Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Six other traditional rulers in Yorubaland have written to the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, over his recent query sent to 11 monarchs in the state.
Alaafin in the letter he signed on behalf of the Obas, and dated Thursday, March 12, warned Fayemi against treating the traditional institution in Yorubaland with levity.
Governor Fayemi in the query letter had asked the traditional rulers to give reasons for their non -cooperation with his administration.
This was contained in a memo , entitled , “ Re -Absence from State Functions and Council of Traditional Rulers ’ Monthly Meetings” which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr A . O. Adeoye.
It was issued to the affected Obas on Wednesday and they were given 72 hours to send in their explanations.
The memo reads “ It has come to the attention of Mr Governor that Your Royal Majesty has not been attending the monthly statutory meetings of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and state official functions since August 2019.
“ Your conspicuous absence at the council meetings and state official functions, without any excuse or justification are considered inimical to the proper administration of the chieftaincy institution you represent.
“ Therefore, Mr Governor has directed that Your Royal Majesty should forward your representation for this inaction , through this office within 72 hours on the receipt of this letter.”
However, Alaafin in a letter written on behalf of seven paramount royal fathers in Yoruba land warned the state government to desist from meddling into the affairs of the traditional rulers.
The letter read in part, “Since the case is still in court, we will not want to comment further on it as law-abiding citizens. I, however, would have expected that Your Excellency waits till the end of the court process before acting on the matter.
“It is in this note that I, along with my fellow traditional rulers across Yorubaland feel very sad that Your Excellency issued a query to the 16 Ekiti crowned respected traditional rulers of high esteem in Yorubaland for not bowing their heads to their subordinate by not attending the council meeting under their subordinate. That exercise and without mincing words is to say the least subjudice.
“To some races, nothing outside the mundane is attached to their traditional institution. Whereas, that of Yoruba is beyond the mundane as it is also ancestral and spiritual. The Yoruba oba is the representative of the ancestors, the real owner of the land or ground.
“It is on this basis that we will advise against any attempt to treat traditional institution in Yorubaland with levity and to avoid any attempt of importing any subculture of traditional degradation into Yorubaland.
“It is ironic that while the predecessors in office and ancestors of these 16 crowned obas and their subjects displayed uncommon patriotism, courage and commitment to confront the intimidating military prowess of Ibadan Army for 16 years (1870-1886), Your Excellency as one of the beneficiaries of the legacy bequeathed by these Kings of Yoruba history is now embarking on an exercise that will rubbish the contributions of your ancestors.”
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