June 12: No true democracy in Nigeria – Osun monarch

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June 12: No true democracy in Nigeria – Osun monarch

 

Prominent traditional ruler in Osun State, the Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, has said that Nigeria has not experienced genuine democracy despite its 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.

The monarch stated this on Wednesday while delivering the 2019 Democracy Day Lecture organised by the Ondo State Government in Akure.

Oba Abolarin, who bemoaned the military interjection in civil rule in the country, said: “Nigeria would have developed more, but for the military interjection, which caused a major setback to the country.

“It might take Nigeria between 20 and 30 years before it could witness genuine democracy which all Nigerians will enjoy.”

Also, the monarch stressed the need for the Federal government to recognise the heroes and heroines of democracy in the country, recalling that the roles played by many activists to ensure civil rule in the country were uncommon.

He mentioned late Chief Bola Ige, Alfred Rewani, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya and Gani Fawehinmi as some of the Nigerians who played significant roles at ensuring that Nigeria returned to democratic rule.

The monarch lauded the roles played by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in the process of returning to civil rule, recalling that many members of the organisation were killed and jailed while struggling for civil rule.

He lamented that many of those who fought for democracy in Nigeria did not live to enjoy it.

Also, he opined that many of the present crop of leaders in the country would likely die before the country enjoys true and real democracy.

Speaking, Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu said the recognition given to June 12 as Democracy Day was commendable and thereby expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the recognition.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, Akeredolu urged Nigerians to do everything to sustain democracy.

 

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‘There shall be no war’ – Ooni declares

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‘There shall be no war’ – Ooni declares

 

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has expressed optimism that peace will reign in the country.

The monarch spoke at the grand-finale of the World Ifa Festival held in his palace on Sunday, in Ile-Ife.

According to him, the Ifa Festival signalled the beginning of a new calendar year.

“I’m happy that our culture is still thriving despite stiff opposition, the thought of many is that, we do not believe in God.

“Ifa corpus is the bedrock of life because no mortal can survive on this planet earth without leaves and herbs.

“We are not in contention with anybody simply because we know that God is Supreme and He will not share His glory with anybody,” he said.

He said the message of this year’s festival revolved around peace.

“The message is simply that: In this year; we would witness peace all round. There shall be no war,” the monarch said.

The other message, he said, was that Nigeria should care for its women.

“I was highly elated because God has visited our land to heal all the wounds and straighten the rough edges.

“You can see adherents from Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and USA who are here to celebrate the festival.

“With the Ifa festival that ushers us into another year, it’s a new dawn. By August /September, there will be new yam to be followed by Olojo Festival which is a world festival.

“This is to tell us that before the advent of the whites, we had our ways of doing things meticulously,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba Awo Agbaye, expressed gratitude for the success of the very first World festival he participated in since assuming this position last year.

Aworeni specifically thanked the Ooni for making the occasion colourful.

He implored government to do the needful by providing necessary support.

Chief Sola Atanda, President, Ancient Religion Society of African Descendants of International Council (ASARDIC), applauded the Ooni for promoting traditional festivals.

Atanda, however, lamented that government was paying lip service to Ifa religion, saying “worshippers are not duly recognised as Christians and Muslims are recognised.”

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‘Give us security votes to end kidnapping, banditry, others’ – Iwo monarch tells FG

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‘Give us security votes to end kidnapping, banditry, others’ – Iwo monarch tells FG

 

Oluwo of Iwoland in Osun State, Oba Adbulrasheed Akanbi, has called on the Federal Government to make provision for security votes for the traditional institution to help fight insecurity in the country.

Akanbi, who spoke to journalists in Osogbo yesterday, said the traditional rulers were closer to the grassroots and were privy to the intelligence needed to curb crimes in communities.

He said: “Traditional rulers should be empowered to domesticate security at the grassroots which constitutes higher percent of the hideouts for kidnappers. Co-opting monarchs will unavoidably decimate security threat.

“Traditional institution should be given security vote to engage local hunters, vigilante, the Agbekoyas, trusted local Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), among others.

“In my own capacity, I am trying my utmost best in my domain but the institution I represent deserves security funding to act more.

