The recent ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, demanding that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, rescind the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland bestowed upon businessman Dotun Sanusi, regrettably exemplifies a disquieting pattern among certain traditional rulers in Yorubaland.
This unnecessary and antiquated contest for supremacy not only diminishes the stature and unity of Yoruba people but also reveals a profound misalignment of priorities, one that is wholly anachronistic in today’s world.
At a time when Yoruba land faces severe socio-economic challenges and escalating insecurity, it is both dispiriting and indefensible that those entrusted with safeguarding our rich cultural heritage expend their energies on trivial disputes over honorary titles.
These custodians, endowed with the power to stimulate development and foster communal harmony, appear to have abdicated their core responsibilities. Instead of guiding their domains towards stability and progress, many are mired in futile conflicts concerning chieftaincy honors, thereby deepening divisions and distraction.
Regrettably, this discord is coming at a time when other ethnic groups are viewing the Yorubas with growing disdain, deliberately fomenting seeds of disunity. Our traditional rulers, who ought to present a united front, are instead embroiled in conflicts over a trivial chieftaincy title. Even if rivalries must exist among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland, such competitions should focus on the advancement and prosperity of their respective domains rather than on ostentatious chieftaincy titles driven by pecuniary interests.
Today, the critical issues demanding urgent attention are glaring: widespread insecurity perpetrated by foreign marauders jeopardises the tranquillity and welfare of Yoruba communities. In tandem, an agricultural renaissance – a viable route to economic rejuvenation and cultural reaffirmation – awaits visionary leadership and collective resolve.
Yet, the prevailing focus within our traditional institutions remains fixated on status and rivalry rather than mobilizing unified efforts towards holistic development.
It is imperative that our traditional rulers adopt a forward-looking ethos befitting the 21st century – one that transcends archaic rivalries and embraces enlightened stewardship.
The preservation of culture must not be conflated with narrow-minded brinkmanship but should embody inclusivity, progress, and a shared dedication to the well-being of the Yoruba people.
A fundamental paradigm shift is overdue: a departure from symbolic one-upmanship towards pragmatic collaboration aimed at addressing security challenges and unlocking the vast potential embedded in Yorubaland’s agrarian and economic sectors.
Traditional institutions still wield considerable influence and possess immense capacity to serve as agents of transformative change. This capacity, however, risks remaining dormant if custodians persist in indulging divisive superiority contests.
The legacy entrusted to us by our ancestors – and the future that awaits Yoruba land – demands that traditional rulers rise above ego and rivalry, uniting in purpose to champion security, development, and cultural revival in a manner that resonates with the complexities and exigencies of the contemporary era.