The Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC), on Saturday, alleged that process and ascension to the throne of some Yoruba Obas have been bastardised, thus relegating tradition and necessary rites to the background.
It warned that unless the government and critical institutions involved in the appointment of monarchs do the needful to restore due process and culture, traditional stools in the South West and its occupants may be desecrated and rubbished at will.
ARSADIC, an umbrella body of every indigenous African spirituality, which has been in existence since 1975, said it is worrisome and embarrassing to receive sad news oftentimes about how royal fathers are being abducted and murdered in cold blood in the South West geo-political zone.
In a statement forwarded to Tribune Online by its president, Aare (Dr) Ifagbenusola Atanda, the ARSADIC noted that the recent killing of two monarchs in Ekiti and another one in Kwara states, calls for sober reflection and genuine intervention to restore the sanctity of traditional institution.
It is recalled that Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olusola, were gunned down by bandits on January 29 along Oke Ako-Irele road, while Olukoro of Koro Ekiti, in Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, was shot to death inside his palace.
However, the group in a statement said: “The prevalence of the killing of our traditional rulers lately is worrisome and embarrassing. And as Olorisa and Isese adherents, we are bothered, more so that the development has continued unchallenged. It makes us sad and the situation calls for sober reflection for everyone, to ponder over where we have got it wrong as a people.
“In those days, an Oba was groomed to become a deity and to be prepared and positioned for his special tasks. But today, grooming of our Obas is different. Obaship today has been bastardized, everything is about money. The royal fathers are being perceived as government Obas. Many ascend the throne for prestige and they are supported because they have the financial strength.
“Any monarch properly installed in accordance with Yoruba tradition has become deity and Olorisa. The process of becoming a king in Yorubaland is embedded in Isese, it is different from being an Imam or a pastor.”
The group, which described the monarchs’ killing as horrendous and devastating, prayed to the Almighty God to grant the departed monarchs eternal rest and peace, just as it condoled with their families, Ekiti and Kwara state governments.
Also lamenting the upsurge in the attacks of bandits within the South West, the traditionalists said: “It is difficult for us as Isese adherents to speak up and at the same time to keep mum on this matter. As African religion adherents, we are major participants in the process of producing traditional rulers. And we have a tradition which dates back to the times of our forefathers how a monarch can emerge.”
The statement reads further: “But what do we do if the government is comfortable with that? And how do we check excesses associated with the process when we are not allowed to play our traditional roles?
“What makes our intervention a little difficult is that we must all come to the reality that Obaship belongs to Isese and all rites associated with the grooming and strengthening of our Obas must be carried out. This gives them the deserved authority, the fear, the honour and respect bestowed by Eledumare to their stools.
“We can never and will never be happy seeing our royal fathers being hacked to death in a gruesome and most barbaric manner. They are being messed up and humiliated and this by extension denigrates our real-valued culture and traditions.
“We hope we will all wake up early enough to redirect the drift, which is bringing us disgrace and disrespect. Because each time an incident like this happens, the first question is where lies our power, where lies our dignity as a people with great historical exploits. And as traditionalists, we take the blame and responsibility for the insults.
“We firmly believe and know that if our Obas are rooted in Isese, the Orisa will never abandon them to shame. Ifa can never stand afar and watch them being disgraced. So, everyone, the people and the government must reflect on this ugly trend. We must begin to scrutinise those becoming Obas. We must seriously think over what brought us to this despicable end. We must also examine what gave the Obas the authority and respect in the past so that we can go back to re-establish it, “the statement concluded.
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