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Tag: Alaafin

  • Aregbesola consults Ooni, Alaafin to help him beg Tinubu

    Aregbesola consults Ooni, Alaafin to help him beg Tinubu

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Ibadan with the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in respect of his rift with Bola Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to reports, the meeting was conveyed to resolve the lingering strained relationship between the two prominent Yoruba political leaders- Bola Tinubu and Rauf Aregbesola.

    It was also gathered that the meeting, held at a private residence of the Alaafin of Oyo in Ibadan, lasted for about two hours.

    The meeting was said to be a first step toward finding a lasting reconciliation between the two political gladiators, Tinubu and Aregbesola.

    A source closed to the meeting told newsmen that after consultations, the leaders agreed to move to the next stage of the meeting, which would be held at a later date.

    Recall that Aregbesola, had in the build-up to February 2022 Governorship primaries of the APC in Osun, allegedly disparaged Tinubu for taking sides with Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, his brother.

    A source told newsmen in Ibadan that Aregbesola had asked the traditional rulers to resolve his feud with Tinubu, who is eyeing the presidential ticket of the APC in 2023 election.

    The source said: “Rauf Aregbesola came before the Ooni; after he entered, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi joined shortly.

    “Nobody was allowed to enter. Nobody was briefed. They later finished and entered their cars. All those photos you see online were taken by their aides.”

    However, details of the meeting were still unknown as at the time of filing this reports.

    The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had waded into the rift.

    “This is with a view to finding amicable solutions to the feud between Aregbesola and his political mentor, Tinubu,” the source said.

  • Trending video: Igboho praises Obasanjo, Soyinka, other prominent Yoruba leaders for backing call for herders exit in Yorubaland

    Trending video: Igboho praises Obasanjo, Soyinka, other prominent Yoruba leaders for backing call for herders exit in Yorubaland

    Yoruba rights Activist, Sunday Adeyemo is popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said he is not intimidated by the threat of arrest.

    Igboho had asked herdsmen in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo to leave within seven days following reports of the killing of some indigenes.

    He had blamed herders and Fulanis, especially the Seriki Fulani, Saliu Kadri, for rising insecurity in the area.

    In a viral video, which surfaced Sunday afternoon, Igboho who spoke in Yoruba language expressed appreciation to prominent Yoruba leaders, especially traditional leaders for speaking up at this critical moment.

    Among the leader he mentioned include, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo; nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka; Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; Aare Ona Kakanfo, Otunba Gani Adams, Dele Momodu, among others.

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo; nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka; Alaafin of Oyo; Ooni of Ife,; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu;

    “They (herders) cannot chase us away from our land. Our eyes are opened, unless they want to kill us.”

    He admonished his supporters not to insult or ridicule Yoruba elders.

    “Don’t ridicule or abuse our leaders in the southwest, I swear with the gods of our land, they are also angry with the current situation and they are now speaking up.

    “You can see the way all the Yorubas and other prominent southwest leaders rose up in unison to say that you must not arrest Igboho.

    “It is quite sad that we are being maltreated, killed and our sisters/daughters get raped by killer herdsmen, we can’t go to farm or stream to carry out different activities. Enough is enough.”

