Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
The Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho has been advised to be mindful of his utterance on matters relating to traditional stool.
Igboho had in a video that has gone viral condemned the conferment of chieftancy titles of Aare Fiwajoye and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye on the governor of Kano state, Abdulahi Ganduje and his wife by the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun.
In the said video shot at the palace of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba, Francis Olusola Alao, Igboho was seen advising the monarch not to join the Yoruba Obas conferring Chieftaincy titles on people that do no merit them.
He also urged Olugbon to advise his colleague Obas to desist from such.
Reacting on behalf of Olubadan to Igboho’s virtuperations which were made in Yoruba Language in the said video, the palace spokesperson, Oladele Ogunsola said though, there’s no particular mention of either the name or title of Olubadan in the said video, the fact that the Saturday occasion was being referenced was not hidden.
Having said that, Ogunsola noted that “as much as the Yoruba Nation activist is entitled to his opinion as well as conviction on the Yoruba Nation project, he must concede to the fact that others too have the right to do certain things that in their wisdom are considered helpful to Yoruba cause.
“It must be placed on record that the present Olubadan is too refined to be seeking for who to honour with Chieftaincy title for whatever purpose. But, when a case was made for the Kano State first couple by the Yoruba community in the ancient Kano city through their head, Alhaji Muritala Alimi Otisese and the adduced reasons were considered on their merit, Kabiyesi gave his consent.
“Even, as claimed in the video by Igboho that the Yoruba Nation project remains on course, do we close our eyes to whatever may be the interest of our kith and kin in other parts of the country? Here is a man (Governor Ganduje) said to have been compassionate to the Yoruba people in his domain. Presently, Dr. Ganduje is undertaking an auditorium project at the Premier University, the University of Ibadan where he bagged his doctorate degree.
“As Kabiyesi noted at the installation ceremony on Saturday, the Kano State helmsman has proved himself a peace loving person with the manner he flew down to douse tension at Sasa Market, here in Ibadan about two years ago when crisis broke out between Hausa traders and Sasa natives. We must not forget also that the Gandujes are Ibadan in-laws.
“It is advisable that Igboho asks questions before forming an opinion on anything that has to do with Yoruba as a nation to avoid a hasty conclusion. The fact that some people from the Northern part of the country have taken to crimes and criminality doesn’t mean all Northerners are criminals. What’s even more, if and when the Yoruba Nation project comes to be, are we saying there won’t be interaction between the Yoruba people and others in the country again? I doubt it so much”, the statement added.