in the university a fruitful one.”

    Also, the Alaafin of Oyo commended the institution for the award, saying that it will spur him to do more for society.

  • FG to commence N5000 cash transfer through NIPOST

    The Federal government said it would soon commence the payment of N5000 to vulnerable poor Nigerians in three states,  using the newly introduced financial services  of  the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) for the cash transfer .

    The government said the package is  under the present administration’s  social welfare programme to help the  poor and the needy in the society .

    Under the new contract, NIPOST is expected  to dispense the N5,000 cash to the poor in three states including Nasarawa, Benue and Anambra .

    The Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST , Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi made the disclosure  in Oyo town at the occasion of 2018 World Post Day celebration.

    He said NIPOST was able to win the contract due to its innovative programme and use of technology to advance its services to the people across the country.

    He said ” For instance, the National Cash Transfer Office which caters for the vulnerable, the poor  in the society awarded NIPOST the job to transfer cash to the poor . They give them N5000, every month, and because NIPOST has transformed and leveraging on technology , we were  awarded  the cash disposal of N5000 in Benue, Nasarawa and Anambra . Who are we serving , we are serving the poor , the post is ready to deliver the goods to bring happiness .”

    Present at the celebration are the Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Lamidi Adeyemi represented by the retired archbishop of Methodist Church Nigeria,  Ayo Ladigbolu , the Postmaster of the Federation, Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi, the Managing Director of Wema  Bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise , former Chairman of First Bank PLC, Rev. Akinboboye, NIPOST Zonal Manager , Mrs Ekeleme Kristie and Vice Chairman, Oyo East Local Government, Hon. Wahab Tajudeen .

    Others included top security chiefs, school children, artisans and officials of Wema Bank and Keystone bank.

    The Postmaster General in his speech informed the gathering that the present administration led by President Mohammadu Buhari has embarked on people oriented programme to improve the social welfare of the vulnerable poor in the country.

    Read Also: We still exist, says Abia NIPOST

    Speaking further on the 2018 World  Post Day with the theme ” The Post: Delivering good to the world” , Adegbuyi said ”  Its not just a question of NIPOST alone World Post Day is celebrated in 192 countries that belong to Universal Postal Union to bring to the fore the achievement of Post in the past year the agenda they have set for them in terms of renovation and all the likes.”

    He further disclosed that NIPOST in its transformation drive has commenced financial services and e-banking to bring financial services to the rural people across the country.

    ”  But why we are here today is to flag off our agency banking in partnership with We a bank and Keystone bank. What is agency banking? It is aimed at bringing basic financial services to the people in semi urban areas and rural area. The financially excluded, the un-banked , the under- bank . They have been estimated to be around 41 percent of adults in Nigeria .

    ” It is also in line with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations . Governance is not for the rich but for the poor who live in the rural areas . Our people , artisans, women, men, laborers and others should have access to basic financial banking services.We are here to demonstrate to Nigerians that NIPOST has moved beyond mere letter delivery . We are going to financial services, you members of the press have seen it when we demonstrated account opening procedure where you can paid in deposit , you can do withdraw, how you can pay utility bills ,WAEC, NECO .

    “We also demonstrated that our E-money is ready. We must leverage on technology that trendy everywhere, that is enabling Post Offices who are ready to subscribe to 21st century postal administration.
    We are just flagging it off . This is the first location , we will move from one location to the other . Nigeria is a massive country with 180million people . Its a gradual process,” he said.

    Earlier, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi commended NIPOST for its giant strides in recent years, describing the event as very significant in the history of the agency.

    Speaking through his representative , Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu , Oba Adeyemi said NIPOST has remained the only agency that has continued to connect the people , facilitating communication and enabling the people to stay in touch.

    ” But it has gone beyond that limit , today your money is save if you send it through NIPOST . It is a great pleasure to continue to identify and relate with NIPOST ,” the royal father said.

  • Unclaimed PVCs: INEC seeks Alaafin’s intervention

    Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Oyo State, has urged the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to assist the commission over unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ).

    Agboke made the call on Wednesday when he paid courtesy visit to the traditional ruler in his palace at Oyo, Oyo State.

    He appealed to the traditional ruler to prevail on his subjects whose PVCs were still in INEC custody to collect them.

    According to him, 648,840 unclaimed PVCs are still in the custody of the commission.

    He urged the Oba to use his position as father of all to reach out to other traditional rulers in the kingdom to sensitise their people on the need to collect their voter cards.

    Agboke reiterated the commitment of the commission in conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

    The REC assured the Alaafin and the people of Oyo State that the commission would continue to be unbiased and impartial umpire.

