Awujale lambasts fellow Yoruba traditional rulers

…Counsels Ooni against politicians, sycophants

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NIGERIA: AWUJALE of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on Friday took a swipe at fellow traditional rulers in the South West who he accused of impeding unity among them.

Oba Adetona said that the monarchs in Yorubaland could not be united due to “greed and their selfish interest” of some traditional rulers, who preferred to pursue contracts and lobby for oil licences.

The first ruler lambasted fellow traditional rulers, who he did not mention their names, while receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who paid him a courtesy visit in Ijebu-Ode.

Awujale, who also said that the last time Ooni and Awujale met was in 1941 when the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi was on the throne, said he was impressed with the call for unity among obas in Yorubaland by the new Ooni.

Oba Adetona, who stressed that the disunity among Yoruba obas was traceable to the factors he mentioned, charged his visitor to be careful of politicians and sycophants around him.

A visibly stern Awujale said: “But in a situation where an Oba is pursuing contract or lobbying to obtain an oil licence; these had been some of those things that polarized us in the past.”

“Some of them were seeking government patronage,” he told Ooni, who stormed the palace with no fewer than 50-man entourage, among there  were about 25 palace metal gong beaters, who intermittently beat their instruments to hail the young Ile-Ife monarch.
He advised Ooni to be wary of sycophants, praise singers and politicians who are often in the habit of misleading their leaders.
“I read what you said in your speech during your inauguration, where you talked about unity among royal fathers in Yorubaland,” Oba Adetona said.  “I agree with you on the need for unity among the Yoruba monarchs.”

He further stressed: “If we come together, we can achieve a lot for our people.  If we all come together in a meeting and agreed on a certain issue, it must remain so.”
Awujale also charged Ooni: “You should also beware of sycophants, praise singers and politicians.  You should know how to deal with and treat politicians.

“I did not say you should run away from them, but don’t take sides; you should not be their agent, you should be the agent of the people.”

“By taking sides, you will be segmenting the community, (and the) people,” Oba Adetona, who was accompanied by no fewer than 15 traditional rulers and high chiefs from Ijebuland to welcome Ooni and his entourage to his palatial palace, said.

Oba Adetona recalled how he was misled at a point several years ago when he attended an event at the Island Club in Lagos.

According to him, his friends, who were members of the club, persistently persuaded him to honour the then Chairman of the club with a traditional title contrary to his will.

And not wanting to be seen as an uncompromising person, he finally yielded, particularly after much pressure.

He conceded and bestowed the honour, only later to discover that the title had been given to another person some years before.

Awujale said that the previous title holder challenged him after seeing the invitation card by the Chairman of Island

Club, why he should be stripped of his title and given to another person, even without notifying him.

Oba Adetona stated that thereafter “some people said to me that since I have pronounced, that was final and that I cannot go back on my words.”

He further said: “I asked them, if there was an error and they said yes.  So, I told them that my understanding of life was that if there is error, it should be corrected.

“So, I told the Island Club Chairman to either forget about the title entirely or pick a new title. The man picked another title and we had a colorful installation”, Awujale said.

He told his visitor: “So, if anyone tells you, your words are final, don’t mind them, only God’s words are final. Only God has the sole and final authority.”
In his response, Oba Ogunwusi, praised Awujale for the warm reception given to him and expressed gratitude to God for the wisdom he gave Oba Adetona to have reigned on the throne in the last 56 years.
The Ooni told his host that he was ready to tap from his wisdom, while stressing on the need for unity among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland.

He expressed displeasure that it was not good that the last meeting of the major obas in the South West took place in 1941.

Oba Ogunwusi stated that Yoruba had the richest culture and tradition among the different ethnic groups in the country, but regretted that “we don’t know the importance of what we have.”
The Ooni maintained that the time was ripe enough for the traditional rulers in Yorubaland to come together.

According to him, doing so would make the South West region witness rapid growth and development.
He cautioned: “If we do not unite, we won’t go far.  If we unite we will go far. Fingers are not equal, but if a finger is lost there is a challenge with that hand. Unity is important.”

Oba Ogunwusi urged fellow rulers in the country and beyond not to see themselves as and believe they’re God, who he described as “God of gods, who make things happen the way it pleases him.”

His ascension to the exalted stool of Ooni, he emphasized, was by God who gave his consent and “who I will forever continue to serve in my life.”