Yoruba leaders seek Makinde, Adeleke’s intervention over Alaafin/Ooni rift

Leaders in the South West region under the auspices of Yoruba Leaders of Thought (Egbe Ilosiwaju Yoruba) has appealed to the governors of Osun and Oyo States to intervene over the lingering supremacy battle between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The leaders explained that the intervention of Governors Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke alongside other prominent leaders in the region would help in addressing the situation before it degenerate into crisis.

In a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Monday in Ado-Ekiti by the National Secretary, Bayo Aina on behalf of the National Leader,  Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, the leaders urged the two revered traditional rulers to eshew further remarks on the issue in the interest of peace and development of the region.

The statement reads: “ The group noted with great pain the damage that the cutrent distraction characterised by the digging up centuries old accounts to ridicule or lionise one party or the other is causing Yoruba people globally. 

“Rather than using such narratives for the purpose of forging unity and a sense of pride among our people, narratives that can help us in fulfilling our manifest destiny as a leading group among the black race, historical narratives have been weaponised into a tool to promote discord and resentment.

“We are distraught that at a time when every hand should be on deck to support and ensure unquestionable success of one of the most illustrious yoruba leader and son Asiwaju Bola Tinubu President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of Nigeria , some of our foremost leaders at various levels are more or less fueling this fire which appeared to have started from Ile Osanyin as it were.

“It is saddening that many of our leaders are taking sides in a narrative that has no capacity to transform the current struggles of our people in Nigeria into a resounding victory over the existing Technological and Developmental gap between us and the rest of the world.

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“We call on the executive Governors of Oyo and the State of Osun to initiate an immediate ceasefire between our revered Royal fathers and their supporters.

“We appeal to the Southwest Council of Obas to have a standing Committee that will act to nip similar schism in the bud in future before they detract from the honour and awe that we hold our traditional rulers. In the event that such Protocols already exist, this channel should be utilised more in future to prevent a repeat of this current embarrassment.”