Oluwo tackles Ooni, Alaafin over disunity in Yorubaland

Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Sunday, expressed disappointment over silence by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, in the face of disunity among traditional rulers and security challenges ravaging Yorubaland.

In a statement by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Oluwo expressed disappointment that the two leading royal fathers could not address the two issues, lamenting that the disunity assailing the traditional institution meant both Ooni and Alaafin were losing their grip on the Yoruba race.

Charging the royal fathers to use their spiritual and political paraphernalia to facilitate unity and halt animosity often triggered by the fight over who was superior, Oba Akanbi said the time had come for both Ooni and Alaafin to speak in unison or “silently drain their traditional value.”

The statement read, “The intervention of the duo could have arrested the recent altercation resulting from crowning of diaspora obas by the Olugbo of Ugboland, but disappointedly, none could boldly speak to protect traditional institution and be balanced in judgment.

“We should appeal to other obas to politely withdraw the title in the interest of the institution. Otherwise, monarchs will turn titles to a cheap compliment just like birthday gifts.”

Oba Akanbi said instead of keeping quiet on the issue, sanctity of the traditional institution would have been better protected, through a polite appeal for retrieval of Obaship titles given without laid down rules by Central Council of Yoruba Obas and not with attack by a chief.

The royal father added, “It is a security threat to the traditional system. No one did that in the olden days and got away with it. It amazes me this is happening now and Ooni of Ife and Alaafin are watching. Chiefs are not certified to mediate by taking sides. It is an affront on the tradition for a chief to insult a king.

“I’m afraid Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo are vitiating their grip of Yoruba traditional institution. Many wrongs are surviving under their watch most especially schism among traditional rulers and insecurity ravaging the Yoruba nation. Unfortunately, they are mute, a sign of contentment.”

To create a platform for the resolution of misunderstanding in their ranks, Oba Akanbi called for the establishment of Central Council of Yoruba Monarchs, that will have mainly kings as members, adding that such a group would not allow external influences to meddle in their affairs, and rejuvenate traditional institution in Yorubaland.