Ololade Adeyanju/
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has advised Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State against any step that could denigrate the traditional institution in Yoruba land.
The highly reverred monarch also urged Fayemi to exercise caution in his handling of the leadership crisis rocking the state traditional council.
The governor had reportedly issued warning letters to 11 first class monarchs over alleged non-cooperation with the leadership of the state traditional council.
The monarchs had boycotted state functions and monthly meetings of the state council of traditional rulers after Fayemi appointed Ajibade Alabi, alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, as chairman of the state traditional rulers council to the displeasure of the 11 first class monarchs.
They were said to have considered it disrespectful of the governor to have appointed a subordinate king over them.
They consequently resolved to challenge the action of the governor in court.
In a letter dated March 12, Alaafin frowned at the action of the governor and warned him against “any attempt to treat traditional institution in Yoruba land with levity and to avoid any attempt of importing any subculture of traditional degradation into Yoruba land”.
The monarch also observed, “We go into history to let Your Excellency know that Yoruba has more far reaching history than many other races in the country. Unlike some other races, Traditional rulership is not banded by religion but Tradition and Culture. This explains the difference between us and some other cultures. Whereas some races see the deposition and installation of traditional rulers as mere administrative routine with executive fiat all in the open glare, that is not so in Yoruba land.”
The letter reads in part, “Let me start by saying that the sacrosanct of the Pelupelu that grades the sixteen crowned obas in Ekiti land is not in doubt. Suffice to say Your Excellency that in any human society and more so in Yoruba Land, order of hierarchy and seniority are of vital consideration in position placement,” the alaafin said.
“From time immemorial, Obaship leadership in Ekiti Land had been within the sixteen Obas without any dispute or quarrel among them and indeed to the admiration of other Yoruba kingdoms.
“It was therefore with total displeasure and indeed total discomfort that we learnt of Your Excellency’s neglect of the hierarchical order by appointing a subordinate Oba as the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the State over and above the recognized order.
“It is in this note that I along with my fellow Traditional Rulers across Yoruba Land feel very sad that Your Excellency issued a query to the sixteen Ekiti Crowned respected Traditional Rulers of high esteem in Yoruba Land 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 sub judice.
“It is on this basis that we will advise against any attempt to treat traditional institution in Yoruba Land with levity and to avoid any attempt of importing any subculture of traditional degradation into Yoruba Land. 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.
“Finally, as fathers, we should like to advise Your Excellency to tread softly any relationship with traditional institution in the name of Oduduwa and our other ancestors in Yoruba Land. Let us employ diplomacy to settle this issue. We have the mechanism of conflict resolution in ways of our ancestors.”
See Alaafin’s letter:
If the folks in Kano want to put their kings in the same league as civil servants, that is fine for them.
It is not so in Yoruba land, our kings are to be respected; they are hereditary rulers, tied to our Yoruba culture, which was in existence before the British introduced a civil service and constitutional government to us.