    He said “it now behooves on eligible voters to collect their PVCs, which is their voting power to elect those that will govern them.”
    He urged eligible voters who had yet to register to visit INEC offices in their respective local government areas to register, saying the second phase of the exercise would begin on April 3.

    Adeyemi assured INEC of effective support to ensure that people participated fully in the electoral processes.

    The Oba promised to mandate other traditional rulers in his kingdom to create awareness for the collection of voter cards.

    He urged the REC and his management team to fullfil its pledge in conducting free, fair and credible elections.

    He also urged Nigerians to cooperate with INEC for credible elections come 2019.

    “We must support the commission to give us credible polls, your vote is power and you must not sell it.

    “My appeal also goes to women to participate actively in the elections because of the future of your children.

    “Your participation will give way to credible leaders that will provide good governance.

    “Youths should abstain from hooliganism or anything that can cause disturbance to the electoral processes.

    “Observers from different parts of the world would be sent to monitor the elections: we must demonstrate that we are civilised people and justify the confidence reposed in us as Nigerians.”

    NAN

  • Only true federalism can liberate Nigeria — Ajimobi

    Only true federalism can liberate Nigeria — Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that only the practice of true federalism can liberate Nigeria from its current challenges.

    Ajimobi said this on Thursday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the Government House, Ibadan.

    He said that the nation would have achieved a lot in terms of growth and development, if true federalism was being practiced.

    “We are not practicing true federalism in Nigeria. The last time we practiced it was during the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    “The issue of federalism has nothing to do with ethnicity but a fight between the wealthy and poor people.

    “The APC promised to practice true federalism but yet to do so. I believe that a continuous advocacy for true federalism will definitely yield the desired results soon.’’

    On the issue of cattle colony, the governor said his administration would only support ranching.

    “Today, many countries across the world do not engage in cattle herding any longer; they have all embraced ranching which has many advantages.

    Read Also: Oyo CJ to reassign Olubadan’s case against  Ajimobi

    “Herding is a business and everyone who engages in such should make adequate provision for his or her business to grow without involving the Federal Government.

    “If we provide land for cattle colony who will provide land for poultry and pig farmers?  In Oyo State, we won’t allow cattle to roam about.’’

    On the issue of state police, he noted central system of policing was a ruse, adding that most countries have state police.

    He decried a situation where governors were described the Chief Security Officers of their respective states but lacked control of of the security apparatus.

    Ajimobi thanked the Alaafin for being very supportive of his administration.

    Earlier, Adeyemi commended the governor for raising the bar of governance in the state, urging him to ensure the enthronement of a worthy successor.

    “We appreciate the governor for his forthrightness on the issue of standing for the right of the downtrodden, especially the people of his state.

    “Federal Government does not own land; it belongs to the state.

    “If truly we are practicing federalism, the Federal Government should not be collecting Value Added Tax on businesses in Ibadan while the state struggles to provide facilities for the same businesses.

    “Our own people are not cattle rustlers. We vehemently say now that we stand against cattle colony. We support our governor on his stand on ranching and against colony,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • NANS hails Gani Adam as new Aare Ona Kakanfo

    NANS hails Gani Adam as new Aare Ona Kakanfo

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), on Thursday applauded Otunba Gani Adams over his appointment as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba nation by the Alaafin of Oyo.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, confirmed the choice of Adams for the title on Sunday during his 79th birthday celebration.

    Aare Ona Kakanfo in the pre-colonial Yoruba history was a supreme military title conferred by the Alaafin of Oyo.

    The NANS’ National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Bestman Okereafor, gave the commendation in a statement issued in Enugu.

    Okereafor, however, called on the new Aare Ona Kakanfo to see this sacred position as a clarion call to service in the defence of the fundamental rights of the Yorubas.

    He said the title was also a call to uphold the rich cultural heritage and inheritance of the Yoruba nation, without any fear of favouritsm or nepotism which might be caused by political interference.

    “The leadership of NANS, under the leadership of Comrade Aruna Kadiri, heartily congratulates and felicitates with Otunba Gani Adams on his emergence as the new Are Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba nation.

    “NANS wishes to specially commend Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo for the critical decision.

    ‘’We believe that the decision, no doubt, has been taken purposely for the total emancipation and revival of the Yoruba culture and in defence of the Yoruba nation’s rights.

    “This is indeed a progressive, one coming after 19 years of the demise of the former Are Ona Kakanfo, the  late Chief M.K.O. Abiola,’’ he said.

    He said the late Chief Ladoke Akintola and the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola were the last two personalities to occupy the powerful Yoruba traditional position, in recent time in history.

