Alaafin Disowns Yoruba Confab In Ikenne

The Alaafin of Oyo and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has disowned a planned pan-Yoruba conference slated for tomorrow in Ikenne, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.

The monarch said he “cannot be part of a political jamboree that is organised in the interest of a few, to the detriment of the larger Yoruba nation.”

Ikenne is home of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the conference is being facilitated by Chief Mrs. HID Awolowo and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

In a letter issued yesterday, the Alaafin said that with the current security challenges and ethno-religious intolerance in the country, such a conference is divisive and capable of endangering the lives of Yoruba people in other parts of the country.

“I do not believe quite honestly, that this is a time that the Yoruba should converge for any inaugural conference,” he said.

The monarch called on Yoruba leaders to refrain from statements or gatherings that promote division in the country, “the kind of cleavage that the organisers of the conference seek to promote.”

“We should refrain from any gathering capable of suggesting that we are up to anything sinister and thus put the lives of our people in other places both within the country and in the Diaspora, into danger.

“The security situation in the country today is nothing but parlous. As a people, the situation now calls for caution, circumspection and a deep thought. This is in view of the fact that the ethno-religious intolerance and suspicion have actually put the country on edge.

“On our own part as a nationality, the Yoruba at this point in time need to be extra careful, vigilant and cautious, especially in making public statements whether as an individual or as a people on the precarious security situation in the country. The Yoruba nation must play a central role in promoting the peace, unity and stability of Nigeria at a time like this and not recluse into the kind of cleavage that the organisers of the conference seek to promote.”

The monarch added: “Our people are well domiciled in all parts of the country, including parts of the north where Boko Haram largely operates. We have MEND and other militia groups equally in the South South and South East. What we need now is dialogue by engaging Boko Haram and similar groups in sincere discussions towards seeking a path to resolving the present security crisis.”

He said: “Those masquerading as Yoruba leaders are the permanent government contractors whose influence are waning politically and who now want to use this kind of conference as leverage to continue their politics of the stomach.”

He added: “We know that we traditional rulers from Yoruba land are not reading from the same page because our ranks have been infiltrated by fifth columnists. Our children are watching and we must strive to live by example and not unnecessarily jeopardise the interest of the Yoruba nation and the future of our children.”

—Simon Ateba