Alaafin Warns Gov Fayemi: Yoruba Not Like Other Races, Don’t Degrade Our Monarchs

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has cautioned Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State against degrading the traditional institution in Yorubaland.

The Alaafin warned that the traditional institution in Yorubaland was “ancestral and spiritual”, unlike other races where “nothing outside the mundane is attached to their traditional institution”

The Alaafin’s caution came after Governor Fayemi reportedly issued queries to sixteen monarchs in Ekiti for allegedly shunning state functions and monthly meetings of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state.

The Alaafin issued the caution in a letter dated March 12, 2020, and signed by himself and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, alongside five other paramount traditional rulers in Yorubaland.

The Yoruba monarchs frowned at Fayemi’s “neglect of the hierarchical order by appointing a subordinate Oba as the Chairman of the Council of Obas in the State over and above the recognized order.”

The governor’s action was said to have angered senior monarchs in the state who allegedly refused to attend council meetings where they would have to bow their heads to their subordinate.

The Alaafin noted that, “in a free society like ours, nobody should expect those injured by that assault to keep quiet. As civilized people, rather than confronting or engaging the government they chose the court option.

“Since the case is still in court, we will not want to comment further on it as law-abiding citizens. I, however, would have expected that Your Excellency waits till the end of the court process before acting on the matter.

“It is in this note that 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.

“Finally, as fathers we should like to advice Your Excellency to tread softly any relationship with traditional institution in the name of Oduduwa and our other ancestors in Yorubaland. Let us employ diplomacy to settle this issue. We have the mechanism of conflict resolution in ways of our ancestors,” read the letter.