  • KWAM 1 to seek legal redress over alleged romance with Alaafin’s Wife

    KWAM 1 to seek legal redress over alleged romance with Alaafin’s Wife

    Fuji music maestro , Wasiu Ayinde has reacted over allegations that he is having a romantic affair with Olori Ajoke, one of the wives of the Alaafin of Oyo.
    In a statement signed by his media adviser, Kunle Rasheed, the Mayegun of Yorubaland noted that the allegations are all rumours, spread by the agents of Lucifer.
    Read the full statement below:
    “The attention of Fuji Maestro and Mayegun of Yorubaland, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, K1 De Ultimate, has been drawn to the rumour making the rounds in the past 48 hours, on social media platforms, where it has been alleged that the music icon was having an affair with Olori Ajoke, one of the wives of Alayeluwa, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111.
    Ordinarily, one would have waved off this allegation as one coming from the warped mind of one possibly numbed by high COVID-19 fever.
    But as known in these parts, a lie repeatedly told, has a way of transmuting to the truth.
    Let me categorically state that the rumour is lies concocted from the pit of hell by those whose aim is to drag to the mud, the name of K1 De Ultimate and ultimately that of the most revered kingdom in Yoruba land.
    These agents of Lucifer have continued in their warped delusions to see K1 go to the ground just for being conferred with the title of Mayegun of Yoruba land. The Alaafin’s crime is the conferment of the honour, hence the grim plot to drag him down also. Moreover, the highly respected Monarch and his Olori have both debunked the story as baseless and unfounded.
    For the records, as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, K1 is aware of the customs and traditions of the Yoruba and as such, can not put the culture and tradition of the Yorubaland to disrepute.
    Let me remind the rumour mongers that Nigeria has adequate laws to bring anyone who has embarked on character assassination of the innocent to book. The fans and the general public should rest assured that we will legally seek redress for this allegation”

  • QUERY TO ROYALS: Don’t disrespect Obas, Alaafin warns Fayemi

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has warned the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, against treating the traditional institution in Yorubaland with levity.

    Alaafin said unlike in some tribes, where there was nothing attached to their traditional institutions, the Yoruba traditional institution was “ancestral and spiritual.”

    The monarch stated this in a letter to the state governor dated March 12, 2020, following a query issued by Fayemi to some prominent traditional rulers in the state over alleged insubordination.

    Fayemi, in the query issued individually to the affected traditional rulers by the Bureau on Chieftaincy Affairs dated March 11, gave the monarchs 72 hours within which to reply.

    The query, which was entitled, “Re: Absence from State Functions and Council of Traditional Rulers’ Monthly Meetings,” was signed by A.O. Adeoye on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the bureau.

    However, in a letter reacting to the query, the Alaafin said he wrote on behalf of other prominent traditional rulers in Yorubaland, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo Adedotun.

    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.”

  • No more fight with Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo declares

    …vow to jointly move Yoruba nation forward

    The monarch of Oyo, Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has assured the Yoruba nation that the hostility between him and the Ooni of Ife should be considered a thing of the past.

    The highly revered king said this was imperative to move the Yoruba nation forward, vowing that, “from now on, Alaafin and Ooni will no longer fight”.

    Oba Adeyemi delivered this heartwarming message at the gathering of Yoruba leaders and Presentation of the translation of ‘Awo’, the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, held on Thursday June 27, 2019, at the International Conference Centre, ICC, University of Ibadan, UI.

    He also appealed for calm over rising tensions in the country and the perceived docility on the part of governors in the South-West to rise to the occasion as expressed by earlier speakers at the event.

    The Oba appealed to the Yoruba not to lose hope in their governors and promised to talk to President Muhammadu Buhari on the way out of the worrisome security situation in the region.

    He also said that for Nigeria to continue to exist, true federalism has become necessary to be adopted for the running of the affairs of Nigeria.

    He, however, expressed disappointment in the current political office holders who, he said, did not follow the footsteps of their forefathers, saying that he might have problem with Chief Awolowo when he was alive, but that would not stop him from acknowledging the good things the late sage did for the Yoruba nation.

    According to him, Awolowo fought for the Yoruba and brought development to the region.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the Publisher of Alaroye Newspaper, Mr. Alao Adedayo, who was the brain behind the event, set the agenda saying, “You are invited to talk about Yoruba”.

    Adedayo, who lamented the state of the South West said, “When Nigeria started, Yoruba was at the forefront in everything: education, commerce, infrastructure and others. In 1952 when politics started, Yoruba was making robust laws. Yoruba was the first to establish a bank, Agbonmagbe, which later became National Bank. In 1952, the foundation laid by Yoruba was being followed. In 1966, things started deteriorating and it is so surprising that things can be this bad. We the first have become the last because we are now divided. If we are organized and united, we can’t be enslaved in our land. Now Fulani has started destroying us. How can we rebuild? This is the reason for this gathering”.

