‘ADR evolved from Yoruba culture’

As the gospel of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) spreads across the country, experts have claimed that the system is not new, especially to the people of South-west Nigeria as mediation has been part of the Yoruba culture since time immemorial. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports

The need to resolve disputes which is an inevitable aspect of human interaction amicably has been the focus of much discourse within and outside the legal system in Nigeria. Indeed, conflict and disagreements are an inevitable aspect in human relations.

History of communities at particular periods is rife with narration of conflicts leading to war and bloodshed while in recent period; it includes prolonged court cases which often also involves loss of life and disruption of peace.

The continual eruption of conflict has led to so many people finding their way to court in recent times and to reduce this burden, the system of alternative dispute resolution had been advocated while practitioners continue to advocate it as the most effective manner of resolving conflict.

In further propagating the gospel of ADR as the means of getting conflicts in various aspects of living resolved, experts at the weekend traced the evolution of ADR to the Yoruba people, adding that it is not a new procedure as it had been in existence in various forms within the Yoruba culture; family life, governance and business since time immemorial.

Chief Kole Ojo, the chairman of the ADR society, Nigeria, at the weekend after speaking on the topic, ‘Failing faith in current justice’ at the annual general meeting of the Aremo resource centre at the Babcock University, stated that ADR is not new to the Yoruba people as they had since centuries ago effected a system of settling matters within their communities using mediation, dialogue and arbitration to forestall law that can erupt from business or boundary issues.

According to him, “ADR is part and parcel of Yoruba culture and morals as the search for peaceful resolution among brothers and neighboring communities within the Yoruba community has dominated Yoruba thinking for centuries. What we have today is the modern method of dealing with investigations and mediation needs as it was used by the Yoruba people in time past.

“We are working on retaining the principle of peaceful resolution of dispute in a way that will ensure no one is cheated using modern techniques and procedure but the truth is the history of ADR can be traced to the African setting especially the Yoruba society,” Ojo said.

Traditional rulers at the event did not fault this assertion or the need to further make the principle of ADR one that will be acceptable in all circles for resolving conflict

Speaking further, Ojo reiterated that whether at the inter-personal, intergroup, intra-group or international level, conflict will always crop up and no issue defies the system of amicable resolution if parties are agreed, adding that the world would have been a better place if the principles of ADR is accepted and there would be no war leading to loss of innocent lives or displacement of people.

According to him, the art of mediation is one of the laudable system that civilization has taken away from the people and it is one that should be embraced and introduced back into the culture for peaceful coexistence and a better life for the people.

He reiterated that many of the sayings in Yoruba culture lay emphasis on the need to be at peace with the community as this is the only way development can move within the society.

He further encouraged the people of the Southwest to look inwards and reapply the wisdom of their progenitors in ADR practice to retain the pride of place among other regions and drive conflict out of its borders.