By Remi Oyeyemi
\nThe recent disrespect of Oonirisa, Oluaye, the Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi
\nEniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, by the Eleko of Eko, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has
\nonce again reopened the challenges the Yoruba Nation faces as it saunters
\naround in search of a compass to get out of its present political, social
\nand economic quagmire.
\nThe resulting controversy brought about wide condemnation of Oba Akiolu
\nfor disrespecting the \u00c0R\u00d3L\u00c9 O\u00d2DU\u00c0, the accepted representative and royal
\nprogenitor of the Yoruba race. The wide condemnation of Oba Akiolu is a
\nsign that the majority of Yoruba still care about their heritage and their
\nculture. In my view, for any race not to be History, it must care about
\nits History.
\nThere have been reports that the disrespect of Oonirisa by Eleko was
\ninformed b previous relationship between him (Eleko) and the then Prince
\nEniitan \u00a0Ogunwusi. Regardless, that is no justification for what happened
\nand widely and rightly too, condemned by all and sundry. Whatever might
\nhave transpired between them before the ascension of Kabiyesi Ojaja II, is
\nirrelevant. What matters is that the old Eniitan Ogunwusi, is a different
\nperson now. He represents the Yoruba race now. He is the official \u00c0R\u00d3L\u00c9
\nO\u00d2DU\u00c0 now and sits on that stool of O\u00f2du\u00e0. As our forefathers often said,
\n“En\u00ed b\u00e1 fi oj\u00fa \u00e0n\u00e1 w’\u00f2k\u00fa, ebora \u00e1 bo l’\u00e0so.” Oba Akiolu ought to have
\nknown this.
\nHowever, the resulting controversy has dredged up the importance or
\notherwise of the need to pay serious attention to traditional institutions
\nin Yoruba land and orderliness that has been the hallmark of their inter
\nand intra relationship across the Yoruba Nation.
\nTo a school of thought, the continued discussion and the attention that
\nthis controversy \u00a0has generated is an unnecessary distraction from the
\ndaily economic realities facing \u00a0not just the Yoruba Nation, but the
\ncontraption called Nigeria as well.
\nTo this school of thought, it is important to cease dwelling on the
\ncontroversy and begin to seek ways out of the socio – economic challenges
\nfacing the people. This school of thought insists that the religio –
\npolitical cum socio – economic challenges”are more important things” than
\nthe concerns being shown about extant traditional institutions.
\nTo another school of thought, we should actually de-emphasize order but
\nfocus on giving recognition to what individuals on the throne can bring to
\nbear on their domains. This school of thought seems to forget that the
\nessence of careful selection process of prospective rulers is to ensure
\nand sustain normalcy in terms of social peace, economic progress,
\npolitical harmony and religious freedom insofar as the Yoruba Nation is
\nconcerned.
\nI have no disagreement with this except that following laid down rules
\nwith tinkering here and there is of great importance. I do not subscribe
\nto installing popular or famous princes as rulers only for such to turn
\nout to exude aridity of character on the throne. Following the age long
\ntraditional ways of selection could still be beneficial, though politics
\nhave been intervening in recent times.
\nI am in serious disagreement with the first school of thought described
\nabove that views any discussion of our traditional institutions, as to
\nwhether they are doing well or not as a “distraction”. I view such
\nposition as a dangerous one that could exacerbate the moral morass in
\nwhich we, as Yoruba, have found ourselves.
\nIt is my considered view that what this particular school of thought
\nconsiders to be “more important things” than the discussion of the
\nprogress or otherwise of our traditional institutions are functionally
\nrelated to the ability to sustain or otherwise, our tradition.
\nLet me break it down for easier comprehension. \u00a0Tradition is the
\nprogenitor of Culture. Culture is the incubator of values. Values are the
\ndeterminants of the righteousness or unrighteousness of a society. The
\ndegree of \u00a0righteousness of a society determines its prosperity, peace and
\nprogress.
\nThe breakdown of our traditional values is functionally related to several
\nobnoxious behaviors that are being exuded in the public offices. The
\nendemic corruption that we are witnessing in public offices are by
\nproducts of a people who have lost sense of their values. People are so
\nconfused about what is right and wrong that it is now a common place for
\nkleptomaniacs to walk freely on our streets and even hailed by the victims
\nof their crimes.
