Oluwo hosts YCE, reiterates commitment to Yoruba identity

Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, on Wednesday, received a delegation of the Yoruba Council of Elders in his palace, with a call to all Yoruba traditional rulers to re-engineer the spirit of love, to entrench the institution as a fatherly position and not the usual fear tactics introduced to the throne by certain religion”.

Meanwhile, the Yoruba Council of Elders sought Unity, Support, Modernisation Of Yoruba Culture and traditions, saying the visit becomes necessary to promote Yoruba traditional council cohesion and discuss the means to checkmate the disproportionate loss of Yoruba land to strangers.

However, while hosting the team led by their National President, Chief Ajibade Oyekan, the monarch charged the YCE leadership to deliberate on the monarchical teachings, most especially the freedom of Yoruba sons and daughters from mental slavery and the upgrade of Yoruba culture by separating religion from culture and traditions.

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Oba Akanbi, who commended the YCE leadership for the visitation, their holistic interest to protect Yoruba sovereignty, called on the council to caution Yoruba traditional rulers ascribing the etymology of other tribes to the Yorubas.

Oluwo reiterated his commitment to protect Yoruba race and its appurtenance from infiltration such as deity worship by kings, land grabbing, and traditional lording.

He further affirmed his interest in protecting his subjects and their properties, including land, affirming that he has not sold a plot of land since his enthronement as the Oluwo of Iwoland.

According to Oluwo, “I appreciate and commend the leadership of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) for their visitation and love-rooted interest for the sovereignty of Yorubaland and cohesion amongst Yoruba Traditional Rulers and Yoruba race by extension.”

“You have acted holistically. I love discussion solutions, which is what they came for. I’m a cleaner. As a cleaner, you have to clean your house. I’m ready to work with them to clean Yoruba race. Yorubas are great people with excellent culture. I’m proud of Yoruba Council of Elders’ thoughtfulness to visit and deliberate. This is a great move and tells a good future for the Yorubas.”

Earlier, the YCE National president, Chief Oyekan, disclosed that, “the visit is meant to familiarize the council with Oluwo, promote traditional unity and brainstorm on Yoruba culture and traditions.

The President stated that the move becomes necessary to promote Yoruba traditional council cohesion and discuss the means to checkmate the disproportionate loss of Yoruba land to strangers.

In his words, the National President, Chief Oyekan, said, “I don’t know Oluwo this much. His majesty is opened. I neither know him this close nor this much. He has opened up for Yoruba unity and integrity, which YCE stands for. What he likes, he told us. What he dislikes, he told us. Even culture is dynamic. That is what Oluwo is telling us.”

“We are for peace and unity of Yorubaland. Yoruba should be in one accord. We have listened to Kabiesi, he hosted us. We have been here for almost 5 hours.”

“We want other traditional rulers to also be dynamic, to be open to change. Not crazy change, but good change. There were many things our father did in the past, but no more of such. We want our monarchs to hold our culture and ensure they are dynamic to meet up with modern reality and promote tourism. It’s only when we upgrade that it can be attracted to and accepted by modern blood.”

Others in the delegates of the council were the Secretary General, Engr. Oladipo Oyewole, Chief (Mrs.) Funmilayo Jabaru (Financial Secretary), Chief Akindele Aremu (Treasurer), Lagos State Chapter Secretary, Chief Olabisi Fadipe, and prominent members of the council.