From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has warned traditional chiefs against neglect of their communities’ heritage in the name of orthodox religion, especially on the selection of successors to vacant stools.
He said any attempt to circumvent the age-long traditions and condemn the legacies of their forefathers to the dustbin of history, rather than preserving and recognising them always lead to crises and disharmony.
Oba Adeyemi gave the warning on Friday in his palace when members of Edu Royal Family from Ago-Are community in the Atisbo Local Government paid him a courtesy visit.
For sometime now, the community had been engulfed in crises following what members of the royal family, youths and other interest groups described as ‘’neglect of age-long tradition for orthodox religion by the kingmakers in the selection of successor to the vacant stool’’.
The late community head, Aare of Ago Are, Oba Jubril Oyesiji Oladoke, joined his ancestors in May this year after about 39 years of peaceful reign.
The paramount ruler, who is the consenting authority to the choice of ruler in the community, noted that whatever steps to be taken by both the ruling Edu house and the kingmakers to select a new monarch should not only be made public as required by the law, all candidates must be treated equally and must be strictly guided by age-long tradition in the community.
Oba Adeyemi, who is also the permanent chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, commended the royal family for their maturity in handling the dispute and the decision to call for new selection process based on the age-long tradition of Ifa divination.
‘’Nothing meaningful can be achieved in an atmosphere of
recriminations, rancours, disharmony, violence and disunity. You must allow peace to reign while all the warring parties sheathe their swords. The royal family has taken a worthwhile decision in the overall interest of the community and which must be binding on the kingmakers.’’
Earlier, leader of the royal family, Prince Azeez Olalekan Olaniyonu Olakanla, said they were in the palace to show their gratitude to the paramount ruler for his support and unfliching commitment to the progress and development of the Oke-Ogun community.
Olalekan stated that the presence of members of the royal family, who came across the country, was an indication of peaceful resolution based on the advice of the monarch.