\nWhen you see elders of the society, preaching for accommodation of certain
\npeople who stole from public purse and come around to dole such out in
\nacts of philanthropy, generosity and so called kindness, then one should
\nrealise that things are out of joint.
\nThus, the controversy kick – started by the disrespect of Oonirisa by
\nEleko is more than a “distraction”. It is indeed a serious matter that has
\nto be exhaustively discussed to ensure that such egregious anomaly never
\nrepeats itself. There’s need for us as a people to look inward and reach
\nfor the beauties embedded in our Culture.
\nThe beauty of showing respect without losing your voice. The beauty of
\norderliness in our ways of life. The beauty of religious freedom among our
\npeople that the politicians are trying to poison for selfish ends. The
\nbeauty of communal support and loyalty. The beauty of honesty in dealing
\nwith others. The beauty of ordinary words being the bound of those who
\nuttered them. The beauty of hard work and the dignity of labour.
\nYes, the beauty of self pride and self confidence. The beauty of knowing
\nthe meaning of shame. The beauty of appreciating value of a good name. The
\nbeauty of the place of integrity in public affairs. The beauty of
\nostracising emergency millionaires or billionaires whose sources of wealth
\ncould not be explained, et cetera, et cetera.
\nThe diminishing beauties highlighted above are results of not taking our
\ntraditions seriously. They are results of dismissive attitude to our
\nYoruba ways of life. The impact of this dismissive attitude has seen our
\npeople refusing to allow their children speak Yoruba in their homes. They
\nwant to ape the white man in all manners of ways. At the end of the day,
\nthey would never become white after ceasing to be Yoruba.
\nOur heritage is very important. It describes who we are. It underscores
\nour uniqueness, why we are different and special. Our heritage as
\nbequeathed is our gift to the world. It is to be guarded and protected
\njealously. We can’t afford to treat our heritage with levity. As posited
\nby Olaitan Okedeji, “Empires rise and fall….kingdoms come and go….
\nemperors debut and exit…… charismatic rulers emerge and disappear
\n….. but heritage remains.”
\nAn insult on our heritage is an insult to us all as a people. A disrespect
\nof our heritage, is a disrespect to us all as a people. “Sugbon bi on\u00edgb\u00e1
\nba se pe igb\u00e1 e, laa se ba pee.” This, literally, would mean “It is the
\nway you treat what belongs to you that would determine the way others
\nwould treat it.” We can not allow our culture or any discussion of it \u00a0be
\na “distraction”. Otherwise, we are unwittingly inviting disrespect from
\nothers.
\nIt is the same unconscious attitude that is being brought to bear on the
\nunacceptable behavior of Eleko towards \u00c0R\u00d3L\u00c9 O\u00d2DU\u00c0. The Yoruba Nation is
\nbigger than anybody. O\u00d2NIR\u00ccS\u00c0 is the physical representation of the Yoruba
\nspirit and Yoruba Nation. He could not be toyed with. He should not be
\ntoyed with. And he must not be toyed with.
\nThis is why I disagree with the school of thought that considers the
\ndiscussion, focus and attention given the Eleko issue a “distraction.” It
\nis not a distraction but a very serious matter that must be paid attention
\nto along with other traditional institutions of Yoruba land. If we fail to
\nstem the gradual disconnection from our uniqueness as a people, by
\nreconnecting with our culture and traditional values and wed such to
\nmodernity, peril is the only thing that can result.
\nTake away from a people, their culture, they lose their heritage,
\nuniqueness and spiritual being. Our disconnection with our tradition is
\ncosting us enormously as is evident in our milieu. There’s need for a
\nchange of attitude to our tradition and culture as a means to and for
\nmoral renaissance which in turn would be a stepping stone to building a
\nfair, just and egalitarian society that we so much crave.
\nWith a revert to our tradition, moral renaissance would serve as it’s
\nconcomitant. By implication, the meaning of shame would be redoubtable.
\nThere would be less crime and increase in righteous acts and behaviours.
\nThis in turn would bring about sincere public servants who would engender
\nsocial harmony, economic progress, political tranquility, religious
\nfreedom.
\nIt is only the righteousness of the citizenry that could and would turn
\naround a country. This is what is meant when it is said that righteousness
\nexalts a Nation. By going back to our roots, we can rediscover our values
\nand rebuild our Yoruba Nation, nay Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Remi Oyeyemi The recent disrespect of Oonirisa, Oluaye, the Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, by the Eleko of Eko, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has once again reopened…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n