“I have personally arrested a criminal in my domain and handed him over to the police. I know the nooks and crannies of my city. No criminal can survive with illegality here. I have instilled the fear in them and this has decimated atrocities in Iwo. I am ready to do more if empowered by engaging trusted local security details.

“The police saddled with this primary responsibility is underfunded and under staffed. Nigeria of over 200 million population is parading about 300,000 policemen. The police should be equipped with modern tools and should be paid good salaries and as well be assured of job security to motivate them for maximal performance.

“Government should provide surveillance helicopters to aid technical detective assignments by the police, most especially when searching kidnappers’ hideouts.”

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Gov. Wike dethrones top monarch in Rivers

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Gov. Wike dethrones top monarch in Rivers

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has approved the immediate withdrawal of Certificate of Recognition and staff of office from His Royal Majesty, Chief Frank Noryaa, Gbenemene Baabe.

This was made known yesterday in a statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media.

According to the statement, the withdrawal of government’s recognition from HRM Noryaa followed his alleged indictment on cult-related activities within his kingdom.

“The traditional ruler was also indicted for harbouring cultists, leading to insecurity in the area,” he said.

The statement quoted Governor Wike as saying his “administration remained committed to the promotion of peace and security across the state.”

Also the governor warned other traditional rulers and government functionaries against being indicted for promoting insecurity, saying they will face the full weight of the law.

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Monarchs slam Gani Adams for opposing coronation of Yoruba traditional rulers in Diaspora

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Monarchs slam Gani Adams for opposing coronation of Yoruba traditional rulers in Diaspora

 

The Council of Yoruba Obas in Diaspora has queried the basis for opposition to the endorsement of some kings in Diaspora by the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Obateru Akinruntan.

Akinruntan had recently in his palace in Ugbo community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, crowned three Diaspora-based Nigerians as Yoruba Obas.

The three crowned traditional rulers are the Oriade of Georgia, United States, Oba Bernard Shola Akinrimisi; the traditional ruler of Yoruba in the Republic of Ireland, Oba Saheed Ibrahim Adufe, and the traditional ruler of Yoruba in Liberia, Oba Omobolaji Ogunkoya.

However, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams and his supporters had criticised the action of the monarch.

But the Secretary, Council of Yoruba Obas in Diaspora, Mr. Olukunle Akanbi, in a statement yesterday, said a campaign of calumny against the royal father would not stand.

Rather, he hailed the action of the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom as a proactive sign of his commitment to the preservation of the Yoruba culture, both at home and in the Diaspora.

In its statement, the council said, “We, Oba Yoruba in Diaspora, appreciate Olugbo and Paramount Ruler of Ugbo Kingdom. The proscribed authority for the affirmation honour and formal recognition bestowed on us on April 22 in his palace, we are so grateful to Olodumare for His mercy on us.

“It is apposite to say that it is sacrilegious in Yorubaland for a chief like Adams to start querying or denigrating the office of any Yoruba king, talk more of a highly revered monarch like Olugbo.

“How can a subject be attacking a king over a legitimate installation that will protect our culture in a vast changing society. The question we want to ask Adams, who is only a traditional chief in Oyo kingdom, is, What right or authority does he has to denigrate the yearnings of Yoruba sons and daughters in the Diaspora who demanded for the endorsement of these authentic royal emissaries as kings over Yoruba communities in the Diaspora?

“Is he more Yoruba than those of us in the Diaspora or is it a crime to be in the Diaspora as a Yoruba son? Did he contribute anything to our relocation to the Diaspora for him to be acting like our caregiver?

“While it is not difficult to fetch Adams critical motives against the installation of the worthy ambassadors in the Diaspora, it will suffice to refresh his memories that Olugbo, who has a deep record of Yoruba history, has never and would never do anything undermine or compromise the Yoruba culture.

“Going forward, the council cease to be distracted by the needless antics of Adams and his ilk, but to continue to see how to preserve and protect our highly revered culture and our people in the Diaspora.

“We urge Adams to look for means of settling his differences with legions of notable Yoruba sons and daughters including members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).”

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