Gbenro Adesina
Following a letter written by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, urging the latter not to desecrate the traditional institution in the South West, Governor Fayemi has paid a visit to the foremost monarch to iron out issues.
Though, details of the meeting between the governor and the monarch is not known as at the time of filing this report, there are indications that the duo have chatted a way out of the logjam.
Governor Fayemi aptly summarised the interaction with the monarch as fruitful stressing, “I spent Sunday afternoon with Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye and had very fruitful discussions”.
It will be recalled that sequel to query issued by Governor Fayemi to 11 traditional rulers in Ekiti, including Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, the Alaafin wrote a letter to the governor, advising him not to disrespect traditional institution in the region.
According to the query titled, “Re-Absence from State Functions and Council of Traditional Rulers’ Monthly Meetings”, the affected monarchs were alleged of not cooperating with the state government and leadership of the state traditional council.
The letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, A. O. Adeoye on behalf of the state government demanded explanation from the monarchs within 72 hours.
The three-paragraph letter read in part:
“It has come to the attention of Mr Governor that Your Royal Majesty has not been attending the monthly statutory meetings of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and state official functions since August 2019.
“Your conspicuous absence at the council meetings and state official functions, without any excuse or justification is considered inimical to the proper administration of the chieftaincy institution you represent.
“Therefore, Mr Governor has directed that Your Royal Majesty should forward your representation for this inaction, through this office within 72 hours on the receipt of this letter.”
This letter led to an insinuation that Governor Fayemi is planning to dethrone some notable monarchs the same way Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje dethroned Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
In a swift reaction, Alaafin, who claimed to have written the governor on behalf of seven paramount monarch rulers in the west, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo Adedotun warned the governor not to interfere with the affairs of the traditional rulers.
Oba Adeyemi and other foremost Yoruba Obas strongly warned Governor Fayemi not to import any ‘subculture of traditional degradation’ to the land of Oduduwa adding, “Whereas some races see deposition and installation of traditional rulers as mere administrative routine with executive fiat all in open glare, that is not so in Yoruba Land”.
Adeyemi said, “I, along with my fellow traditional rulers across Yorubaland feel very sad that Your Excellency issued a query to the 16 Ekiti crowned respected traditional rulers of high esteem in Yorubaland for not bowing their heads to their subordinate by not attending the council meeting under their subordinate. That exercise and without mincing words is to say the least subjudice. To some races, nothing outside the mundane is attached to their traditional institution. Whereas, that of Yoruba is beyond the mundane as it is also ancestral and spiritual. The Yoruba oba is the representative of the ancestors, the real owner of the land or ground. It is on this basis that we will advise against any attempt to treat traditional institution in Yorubaland with levity and to avoid any attempt of importing any subculture of traditional degradation into Yorubaland. It is ironic that while the predecessors in office and ancestors of these 16 crowned obas and their subjects displayed uncommon patriotism, courage and commitment to confront the intimidating military prowess of Ibadan Army for 16 years (1870-1886), Your Excellency as one of the beneficiaries of the legacy bequeathed by these Kings of Yoruba history is now embarking on an exercise that will rubbish the contributions of your ancestors”.
