Small drama ensued today as I accompanied Governor Dapo Abiodun to the Cathedral of St. Peters Ake, for the Church Service marking the new Legal Year in Ogun State.

Incidentally the scene was well captured by one of the Governor’s photographers. Please fear photographers o! I didn’t send him work at all!!

As a practice,  I don’t shake hands with Obas. Our Obas are very enlightened but I don’t feel comfortable shaking hands with an Oba. I can’t imagine myself shaking hands with Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, when the hand does not want to fall!

I can’t imagine myself shaking hands with Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, when the hand does not want to fall!

So, today at the service, I temporarily left my seat to go and greet the representative of Kabiyesi Awujale, Oba Dagburewe of Idowa. Kabiyesi stretched out his hand towards  me but I dodged it using my left hand to tightly cover my right hand as shown in picture 1. Kabiyesi understood and tapped me on my forearm as I bowed down in courtesy.

But getting to my Kabiyesi Akija of Ikija Ijebu (I am the Aremo Akija), Kabiyesi Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye who sat beside him, was the first to stretch out his hand but I most humbly declined  (picture 2); but Kabiyesi Akija who knew that is  my usual practice in obeisance, grabbed my hand and said I must  shake him today or else I will not leave. I resisted but Kabiyesi did not leave my hand. He asked me not to worry but to shake his royal hand, as seen in picture 3 (Akija in white atire).

READ ALSO: EXTRA: Amala: The good, the bad and the downright fake

I had no choice but to obey and take the privilege. Immediately I did that, Kabiyesi Ebumawe protested saying “se wo ri, wo gbowo nowo bare” (you see, you shook hands with your father –  picture 4,) he then again stretched his royal  hands to me and this time, I had no option than to take it (picture 5).

I had no choice but to obey and take the privilege. Immediately I did that, Kabiyesi Ebumawe protested saying “se wo ri, wo gbowo nowo bare”

I feel very privileged and exceptionally lucky for  the kind of love, regard and honour that the low and mighty continue to show me.

Ekalaye o! Alayeluwa!!

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Adetona spoke at the 2019 edition of the Ojude Oba festival at the Awujale Pavillion on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode.

He urged them to ensure that they did abide by whoever emerged as the most qualified to continue the tradition of love and unity in Ijebuland.

The monarch also warned that moneybags who could derail the peace of the town must not be considered for the stool.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the festival, with the theme: “The Uniqueness of Ijebu Nation,” had in attendance Governor Dapo Abiodun as well as former Governors of the state, Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel.

Also present was the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, among other dignitaries.

The Awujale, who noted that death was inevitable, insisted that a proper selection process must be adhered to in choosing his successor to ensure the continuous socio-cultural and economic development of Ijebuland.

He said: “When I eventually go, please go for a capable successor.

“Reject any candidate that will put Ijebuland into retrogression.

“Do not politicise the process of selecting my successor.

“Do not go for people that will draw Ijebu backwards.

“If the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, please reject them and go for the next ruling house with capable candidate.

“Do not go for moneybags that will destroy the achievements Ijebuland has recorded so far.

“My prayer is that Ijebuland will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“God will give you direction when picking my successor; ask God to guide you.”

The monarch also commended the age groups (regberegbe) for their contributions to the successful organisation of the annual event and expressed optimism that the festival would continue to be a model of unity to the nation.

Speaking on the uniqueness of the Ojude Oba festival, Abiodun noted that it had become a unifying traditional festival among the Ijebu and the entire people of Ogun State.

He commended the Awujale for his fatherly role in ensuring peace and unity in his domain and assured that his administration would continue to support activities capable of fostering unity and love among the people.

The governor also reassured the people of Ogun State of his commitment to security of lives and property in the state.

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The special guest of honour of the occasion is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while Prof. Ayo Olukotun will be joined by an elite panel of discussants, Professor Kingsley Moghalu and Professor Remi Sonaiya to share their perspectives on this year’s theme: Grassroot Governance: The Soft Underbelly of Nigeria’s Political Architecture.

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The Awujale has been accused by the muslim community of trying to impose someone on it as against their choice of Shaykh Abdul Rasheed Mayaleeke as the Eketa Adinni of Itun-Mefa Quarters.

MURIC, in a statement issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the interference was a violation of the constitution which gave the community the power to appoint the Eketa Adinni.

The statement by MURIC reads in part:  “This is unacceptable. The Awujale is a royal father who deserves the respect of the adherents of all faiths. It is not advisable for him to interfere in the affairs of any group, talk less of imposing a candidate after one has been picked. It is ultra vires. No king in Yorubaland or anywhere in Nigeria has the authority to overturn the decision of the Muslim community. It is undue interference.

“The king may be invited to the turbanning of the holder of an Islamic title as a matter of protocol, but it is absolutely unacceptable for him to impose any candidate.

“MURIC frowns on the alleged attempt by the Awujale to rob Shaykh Mayaleeke of his Allah-given fundamental right. Shaykh Mayaleeke is a renowned Islamic scholar. He is deeply knowledgeable. Mayaleeke is not an armchair Islamic scholar. He has travelled far and wide and he is well known in the circle of Islamic scholars not only in Yorubaland but throughout Nigeria. He is therefore highly qualified for the position.

“We can guess why the Awujale is allergic to the appointment of Mayaleeke. The Islamic scholar is fearless and he has defended the cause of Islam in Ijebuland on several occasions. The Awujale probably prefers a crony and a dummy who can easily be twisted round his fingers and who will easily compromise Islamic principles. His royal highness probably craves someone who will tremble and crumble at the mere mention of his name.

“MURIC implores the Awujale to let the Muslims go. We stand to be corrected, but the last time we checked, the Awujale had converted from Islam to Christianity. That is not necessarily important because the king’s religion does not really matter. He is still the king over all religious, cultural and political groups. But he is expected to remain neutral in order to continue to enjoy the respect of all.

“This is an area where MURIC must send a very strong message to all Yoruba kings. The appointment of Imams and Islamic title holders is solely the prerogative of Muslim communities. No king, whether Muslim, Christian or traditionalist, has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Muslims. By the way, can any king appoint or reject a bishop in his domain? Have kings ever been allowed to control affairs of churches around them? Then why do they pick on Muslim communities? Why do they use policemen to harass Muslims inside the mosque?

“This is not about the Awujale alone. We are addressing a common phenomenon in Yorubaland where the kings assume a priori that they are the final authority in Muslim communities.”

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