    He stated further: “Politicians are behind the problems Yoruba is facing. Why do we turn politics to business? Why is it not possible for the Yoruba to come together to move South West forward? Why can’t we work together irrespective of the political party affiliation? We look at who can bring us together and we believe that it is only Awolowo that can bring us together and that is why we have used Awolowo to bring us together”.

    Also speaking in the same vein, Awolowo’s daughter and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Olatokunbo Ayoka Awolowo-Dosunmu, emphasised unity among Yoruba sons and daughters, saying “Yoruba has to come together to build the region and ensure that the legacy the forefathers, especially Awolowo, left behind is not destroyed”.

  • Alaafin, Alao-Akala, Folarin laud INEC over peaceful polls

    Alaafin, Alao-Akala, Folarin laud INEC over peaceful polls

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has commended INEC over the peaceful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Adeyemi, who had cast his vote at Ward 1 Unit 8 Oke Afin Polling Unit in Atiba Local Government of Oyo State at about 10.00am, said that the turnout of the electorate was impressive.

    His son, Mr Akeem Adeyemi, who is contesting the Atiba, Afijio and Oyo East and Oyo West Federal Constituency seat, also commended INEC for the smooth conduct of the elections.

    The APC candidate said that in less than 10 minutes, he was accredited and had cast his vote.

    He also confirmed the presence of security operatives and election observers at the polling unit.

    The younger Adeyemi said that the election in Oyo had progressed peacefully and commended the electorate for trooping out to exercise their civic right.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that there was impressive turnout of voters in Ogbomoso.

    NAN also reports that a former governor of the state, Adebayo-Alao, voted at his Ward 10 Unit 13 Polling Centre in Ogbomoso North Local Government at about 8.45 am.

    Alao-Akala commended INEC for the early arrival of materials, saying the process had gone smoothly.

    He, however, called on INEC to ensure fairness in order to ensure a credible process.

    Also at Ward 5, Unit 2, Idi Ose, Ona -Ara Local Government, Sen. Teslim Folarin, contesting for the Oyo Central Senatorial seat on the platform of APC, arrived with his wife, Angela, and both cast their votes at 10:46am.

    Folarin commended the adoption of simultaneous process of accreditation and voting by INEC and described the turnout in the area as impressive.

    He, however, decried the hitches in the use of card readers by the electorate in some polling units.

    “The electoral process is good, but the card reader should be improved upon. It didn’t detect my finger print and that of my wife immediately.

    “I’m sure INEC will take note of that.

    “The security situation is also good from what I see, I’m optimistic that I will win and more optimistic that our presidential APC candidate will also win,” he said.

    Chief Lukmon Oyebisi Ilaka, the PDP candidate for the Oyo Central Senatorial District , cast his vote at Ward 2, Unit 3, Ope Arinago, Apinni, at 9: 33am at Ilaka area of Oyo town.

     

    Ilaka said the election had gone well and no violence was recorded while turnout was impressive.

     

    “It has been orderly with voters being accredited and casting their votes; I hope it ends in the same manner.

     

    “This registration area is a homestead where families ,brothers and sisters gather to vote, though they might belong to different parties. We all want the same thing, we want progress.

     

    ” On the part of the electorate, election day is our day of destiny, it is an event that happens once in four years to attest to whether the country is making progress or not,’’ he said.

     

    He appealed to the electorate not to engage in violence during the elections and patiently await the outcome of the polls.

  • Alaafin cautions traditional rulers over herdsmen, farmers crisis

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola AdeyemI on Sunday cautioned traditional rulers across the country over the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

    Oba Adeyemi who is undoubtedly the longest serving in the country insisted that unguarded public statements from the traditional stool can worsen the clashes that is now becoming a national crisis.

    He sounded the note of warning in a special statement issued and signed by him and sent to TheNewsGuru.com on Sunday.

    Read full statement below:

    HERDSMEN CRISES: NEED FOR CAUTION BY SOME TRADITIONAL RULERS

    With every sense of modesty with truth however, I make bold to say that among the first class traditional rulers in the country, I stand as the one longest on throne so far. On this statement, I stand to be corrected.

