We can’t but peep into our past to possibly determine our level of progress today. Despite our sophistication in all ramifications of human endeavors from time immemorial, one would have thought, the Yoruba Nation should have risen above their present level of development due to early contacts with the Europeans which provided them with unalloyed opportunity to acquire western education and civilization far ahead of others.
There are numbers of impediments against their growth and development but for the purpose of this particular subject, we shall be dwelling on how our traditional rulers have been drawing the wheel of progress in Yorubaland backward .
Looking at the global world, most of the human and economic devastations that occurred during the European springs, First World War and all manners of repressions in human history were policies designed by the ruling class to oppress the citizens which generated revolutions .
Annexation, domination and colonialism were the evil words commonly used to oppress and exploit weaker kingdoms by powerful kingdoms and the ruling class. The Europeans invaded Africa, partitioned, dehumanized and colonized the oldest continent. Several years back, the world rose and condemned the policy of annexation , colonialism and domination from our history. Respect for human dignity and peaceful coexistence of people in any kingdom were restored around the world and this has guaranteed relative peace globally.
But something caught my attention recently when I woke up to read ‘ I am the only Yoruba Oba that can confer Chieftaincy title of ‘ Yorubaland’ on any illustrious sons of Yorubaland’ – Alaafin. I said to myself that this must be another joke of the year!. Going into history of Oyo Empire, Oranmiyan was the last child of Oduduwa, the Yoruba progenitor and he founded the famous Oyo Empire and held the Alaafin title.
I became curious to know the cause of the rivalry between Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo because right from time immemorial, the relationship has been that of father and son, which I doubt if any historian or scholar can rewrite.
Another worrisome development which I know is retarding the progress in Yorubaland is the propensity with which our Obas lay claims to territories outside their kingdom, thereby promoting annexation, domination and colonization even when this obnoxious policies have been outlawed in our society.
How do we rationalize the claims of our Kabiyesi, a respected Monarch, Oba Adeyemi Alaafin of Oyo , claiming to be the only Oba in Yorubaland that is empowered to confer any Chietaincy title of Yorubaland’ on anyone in Yorubaland? Our Kabiyesi, mo seba fun ori ade o! . I beg to disagree with you completely sir. And I must say this to our other Obas in Yorubaland that we are no longer in the era of Oyo Empire or any Yoruba empire for that matter. Oyo Empire existed and became famous between 15th to 19th centuries before it collapsed. The collapse of Oyo Empire in 19th century ended Oyo Empire and gave rise to Kingdoms in Yorubaland. It’s therefore in my view to call the attention of our Kabiyesis to this position that after the collapse of ‘Oyo Empire , all titles related to the empire also ceased to exist. Titles are now being conferred on illustrious sons and daughters of Yoruba Nation by kingdoms headed by an Obas or Baales. Our Kabiyesi should be informed too that even when Oyo Empire existed and gained prominence among the empires that existed around the world t, it didn’t have any political or economic significance to some Yoruba kingdoms that had been in existence at that time because Oyo Empire did not cover the entire geography of the present day Yoruba Nation.
It’s therefore my intention to broadcast this history so that our referred Obas can for once put an end to this imaginary annexation, colonialism and domination policies that are no longer acceptable in the modern world because those policies are opposed to progress of kingdom which is the demand of any progressive society today.
Our Kabiyesis should provide leadership to their kingdom and socialise with other kingdoms especially on cultural issues and things that can facilitate development to their kingdoms in order to guarantee peace and harmony among our kingdoms which will usher in prosperity in Yoruba Nation.
Otunba Sola A Olatunji is Chairman, Ikale Heritage Development Association