The gathering of Yoruba leaders and presentation of the book “Awo”

Speech delivered by his Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas, at the gathering of eminent Yoruba sons and daughters, held at International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Thursday.

I have the honour to be here today as the Royal father of the occasion. The gathering today is not only symbolic but timely against the backdrop of the current national events.

Perhaps, the present gathering can be a near replica of the Yoruba Leaders of Thought Conference, where the famous Legend, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was unanimously appointed as the head of the Yoruba. His success at that time in the face of all national challenges, including the threat of secession predicated by what the Igbos saw as a threat to their lives and property in the Northern part of the country, remains not only historic but legendary up till now.

But the question now is that given the current political exigency of the country, can Yoruba speak with one voice as in the days of Awolowo? That was when patriotic Yoruba leaders across different political parties sank their individual political differences in the overall interest of the Yoruba nation.

It is not only instructive but historic and informative that those who nominated Chief Awolowo for the leadership position were people from other political parties apart from Awolowo’s Action Group. That historic nomination was made by no less a person than Chief Akinloye of blessed memory. That was an era when the opposition did not translate into enmity.

If today, Yoruba cannot speak with one voice, it is not because the race does not have potential leaders of wisdom, talent and integrity. Rather, it can be found in the level of factionalization which has almost graduated to the level of personal antagonism and mutual suspicion; which indeed is unfortunate.

Now we have such socio-political-cultural bodies like Afenifere, YCE, e.t.c. Even now, the Afenifere seems to have got a splinter group within its fold. I commend all these groups for their patriotism to the Yoruba Cause. I have no doubt that as it was in 1967, as events unfold, a structured and stratified leadership will emerge for the Yoruba race.

At the national level today, we have unprecedented state of insecurity culminated by kidnapping, Fulani herdsmen harassment and all sorts of criminality that have enveloped Yorubaland today.

What is even worrisome is that most of these Fulani people are alleged to be non-Nigerians but migrants from some West African countries. The Yoruba are proud of their harmonious relationship with indigenous Fulani which has spread over many centuries. Such relationships have led to inter-ethnic marriages and business entrepreneurship. At that time, cattle herders carried a stick to direct the movement of their cattle. At that time, cattle rearing was not battle ravaging. It was unlike now when supposed cattle rearers are armed like soldiers. At that time, farming and rearing were complimentary to each other unlike now where they are targeted against each other.

As far as I am concerned, there is no solution to the current national challenge than the restructuring of our federal system to the glorious old days with some modifications where necessary. As at now, the centre is too powerful beyond any mortal capacity to supervise and superintend the whole national security. Unfortunately, some people at the moment see restructuring as synonymous with secession. But the truth is that rather than seeing it as synonymous with secession, it is in the actual sense an antidote to secession. The present system is too unilateral for comfort.

Suffice to say that a return to the old system with some modifications will return the glorious days when each federating units developed its local skills to benefit the grassroots. At my own level, I have been persistent and consistent in my advocacy for true federalism. My doggedness in that resolve has been misunderstood in some quarters.

The situation as of today is so bad that some traditional rulers across the country had constituted themselves into a National Traditional Council Forum. If care is not taken at the right time, it may not be too long for us to have a Federal Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

In my opposition to the National Traditional Council as being antithetical to true federalism, I have been misunderstood by some of my fellow traditional rulers. My response to that, however, is that it is not a personal issue between me and anybody. Rather, it is too fundamental to the survival of the country based on respect for cultural heterogeneity.

IKU BABA YEYE