    With that, it follows that I have acquired experience more than any other traditional ruler across the country in relation to traditional rulership and political development of the country especially with regard to crisis resolution within the polity whether ethnic or religious.

    It is on this note that I am appealing to all traditional rulers in the country especially those who are relatively new on the exalted throne, to be cautious and indeed circumspect in their public utterances especially in the trying period of the country’s sovereignty and national unity.

    The greatest challenge facing the country at the moment is the herdsmen otherwise known as Miyetti Allah Cattle breeders. The recent Benue state experience is too fresh to be forgotten so soon.

    While it is true that there had been co habitation between the Fulanis and indigenes in various communities in the country, this however is with the Fulani herdsmen not wearing political colouration.

    For instance, the use of firearms including AK 47 gun to protect cattle is a complete novelty to what hitherto used to be a business endeavour. In those days stick was the only weapon with which the breeders directed their cattle. When was it the practice that Fulani breeders would arm themselves to teeth just to protect their cattle. In the past, part of the guidance which breeders gave to their cattle was to ensure that they did not destroy farm crops along their ways.

    But today with the arm at their disposal, some Fulani breeders choose to target green leaves of farmers’ crops as good protein for their cattle and therefore lead their cattle aggressively to that direction. The big question therefore is that how do those cattle breeders come across the sophisticated weapons with which they arm themselves as if they are going to war. This is the task before the various security agencies to unravel in the interest of peace and unity of the country.

    It is unfortunate that some highly placed traditional rulers should see the recent Benue incident as a justified reprisal quoting fictitious and imaginary figures of similar incident that had happened at another neighbouring state.

    It is not only laughable but indeed ridiculous that as many as Eight hundred Fulanis with an imaginary one million cows would have been killed in one single attack without any documentations or report.

    The level of mass communication in the country had gone beyond that dark age in sophistication and modernity.

    The hands of any responsible traditional rulers should not be seen in any religious or ethnic justification in the present situation. Rather the institution of traditional rulers should use both individuals and collective efforts to quell the crisis from further escalation. That is what is expected of royal paternity.

    Africa and Diaspora are watching Nigeria; the United Nation is watching us; President Muhammad Buhari has been boxed into a cul-de-sac by his kith kin the Fulani herdsmen. Let us help him to get of the quagmire.

    If the home of the Fulani is as far West as North of Sierra Leone, i.e Futa Jalon Hills; and their kith and kin live in the cities and they make a substantial population in the Northern Nigeria townships, equity demands that the government at all levels and the people as citizens; should proffer a solution that makes peace that platform and goodwill, its anchor. We have managed in Oyo area to ensure that the cattle herdsmen are kept in proper place and the farmer’s crops and interest are adequately protected. Dialogue is the first option. War destroys Peace is to be preferred!

     

    IKU BABA YEYE

    Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, JP, CFR, LL.D, SAP, D.LLTS, DPA

     

     

  • Are Ona Kakanfo: Atiku congratulates Alafin, Gani Adams

    Former Vice-President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar has commended the Alaafin of Oyo over his nomination of a new Are Ona Kakanfo.

    The Waziri Adamawa, in a press statement signed by his media office on Wednesday, 18 October, noted that the appointment of Otunba Gani Adams as the new Kakanfo is a call to national duty.

    “In an age when cultural values are increasingly being forgotten, the new Are Ona Kakanfo has a responsibility to promote the rich cultural values of the Yoruba people.

    “I know Otunba Gani Adams to be a man of deep philosophical leaning. I know he is capable of shouldering the responsibilities that comes with the the office and I wish him success as he undertakes those

    Atiku urges the Are Ona Kakanfo to use the privilege of his higher calling to promote the unity of Nigeria and to continue to be a good ambassador of the Yoruba people.

  • Are Ona Kakanfo: Adams may not be as wealthy as Abiola, Akintola, others but he deserves title – Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Wednesday said the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams by all ramifications deserves the title of Are Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

    The revered monach said though the OPC leader might not have the wealth and achivements of the previous title holders such as the late MKO Abiola and Ladoke Akintola but he (Adams) sure deserves the title because of his passion for defending his people, their culture and tradition.

