‘Yoruba Obas Forum’ clamour for fourth-tier govt

…frowns at diaspora Obas
The Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi played host to over hundred of Yoruba Traditional rulers in a special 3-day Summit tagged: “Regaining the lost glory of traditional rulers of Yoruba land.”

The summit noted to be the first of its kind in decades under the aegis of His Royal Majesty (HRM) Heritage Forum had in attendance traditional rulers and Regents across Yorubaland making it the largest gathering of monarchs in recent time.

Held between 18th to 21st November, 2018 at Ife Grand Resort and Leisure, Ile-Ife, the conference observed as the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria if not Africa as a whole aimed at repositioning the Yoruba monarchy to its pride of place and promoting unity among Traditional Rulers in the Yoruba nation.

According to the conference, previous attempts were made by government, mostly colonial masters, and the success of this conference is an indication that the Ooni’s dream of a united Yoruba race and kings are achievable.

The event also featured lecture session by seasoned speakers, technocrats and traditionalists that include keynote address by Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe from University of Lagos and others and an address by Ogun State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Rt. Hon. Bashorun Oladipo.

Among prominent issues discussed that hinged on progress, unity and preservation of Oodua cultural heritage include some far reaching decisions:

clamour for fourth-tier arm of government constituting traditional rulers, local government autonomy from state, proliferation of fake Obas in foreign land, code of conduct for Obas, expansion of customary court, security votes for traditional rulers, Traditional rulers welfare among others.

The Obas in affirmation resolves that letters should be forwarded to relevant authorities and government for implementation.

In an early address by Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, he emphasized with strong voice on the proliferation of unrecognised Obas in diaspora.

“This is to bring to your notice a ‘clear and present danger’ ravaging the land of Oduduwa. Pitiably, this desecration of our customs and tradition is not perpetrated by strangers but some Yorubas who I will refer to as ‘shady characters’, living outside the shores of this land.”

“Through this statement, I am also bringing to your notice the activities of an illegal group known as ‘Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora’.

This group is not known to our law. The modus operandi is alien to our customs and tradition and if nothing is done urgently to caution and sanction its promoters, our highly-revered traditional institution may, God forbid, become extinct soon,” says Iba Adams.

He also noted that Yoruba traditional institutions derive its legitimacy and authority from traditions of a particular village, town or city within Oodua enclave.

“As an Oba, it is your duty to protect traditional institutions in your domain, and subordinates such as chiefs take instructions from you.

This hierarchical order has been with us for centuries. In other words, it is a taboo to replicate the role of an Oba or question his authority. That is why he is referred to as ka-bi-o-osi (Kabiyesi),” Adams added.

Also, Iba Adams emphasised on the fact that royal families and government play an important role in who becomes an Oba anywhere in Yorubaland.

And for anybody to become an Oba, he must be a son of a king or of the same blood line as chosen (royal) families from which a king might emerge.

This customs according to him is dated back to centuries but the activities of ‘Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora’, if not checked, he said, threaten this age-long tradition.

Adams disclosed that members of this group, who reside mostly in Europe, North and South America, are standing logic on the head due to their inordinate ambition.

He said, “Now they install themselves as Obas without government recognition, wear crowns similar to what our royal fathers wear in Yorubaland and parade themselves as Obas, with a complete paraphernalia of office, even when the return home.”

He lamented that some of these characters engage in some shady deals, every now and then and if any of them is arrested at any airport abroad, there will be a screaming headline on newspapers “Yoruba Oba arrested in possession of …”

“The British monarch has existed for centuries. Can a replica of Queen of England be seen in any part of the world?

This is an ugly trend that is gradually creeping into our traditional institution, an aberration which must not be allowed to continue. The coronation of a Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora is alien to our culture and tradition.

An individual can be the leader/coordinator of a Yoruba group in a foreign land, but not to be crowned as an Oba,” Adams said.

Iba Gani Adams used the platform to urge the Obas to intervene and call the erring persons to order. However, he emphasized that the issue of Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora does not affect all the royal fathers in Republic of Benin.

“They were being delineated by the Berlin Conference of 1884/85. They all have their roots in Yoruba land, including that of Oyotunji in North Carolina in America,” Adams added.

Top on the agenda was the clamour for fourth-tier arm of government for Traditional rulers arguing that the fourth-tier, government by traditional rulers will effectively handle grassroot issues.

According to them, it is an institution that remains permanent in every regime and knows their domain better than any government.

The conference also proposed proper devolution of power to allow local government to have autonomy.

“We believe the lack of autonomy makes it difficult for traditional rulers to have control and contribute more effectively than they are doing now. Each traditional ruler is the chief security of his domain.

They should be empowered to carry out security functions in partnership with the existing police force.

Recall that boko haram insurgence was reduced by the help of local vigilantes in the community,” they stated.

They requested for reintroduction of old palace court that will relieve the judiciary of some cases. Expand its scope at various levels to deal with for instance, land, domestic and minor community disagreements.

There was a call for govt to come into agreement with labour to resolve workers minimum wages noticing that inflation in the country has eroded in a large chunk of disposable income available. Also, to lower inflation by value if what money can buy.

On the issue of fake Obas, the resolved that notice will be dispersed to security agencies to arrest any erring person both local and in diaspora.

The argued that no Oba should be recognised in a foreign land, that an Oba must have a domain within Oodua enclave with staff of office from government.

But said anyone can be a leader of Yoruba community in a foreign land and not an installed Oba.