    Adams, 47, has 52 chieftaincy titles to his credit so far in the country.

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo title was held last by the late Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, who died in 1998.

    NAN

  • African Drums Festival commences in Abeokuta

    The African Drums Festival commenced in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Thursday with more than 20 cultural troupes from about 13 countries from the continent in attendance.

    The festival, which is an expanded form of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Drums Festival held in Abeokuta in 2016, also drew participants from Haiti and observers from Dallas in the United States.

    The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his remarks described the festival as “a development worthy of emulation by other states.’’

    He noted that such festival would further invigorate the strides of the government in tourism investment and development.

    “The Muhammadu Buhari -led administration is determined to pursue with relentless vigour the diversification of our present mono reliance on an oil economy to massive investment in non-oil sectors   like agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.” he said.

    Mohammed, who was represented by the Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr Tar Ukor, noted that such festivals would promote pan-African unity and increased inter – African economic trade as well as enhanced local value chain benefits.

    “This festival will also promote inter-African leisure travel and the renaissance of our African cultural milestones in contributing toward  civilisation.

    “It will engender cultural reawakening in Africa on shared values and fraternal solidarity within the region,’’ he said.

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun said the festival was a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people of Ogun and to also stamp Nigeria on the world map.

    He gave an assurance that the state would continue to explore different aspects of the Nigerian culture with a view to promoting and preserving them.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, urged states to focus on other aspects of the Nigerian culture with a view to propagating them.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, noted that drums occupy an important place in   Yoruba culture.

    “Drums are used to wake Yoruba monarchs early in the morning reminding them of their oaths to adjudicate among their subjects without fear or favour.

    “Drums are important tools that accompany monarchs and warriors to the warfront and act as source from which they draw encouragement and courage as well as indicate to them when to withdraw or advance into battle.

    “Drums are also used to announce the deaths of some important personalities in Yorubaland,” he said.

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said rhythms from drums “are enchanting.’’

    He described as erroneous the belief that culture involves some demonic and satanic practices.

    Soyinka, who commended the Ogun government for the initiative, noted that many great things in Nigeria began from Ogun.

     

  • Alaafin endorses son for House of Reps

    Alaafin endorses son for House of Reps

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Saturday endorsed his son, Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, for the House of Representatives in next year’s National Assembly Election.

    The endorsement came at the laying of foundation of Samu of Oyo’s palace located at Agunpopo area in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    Prince Adeniyi is currently the Caretaker Chairman, Atiba Local Government.

    Alaafin, who berated past administrations in the local government for their insensitivity to the wellbeing of the people, said his son’s endorsement for the federal legislative seat was in tandem with voice of the people in the constituency.

    The traditional ruler added, “The era of shirking responsibilities by those elected into offices has gone for good. Every serving and aspiring candidates into political offices will be subjected to thorough scrutiny by the peoples’ court. Whatever your verdict is not only acceptable, but binding on the Alaafin and the Oyo-Mesi. I endorsed my son based on your (peoples’) demand.”

    The House of Representatives seat is currently occupied by Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, who is serving his second term.

    In his address, Prince Akeem Adeyemi thanked the people for their support and asked for their continued support to the state government.

     

  • Accord me equal recognition with Alaafin, others, Soun urges Jonathan

    Accord me equal recognition with Alaafin, others, Soun urges Jonathan

    The Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to accord himself, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Odulana Odugade, equal recognition whenever he visits the state.

    The traditional ruler also expressed delight over the amicable resolution of the row between the Olubadan and the president over the latter’s recent visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, a move the Olubadan considered a slight to his office and person.

    However, Jonathan was quick to apologise to the revered monarch, explaining that since he planned to visit the Olubadan twice between now and April, he thought an earlier visit would be an overkill.

    In a statement on Friday by his Private Secretary, Mr. Toyin Ajamu, the Soun commended Jonathan’s position that he holds Odugade, the people of Ibadan, the citizens of Oyo State and the South-West in general in high esteem.

    Ajamu said it was comforting that Jonathan plans to visit the Olubadan in the next few weeks, an indication that his government is a listening one that accepts constructive criticisms.

    He, however, urged the president to also take into cognisance the fact that Oyo State has three paramount rulers of equal standing, adding that he should accord the three the same status and respect.

    He listed the three monarchs to include himself (Soun), the Olubadan of Ibadan and the Alaafin of Oyo.

    Ajamu advised Jonathan to ensure that none of the highly respected traditional rulers is left out in the next presidential visit and in any matter that will require the involvement of the traditional institution in future.

    According to him, “The president and his aides are hereby urged to make corrections as promised, so as to promote the unity and development of this nation without creating divisions.”