    The Alaafin however maintained that he consulted widely before bestowing the title on Adams.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Alaafin had on Sunday issued a letter of appointment to the OPC coordinator as the Yoruba generalissimo, thereby succeeding the late MKO Abiola, who was the last person to occupy the position.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that there has been constant criticisms in some quarters since the Alaafin announced Adams as the next Are Ona Kakanfo. However, the Alaafin in defence of his action said: “The choice of Adams was well thought out before a decision was taken. You may not place him beside Abiola in terms of wealth and other great achievements of the former Are Ona Kakanfos among the Yoruba people and beyond, but Adams has shown enough charisma to deserve the honour.

    “If you have been observing him in the past many years, Adams attends all Yoruba festivals, irrespective of where they are held. He also promotes our culture through so many means including his annual Olokun festival.

    “I picked him because he loves the Yoruba race and all the culture and tradition of our people. He has contributed immensely to upholding them. Whenever he attends these festivals, he goes with a large entourage and financially, he is always responsible for the cost. He does not attend in order to benefit financially.

    “He may be young but he is also very bold and courageous. These are traits synonymous with an Are Ona Kakanfo. Adams is a Yoruba cultural enthusiast. He defends the race anywhere he goes. Among his strengths is that he has strong supporters in every town in Yorubaland through his Oodua Peoples Congress.”

    The Alaafin said the OPC boss did not pay him anything to be made the Are Ona Kakanfo, adding that wealth was not a requirement for the office.

    “Money or material wealth is not considered before choosing an Are Ona Kakanfo. Abiola promoted everything that had to do with Yoruba race. He was popular among his people and he was close to traditional rulers. So, Adams may not be as rich as Abiola but I can tell you he has all the qualities an Aare Ona Kakanfo should possess. He leads an organisation that is ever ready to defend the cause of the Yoruba race. Is there any Yorubaman that has such clout as Adams without being a politician today?” said the monarch.

  • Ribadu, Soun, Alaafin, to grace book launch in honour of S.L. Akintola

    Ribadu, Soun, Alaafin, to grace book launch in honour of S.L. Akintola

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and other eminent Nigerians, will be at the launch of a book in honour of the former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

    Ribadu, who will be the Chairman of the event, will also be in the company of the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ladoke hometown monarch, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, as well as members of the national and state legislatures representing Akintola’s home town of Ogbomoso.

    The book, entitled S.L. Akintola: In the eyes of history, was written by a former member of the House of Representatives and lawyer, Honourable Femi Kehinde.

    The event will be held on July 10, 2017, the day that marks the 107th anniversary of the former Premier’s birth, at the Michael Omolayole Hall of the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, at 12pm and will also have as Guest of Honour, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun State, Oba Dokun Abolarin.

    Akintola, born on March 10, 1910, was a lawyer, journalist, politician and polemicist who was killed in the coup of January15, 1966. He was 56 years old.

    The book, a 195-page “historical and archival material” with rare pictures of the life and times of the former Premier, according to the organizers of the event, gives a vivid and detailed description of the life of SLA Akintola from his birth to his death, his complex life, politics and convoluted travails in power, as it is a “historical narrative of Akintola as a hero and victim of his own principles and populism.”

    In a preface to the book written by a professor of history at the University of Ibadan, Tayo Adesina, he described the book as a “fascinating work (which) will spawn another work in the nearest future… (it) provides another illuminating angle to the life of a man who has remained an issue in Western Nigerian and Nigerian politics. Future generations of Nigerians would be eager to understand the life, times and politics of a man of uncommon intelligence, verve, vision and indomitable spirit.”

    According to the organizers, the Guest Speaker of the event would be the Ovation Publisher, Bashorun Dele Momodu while the book reviewer will be Dr. Festus Adedayo, former Special Adviser, Media to the governor of Oyo State and the event will have as compere, Ibadan-based broadcaster, Edmund Obilo.