Another poit made is that all Oba should desist from partisan politics; must be father of all, blessing any aspiring candidate to work for the interest of the people.

The conference also pointed that Obas’ welfare should be looked into with urgency, noting that Obas’ welfare package should at least be up to level 15 – 17 in government salary scale to accommodate huge responsibilities they carry in their domain. They stated that some Obas were highly placed in the society before becoming an Oba.
The issue of Chieftaincy law should be reversed and be called ‘Obas law’ because the law relegates traditional rulers to be noneffective in the land.

Also, Oba in Yoruba land should be properly addressed as ‘His Imperial Majesty’ and not His Highness, saying anyone from a royal family who is not a King can be call His highness and not an Oba.

The monarchs also bemoans the killings, kidnappings and armed robbery incidents in the country. Adequate security allocation should be given to them hence, the know every one within their community and can easily fish out crimininals within their domain.

Most deliberated and controversial among the categories is the ‘Code of Conduct’ among the Yoruba Obas. The conference resolved that no Oba should eat or drink in parties or public places.

According to them, the institution is sacred and should not be desecrated. ‘It is a taboo and was not practised by forebearers,’ says the conference.

It also says, Obas should put on appropriate royal costume and beads for public places including their beaded staff and not casuals.

Obas should not dance in parties and especially in the crowd. His is to respectfully position himself at a vantage position to be respected by all.

The idea of an Oba removing crown in religious place is seriously frowned at by the conference.

Obas are advised to always wear the little white cap in religious gatherings if they do not want to wear crown but the head must be covered even if they are to receive honorary awards.

Also, Oloris and concubines are advised to always dress to add value to the stool and the images of the Obas and refrain from trending indecent fashion with exposed cleavages.

There is a resolve that traditional culture is seen and believed to be above all. Therefore the use of titles like Oba (Evangelist or Alhaji) should be discouraged.

Traditional rulers are seen as father of all and should not stand or bow to governors on their arrival or to any spiritual father or mentor.

In promoting the culture and value of the yoruba race, it is observed that for culture to be static, passed from generation to generation, Obas should not be complacent in teaching their children to communicate in their mother tongue(yoruba).

The issue of difference between idol worship and rituals should be explained vividly to a discerning ear that idol worshipping is different from yoruba customs and traditions.

The group thank sincerely the Ooni Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, not just for both his moral and financial support but for the success of the conference of Obas and also for his work, consciously to achieve lasting peace and unity among all Yoruba Obas and Yoruba race as a whole.

Speaking with the chairman, Conference of the Traditional Rulers, The Elerinmo of Erinmo Kigdom, HIM, Oba Michael Ajayi, he disclosed that this is the first convention of Obas ever held in decades.

“We have traditional rulers from all the Yoruba states in attendance. The purpose is moving forward. We knew that in the past, Yorùbá Obas were very powerful.

In fact, we believe we are in charge of leadership as well. This then, is to discuss how to regain this lost glory and improve in the welfare of the Obas achieve unity, improve discipline and treat the proliferation of unrecognized fake Obas in diaspora.

Another purpose is to understand that we should leave that toga behind and understand that as long as Oba is concerned, no king can be a king in another person’s town. Obas need to always keep in touch and communicate with each other.

The level of participation is incredible and it has brought out things like knowing our common problems which is not domiciled to a particular kingdom but noticeable in other places.

In terms of welfare, Obas are been shortchanged caused by British colonial masters who eroded the rights of Obas with the introduction of indirect rule.

As a result, politicians have taken control of powers that ordinarily should be within the purview of a traditional ruler,” Oba Ajayi added.

In the same vein, His Royal Majesty, Odidiomo Afolabi, Olu of Igbokoda Oba, Ondo State added that the issue of ‘Conduct of Conduct’ for Obas become necessary because people are finding it difficult to remain in the past.

“Not because that we are saying there should be no change or development but because there are some conduct that are not befitting for a king.

The institution of kings became popular with Oduduwa and also, let the Yoruba’s know the way Obas should dress, behave and others, but with civilisation or modernity so to say, they are trying to deviate from it. These, among other things desecrates the dignity of the stool.”

Meanwhile, Ogun State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Rt. Hon. Basorun M. Oladipo, Co-founder, Heritage Forum confided that the move and inspiration was conceived during the Ogun Drum Festival.

“When we started the drum festival three years ago. It was a realisation and fact that our culture was dying.

We in Ogun state started the drum festival to revive our culture. And also along the line, we felt that the Obas are the custodians of our culture and tradition.

Knowing full well that they are the custodians, we also find out that something was missing within the Yorùbá race. There is no unity among the Yorùbá race. This forum serve as that pointer and call to finding a lasting solution and uniting the entire Obas.

And ever since three years ago we started, everything has been going on well, to appreciating the fact that yes, it is possible.

The response in the conference has been positive and most encouraging. Although there are Obas who couldn’t make it for different reasons, but within the conference, they broke themselves into groups to deliberate issues and come out with communiqué to chart way forward.

We have Obas from various Yorùbá states including Kogi and Kwara at this convention and they will be taking the resolutions to their states for implementation and the respective governments to work on it.

“For the culture to be preserved, I would say, if you and I and the Obas are not doing what we are supposed to be doing, of course the thing will fizzle out like that.

The convention has started and will sustain itself as time goes on because the response and enthusiasm has been high and as more people are coming in.

It is a technology based forum that let people to come in and participate and air their views.

Although, we are not readily in togetherness with other government agencies handling culture but we are working towards bringing all the commissioners and culture agencies together for this course.