A WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED AT THE RECEPTION FOR ALAYELUWA OBA DR. ADEMOLA S.K. MAKINDE, ONIGEMO I, OWA OF IGBAJO LAND, AT APEWO VILLA, FORIKORI ESTATE, LADIGBOLU AREA, OYO ON TUESDAY 16TH JULY, 2024
By His Grace, Archbishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu
Chairman, Yoruba Unity Forum
Chairman, Oyo Metropolitan Development Association
Coordinator, Oranyan Festival Organisation
On behalf of the Entire Greater Oyo Community and my Family, I welcome His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Ademola S.K. Makinde, The Owa of Igbajo and his Entourage to Forikori Estate in the Ancient Royal City of Oyo Alaafin.
I feel greatly honoured that I feel greatly honoured that our Majesty decided to recognize my roles as a Prince and Elder Yoruba Statesman by singling me out for this august visit. Indeed, Forikori Estate has played host to a number of royalties and eminent citizens of this and other countries of the world. It is therefore our great delight to welcome Your Majesty to this Abode of God, where royalty also resides.
Oyo remains very significant in the history and culture of the Yoruba Nation not only because of the paramountcy and centrality of the Alaafins and their unique administrative capabilities that held an African Empire together for more than 600 years, but also on account of the power, influence and dominant impact of the Oranyan descendants on the human race.
I have here within this Premises, HISTORY ON MARBLE, presented to me about twenty years ago by the Owa Oye and the Entire People of Imesi Ile, one of the significant Yoruba towns connected with the Kiriji War, which captures the 1886 Peace Treaty and Declaration of Peace that contains several important dignitaries including the Alaafin as King of the Yoruba, and on whose invitation the British Government intervened to stop the civil war. For me, this was a remarkable point in our history, and your Kingdom is the key landmark. Igbajo Iloro (the third settlement of Igbajo ) is truly ILU AGABAJO AWON ENIYAN IRAN YORUBA. The City of self-motivated, courageous and determined People. The City that promotes peace and unity.
One fact of history that we can not change or deny is that Igbajo is both Ijesa and Oyo, or if you like, Oyo/Ijesa. But Igbajo is much more. It is a coming together of all Yoruba groups. Igbajo is the home of all Yoruba races, and very symbolic of the gathering of all Yoruba. Its name remains a clarion call on all persons of Yoruba extraction to GBARAJOPO for the unity, progress, glory and prosperity of our fatherland. Our IGBARAJOPO should help us to open our hearts and minds and engage in deep reflections on who we are and what we ought to be in the light of our history. We of the Yoruba Nation should be asking by now such questions as, Who are the original Yoruba People? Where did they originate from? Are we truly recognized for who we are? Is it possible to trace our real origins?. This is the time to discover our ROOTS and be strong and courageous to affirm it before the whole world. Yes, there will be surprises. There will be doubters, and there will be discouragers. But the TRUTH will always prevail.
This Gathering is monumental as it coming after the call to glory of the first literate, enlightened, articulate, famous, admirable, courageous, intelligent, and globally-respected African Monarch, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, the Alaafin and King of the Yoruba. The Exalted and Venerated Stool of the Alaafin is vacant at such a time as this when traditional rulership is in great disarray and dire straits. Today, it is facing some of its most harrowing challenges in history. Long before now, it used to be banishments and reduction of emoluments, Today it is a case of the tail wagging the dog with politicians downgrading and upgrading traditional rulers. In some odd and ugly cases, there are two Kings ruling over one Kingdom with no clue as to who is fake and who is genuine. Political power play has taken the rule over traditional rulership. What a trying time when children of the Kings who are in power dictate to their Fathers instead of learning from their wise and elderly counsels. They are ordered around and still called Royal Fathers.
It must be noted that in Yoruba land, paternity and royalty are two institutions created by God and honoured by our tradition and culture. Is it not time to begin to ask ourselves whether these sacred institutions of FATHERHOOD and RULERSHIP still have relevance in today’s Artificial Intelligence age.
I am well aware that in England and some European countries Kings and Queens still exist and they still have ruling authorities over their People without noticeable political interference including accusing Kings of ‘insubordination’.
These trying times also challenge our Royal Fathers to reflect on the significance of their position and responsibilities, and to carry themselves in ways befitting their exalted position of honour, trust, respect, and public confidence. When ever kings rule in truth, honesty, justice, fairness and righteousness, the benefits of such reign and rulership will be reaped by the People. No wonder, the Good News Bible says in Proverbs 29:2, “Show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people. Show me a wicked ruler and I will show you a miserable people.”
There has been so much written and said about Kiriji War. Indeed, a Museum now exists in commemoration of the war and the attendant Peace Treaty and Declaration of Peace. But sadly, there has been a most disturbing silence about the PEPE WAR, otherwise known as the Bombardment of Oyo on 12th November, 1895.
“At 7.50am on 12 November, 1895, Bower shelled Oyo.” It was Bower’s war against the Alaafin and all of Oyo in defiance of all entreaties and white flags. People were shot and killed, and principal buildings were looted and set on fire. By use of naked power and force, Bower established British authority over Oyo. He was praised to the high heaven for his atrocities by Governor Carter, his boss. After the bombardment, a Detachment of Hausa soldiers was stationed in Oyo under Captain Neal. PEPE WAR was indefensible both morally and legally, according to Prof J.A. Atanda.
2025 will mark 140 years of the bombardment of Oyo. It is my hope that Oyos and Yorubas will convene a Solemn Assembly to reflect on this terror attack and draw out the lessons and warnings for this generation and generations yet unborn.
In conclusion, I like to thank Alayeluwa Oba Ademola Makinde The Owa of Igbajo land for initiating this friendly and brotherly visit to Oyo. Your Majesty has planted a viable seed of love and friendship. It must blossom for the benefit of both our Communities as well as for all of Yorubaland and the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As usual, I will end this speech with a song because the spirit of Siyanbola Ladigbolu Akanbi Onikepe, Alaafin Ipekun Oba remain always on me: Oun ni Oba Al’orin l’owe, Digbolu Akanbi, Oba to l’ewi to ni arofo.
O mo egee da, O nsun rara, O nsun jala. Ani ani ko, ka korin ka kewi d’ajebi nile wa ni.
A t’orin a’tilu, lo ro omo Adelu l’orun
A o mo s’ore ara wa ni o
A o mo s’ore ara wa ni.
A sese bere o, Oluye
A sese bere kin le tii ri t’e mb’oju je
A sese bere kin l’e tii ri
E ye gbe I ke o
A o mo s’ore ara wa ni.