Gentlemen of the press,
ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE OUR COLLECTIVE UNITY BY POLITICIZING APPOINTMENT AND CHIEFTANCY PROCESS WITHOUT FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS
It is pertinent to bring to the attention of the general public, the controversy trailing the planned conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Aremo Oba of Yewaland” on one Senator Olamilaken Adeola “Yayi”., which has been grossly politicized and which would need to be re-assessed in order to determine the appropriateness of his candidature for the traditional title of Aremo Oba Yewaland.
It is important to stress the need for the urgent intervention of all stakeholders in Yewaland and beyond (government officials) in the impending tussle over the Chieftaincy title of “Aremo Oba Yewaland” in order to guarantee an enduring peace devoid of chaos and acrimonies in Yewaland. For clarity and avoidance of ambiguity on the issues in focus, it is imperative to present background information on what is known as Yewa Traditional Council vis-à-vis the limits of the Council President who is also the Olu of Ilaro and paramount Ruler of Yewaland.
Yewaland is a conglomerate of autonomous communities, most of which migrated from Oyo and Ile –Ife. While communities like Joga–Orile, Igan Okoto, Iboro, Ibese, Ilaro e.t.c., predominantly in Yewa South and North are from Oyo, the Yewa communities of Awori and Ketu stocks are from Ife. This presupposes that there is no single monarch in Yewaland whose domain covers the entire Yewaland. Each Tradition Ruler operates and adjudicates within the areas that are traditionally associated with his township. This limitation is without any exception, as it applies to all Traditional Rulers in Yewaland, including the paramount ruler whose domain covers Ilaro and settlements traditionally associated with Ilaro Kingdom. The implication of this limitation is that no Traditional Ruler in Yewaland has the exclusive power to confer any Chieftaincy covering the entire Yewaland without the concurrence of the Yewa Traditional Council.
As a matter of fact, the precedence that was set during the reign of the immediate past Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland; Late Oba Adekambi Tella can be relied upon in order to elucidate on the relevance of the points being established. For the avoidance of doubt, it is necessary to outline the rationale behind the selection process that culminated in the installation of the under listed holders of Chieftaincy Titles of Yewaland during the reign of the immediate past Olu of Ilaro and the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland;
Alhaja Salimot Badru who is the Beere of Yewaland hails from Ipokia Local government, Professor Anthony Asiwaju, the Asiwaju of Yewaland is a descendant of Imeko/Afon Local government while Chief (Mrs) Yemisi Abbas, the Iyaloja of Yewaland hails from Yewa North Local government, all within the jurisdiction of the Yewa clan.
It is instructive to note that the Chieftaincies listed above were actually zoned to the various section of Yewaland as a way of ensuring equity, fairness and all-inclusive governance in the region. For instance, the position of babaloja of Yewaland was zoned to Yewa South but remains vacant to date because Oba Adekambi Tella (now late) preferred the Iyaloja of Yewaland Chieftaincy to be zoned to Yewa South Local Government which was in contrast with the decision of the Yewa Traditional Council as at that time. This move actually polarized the Traditional Council into factions despite the fact that the Chieftaincies being conferred as at that time, as listed above, are honourary chieftaincies.
That notwithstanding, the controversies that trailed the conferment of the honourary Chieftaincies could not have been considered to be misplaced, judging by the coverage of the Chieftaincies and considering the fact that the activities of the holders of the Chieftaincies are binding on the entire Yewaland within their respective portfolios.
Having considered the precedence that had been laid on the conferment of Chieftaincies that cover the entire Yewaland on worthy indigenes of Yewa clan, it is instructive to consider the appropriateness of the candidature of Senator Olamilekan Adeola ‘Yayi’ for the highly coveted traditional title of 'Aremo Oba of Yewaland.' Most importantly, it is expedient to note that the Aremo Oba of Yewaland Chieftaincy is a traditional title with deeper cultural importance than the honourary Chieftaincies listed earlier.
Therefore, more consciousness and constraints are expected to be exercised before conferring such sensitive traditional chieftaincies on someone.
With all honesty and without being bias, the background check carried out on Senator Olamilekan Adeola ‘Yayi’ has given a conflicting revelation with respect to his precise origin or source in Yewaland. This has been a source of concern to the relevant stakeholders of Yewaland who are of considered view that the highly coveted traditional Chieftaincy title of Aremo Oba of Yewaland is supposed to be conferred on an indigene of Yewaland whose background / lineage is known and can be confirmed with proofs that cannot be controverted.
Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi, who is presently representing Lagos West in the senate, He has been serving as lagos legislators for over two decades. having serving in Lagos with a driving distance of less than One and half hour missed the road to his acclaimed village or place of ancestral seat. He has at one time claimed Isaga-Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government Area as his place of origin, but later built a house in Joga Orile, while he has also laid claim to Pahayi in Ilaro as his ancestral home at another time. In all these places, none of his relatives or kinsmen has so far been identified. It's insultive to the entire yewaland that someone who have been in a neighbouring state less than one and half hour drive would have missed his way to his village. In this case, the so called Olamilekan Adeola had to make three different attempt to locate his so called Pahayi ancestral home. Obviously this man is one of those championing the believe that yewa is backward and not exposed, poverty striken and could be bought over in conscience, culture and traditions with money. It's time to put a stop to such behaviour. All external believers and their internal cohorts are hereby put on notice that the time to relocate from yewa land is now. As we shall stop as nothing to educate our people mentally, politically and spiritually towards navigating their orientation appropriately and changing the narratives.
Apart from the contention over the background of Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi, the demise of a few number of first class Obas such as Aboro of Ibese, Onisare of Ijanna, Onigun of Odan Abuja and Onijoun of Ijoun e.t.c. have created vacancies within the Traditional Council that have not been filled. Unfortunately, majority of the vacant stools are very highly rated Obaship stools which formed the fulcrum of the yewa traditional council and are supposed to be part of the decision making with regards to who should be installed as the Aremo Oba of Yewaland. It will be highly unfortunate if Yewa Traditional Council went ahead to appoint the title holder of Aremo Oba of Yewaland in the absence of first class Oba like Aboro of Ibese and the others whose stools are currently vacant. It is imperative to note that the operations of the Aremo Oba of Yewaland are binding on the entire Yewaland and as such all notable Obas should be part of the selection process of the holder of the Aremo Oba Chieftaincy title.
It is important to note that the core stakeholders of Yewaland are concerned that a wrong precedence would be laid if Traditional Titles are conceded to non – indigene whose off springs may continue to lay claim to what does not belong to their lineage because their parents had procured our tradition with money. We are not however aversed to situations whereby Honourary Chieftaincy titles are conferred on non–indigenes who have made laudable contributions to do more, to spur them to feel more belonging and to make them feel more appreciated. However, it will be out of place to give away Traditional Titles to someone because of his affluence, political ambition, social status, and/or because he is well placed in politics or for pecuniary gains. This will not be in the best interest of the larger society and it will further erode the sanity and integrity of our culture.
It's note worthy that the Aremo oba literarily translate to the crown "PRINCE" , meaning that it's exclusively for the princes'. The title of Aremo Oba of yewa land therefore mean that the bearer of the title is the head of the princes of Yewaland, the planned conferment of Aremo yewa land of one Olamilekan Adeola is grossly lacking a merit defective in tradition, insultive to our culture and absolutely illogical.
In the most certainly unlikely event that Lekan Solomon was able to establish a sensible maternal or parternal link to yewa land, he still has to prove that he is one of our princes in Yewaland, the final hurdle is the absolute compliance with the requirements of yewa chieftaincy law and the unanimous acceptance of the yewa traditional council before such title could be conferred on anyone.
In view of the foregoing, we wish to call on all affiliated stakeholders across the country to kindly intervene in the lingering power play that is calculated towards the politicization of the highly coveted Traditional Chieftaincy Title of Aremo Oba of Yewaland. In the event that nothing is done urgently to salvage the integrity of our traditional institution, what it implies is that the title of Aremo Oba of Yewaland will be conferred on a personality whose paternity and indeed his entire origin have not been traced without disparities to a particular settlement in Yewaland.
We therefore humbly implore all and sundry especially the Governor of Ogun State, through the ministry of chieftaincy affairs to kindly put machinery motion in order to carry out a fact–finding investigation on the lingering Chieftaincy tussle over the appointment process into the Traditional Chieftaincy of Aremo Oba of Yewaland with a view to putting the whole process of installation of the new Aremo Oba of Yewaland on hold until all gray areas are straightened before the whole issue degenerated into chaos within the already divided yewa clan because a stitch in time saves nine.
Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment