We should move away from reading ethnic or religious meaning to issues —Alaafin of Oyo

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, recently played host to lovers of Yoruba culture at the annual Sango Festival held in the palace premises. Oba Adeyemi in this interview by TUNDE BUSARI said Oyo is playing its pace-setter role in revitalizing Yoruba culture.

The just concluded World Sango Festival attracted some foreigners, especially Brazilian nationals to Oyo. What is the historical and cultural significance of the festival?

The festival is our tourism product which no country can take away from us. Sango is our own and we must do everything possible to make the festival an attraction to more foreigners. I am assuring you that the success recorded this year will further market it to more foreigners. In terms of significance, Sango was the third Alaafin and he succeeded his elder brother, Ajaka. He was a gift to Yoruba nay Africa because he was the greatest physician that has ever lived. He was blessed with the capacity to draw energy from lighting and use that power to protect his subjects. When Ajaka became the Alaafin, the practice was that Alaafin would go to war every three years. This was called war of expansion.  Every Alaafin must expand Oyo territory beyond how he met it with a view to spreading Yoruba culture, influence and civilization. Sango recorded a great success in this traditional assignment, being a fearless warrior whose word was authority. During his reign, more territories fell under Oyo Empire. The empire extended to as far as Ghana. Whenever Sango spoke, he emitted fire and smoke from his mouth and nostril. Despite his strength, he was a fair judge. Sentiment was a criminal offence to him. So his people did not just cook up stories knowing that he had the power to investigate and get to the root of the matter. He was that impartial. That is why his judgment was not easily faulted.

During the festival, the performance of a cultural troupe from Kwara State remains the talk of the town. How can you describe the performance?

The performers demonstrated to the audience that they are true sons and daughters of Yoruba. Their dance drama which showed the power of Sango passed the message they intended to pass to the audience. I have the governor of the state, AbdulFatai Ahmed to thank for promoting Yoruba culture. That is how to go about it. Governor Ahmed has impressed me in this regard and I pray for him to achieve more success. In Kwara State, the government does not discriminate against any ethic groups in his state. I enjoyed the performance of the cultural troupe. That was why I left my seat to appreciate the man who acted Sango with naira notes. It was a beautiful performance. They call Kwara state of harmony and it reflects in what we saw in the cultural troupe. No ethnic group disturbs another in the state. Each goes about its culture as it pleases them. That is how it should be when we want peaceful co-existence devoid of one attempting to impose its culture over others.

You are reputed to be conscious of time at public functions when your status confers on you the right to do otherwise. What informs this?

You have to get it right that my status, in contrast to what you just said, ensures I live with good example. What do I mean by good example? Because I am the Alaafin, I must be seen as an embodiment of culture and tradition. I must conform to the best practices with a view to positively influencing the public. Have you observed the number of people in Oyo that wear ‘abeti aja’ cap? The cap is about promotion of our culture which I am known with and it became acceptable to many people. This is an example of leading by example I talked about. I should say my upbringing really shaped my discipline level, especially, in terms of punctuality you mentioned. I find it difficult to tolerate a late comer. I schedule appointment based strictly on time because doing so will enable me to organize myself very well. I think there is nothing special in it, only that it may look extraordinary where people burn away their time. Why are the white more developed? Their sense of organisation is one of the reasons. There is time for everything and my aides understand this perfectly. When it is time to read, time to engage in serious reading, you cannot see me receiving guests. It does not work that way. When it is time to write, you don’t distract me.

Where then do you derive the strength despite your advanced age?

The age you talk about is different from capacity. Leadership is the capacity to deliver, to meet the expectation of the people. Don’t forget that age goes with experience. But experience is also not enough but capacity to make the needed difference. General Charles De Gaulle was recalled when he was already 68 years old to fix France. Why do you think this happened? It was because of the French people‘s faith in De Gaulle’s capacity to turn the fortune of the country around. Also Winston Churchill of Britain also came back at 66. These are leaders who had the needed capacity to impact positively on their respective countries and generation. What is most important is the capacity, the vision and ability to see the potentials of a society and reach for them to transform the society. The secret of life is openness, hence I always insist on the rule of transparency.

Aren’t you worried about the current generation of youths in the society?

One should be worried, especially if you are a leader. You must think of what the future holds for these youths. Take for instance, when I talk and make reference to one or two sources, I expect our youths to dig further to confirm my claim or refuse it. But when you go to the social media, what they do is throw insult. They are intellectually lazy to engage in productive exercise. What concerns them more is how to quickly make money. But there are some who have shown seriousness and they are doing good in their respective careers.

The health of President Muhammadu Buhari raised a lot of dust until he returned to the country two weeks ago. Do you think the noise was necessary?

It is unfortunate that the health of the president was reduced to that level, especially on the social media. I need to say that our culture does not encourage us to feast on matter of health and death. In fact, we consider it as a taboo to mock the sick or dead. Sickness and death are natural phenomena, which should not in any way be a subject of controversy. We are rather encouraged to wish the sick quick recovery and the dead a blessed repose.

Don’t you think the matter followed the fact that the president is a public figure?

That is not enough to wish him dead or send wrong stories to the public. Being a president does not give him immunity on matters of health. Anybody can fall sick and anybody can go when the time is ripe. It is not a matter of age or status.

Some analysts alleged that the issue was not properly handled by the president’s people, hence the heat it generated. What is your take on this?

Who are the president’s people?

I mean his aides who were alleged to have shielded him from the public?

Let me say that event has overtaken whatever anybody had for or against how the matter was handled. President Buhari is back in office and he has resumed work. He attended the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday where he received the female Basket Ball players who won a tournament last week. I want to believe we are set to move forward from that matter. I must also say that the cohesion with which the president and the vice president work should not be tampered with. The vice-president has proven his loyalty and therefore, earned the confidence of the president. This is what the nation needs to grow. We should move away from reading ethnic or religious meaning to issues as sensitive as the health of the president. We must rather be united to pray for him.