Yoruba culture can be richer if opened to modification —Oba Akanbi

In March, you attended the Commonwealth Summit in London and delivered a keynote paper. What was your impression about the summit?

It gave me the opportunity to address such a large audience from different countries formerly under British rule. The summit also enabled me to appreciate my ethnic group better, in terms of the reactions to my dresses. From the Heathrow Airport, it was greetings and ovation. I felt on top of the world being shown such appreciation. They showed me that Yoruba have a rich culture. All we need to do is to modify some parts of the culture to be in tune with the modern age. We cannot continue to do certain things the way of our forefathers. Our forefathers perhaps never dreamt of iPhone and other communication devices. They never boarded aeroplanes. They were restricted to their small environment and did things the way they met them. They lacked capacity to subject certain things to questioning. But this new age has afforded us opportunity to raise and ask questions on some issues that are not clear. In the days of our forefathers, some were blind when there was nothing like contact lens to enhance their vision. Contact lens is equally body enhancement product. We need not shun the grace of our era. As an African, you can decide to make your skin lighter through body enhancement products just like the white men are tanning to look darker or brown. It is your choice in as much as it doesn’t change your identity or who you are. Your look is your personal asset. I am not insulting our culture because I am a custodian of culture and tradition. But what is the essence of education if we cannot apply what we were taught in the classroom? Our culture is rich and it can be richer if we make it open to modification.

 

What was the central point of your speech?

The basic thing that I pointed out was the effort of the white in development and the need for blacks to join the race and contribute to world development. As I said, some aspects of our culture which are backward should be expunged to give way for the aspects that would move the world forward. Unfortunately, some people misunderstood my speech. But I am used to being misunderstood. What I can only say is that I won’t entertain blackmail or being lied against. I can’t lie against anyone. That is why I don’t say what I don’t know.

 

You are often a subject of criticism, especially on social media. How do you feel being bashed?

As far as I am concerned, I feel nothing. I can’t feel anything in-as-much as I am focused. In fact, I should be worried if they don’t criticise me. I am an unusual traditional ruler. This is a change, and the change must attract all sorts of reactions. I am not bothered about any reactions. What I am interested in is the goal I set for myself when I became the Oluwo in 2016. I am happy to tell you that in less than four years, the name of Iwo is everywhere. How many towns have the same privilege? And nothing can distract me from the line I am following.

 

Your recent visit to Chief Olu Okeowo in his Ikoyi residence stirred some reactions. What is your relationship with your host?

I am always very proud to see not only a Yoruba man but Nigerian breaking grounds. Chief Olu Okeowo is a pride to the Yoruba and to Nigeria in general. Why won’t I celebrate him when occasion requires? By now the public should understand the fact that I am above primordial sentiment. I am very proud of Chief Okeowo for the success he has achieved through hard work and being resourceful. My visit to his Ikoyi residence, on his invitation, was symbolic in the sense that I showed the world that I associate with successful people.

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Can same be said of your visit to Alhaji Aliko Dangote?

I have said it that I am a pan-Nigerian traditional ruler. It does not matter which ethnic group you come from, I will identify with you. For example, my visit to Alhaji Dangote is yielding result now. I may not want to say everything in the papers now but be assured that my town is going to benefit from these visits. I was in the North with the Sultan of Sokoto. I was there with the Emir of Kano. Do you think I was on tourism? By the time the results of my efforts start to come out, the public would understand that gone were the days when a traditional ruler would sit permanently inside his palace and wait for development to come. The world is becoming more competitive, and we need to realise and accept that reality. Times have changed. Traditional rulers who are really interested in expanding their domains should rise up and take their destiny in their hands. If they fail to take their destiny in their hands, they will be left behind.

 

Do your subjects respect you with your regular trips?

You should go to town and ask them this question. Go and ask them what they feel about me and the trips I make on their behalf. Let me tell you this, whenever I return to the town, I am welcomed with an ovation. All I know is that when the benefits come, everybody will have their share of development.

 

The elections have come and gone but the memories of the elections would linger for a long time. What is your overview of the elections?

As a traditional ruler, I should first of all give thanks to God for coming to the aid of the nation before and during the elections. There was tension in the air but God took control of the matter and gave us hitch-free elections. It is high time we played politics of development rather than politics of division. Despite the fact that I am a Canadian citizen, blood will remain thicker than water. Nigeria is our home, and we must all work together to ensure that the home is in peace. It is natural that one contestant must win. It means the other contestant may win in future elections. That is my understanding of democracy as it is practiced in developed countries of the world.

 

Before the elections, you made some comments about Lagos and national unity. What informed that statement?

A traditional ruler must show interest in what goes on around him, not only in his domain because his sons and daughters live at different places. A traditional ruler must pray for his children resident elsewhere so that they return home with investments. That was what informed my comments on Lagos. Lagos is mini-Nigeria where all ethnic groups that make up Nigeria are domiciled. We can even say Lagos is the capital of West Africa because all these West African countries visit Lagos on daily basis. What I said then was that it is barbaric playing politics with national unity. I said Lagos was naturally created to integrate and cement the unity of Nigeria. It accommodates all irrespective of your ethnic attachment. It was the first capital of Nigeria before ceding to Abuja. It has been like that before many were born. Lagos is the home for all. It is a centre of excellence in affinity, good governance and quality representation. The peace enjoyed  by Nigerians cannot be truncated by inciting  political statements. Politicians should be wise and stop fanning the embers of discord detrimental to our national unity.

 

Don’t you see that statement being political?

However you see it, the truth must be told. I cannot say because a statement is hard, I should keep quiet. Lagos has played and is still playing a strategic role to Nigeria. We should not allow politics to truncate that.