The Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA) on Wednesday insisted that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi must apologise to the entire Yorubaland and appease the gods for desecrating his stool by allegedly beating up a fellow Monarch, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikrulahi Akinropo.
The YYA also appealed to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to use his good office as the Chairman of the Council of Obas in Osun State to urgently intervene in the fight between the two Monarchs to prevent future repeat of such a “horrible incident.”
The YYA in a statement, jointly signed by its National President, Comrade Thomas Olarinde and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Nathaniel Oduyemi in Abeokuta on Wednesday, condemned the incident, describing it as a great embarrassment to the traditional institution of Yorubaland.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been called to an incident which occurred between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi and the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikrulahi Akinropo during a meeting organised by the Police to brokered peace between the duo over a lingering land dispute.”
“We (YYA) gathered that the meeting which was superintended over by an Assistant Inspector General of Police turned into a battle ground between the Oluwo and the Ogbaagbaa when an argument ensued between the duo over the sales of some parcels of land.”
“The argument got heated and the Oluwo hit Ogbaagbaa and the victim was rushed to the hospital.”
The Youth Assembly insisted that monarchs in Yorubaland should play their roles well as the “symbol of peace and the eyes of the gods” instead of desecrating the stool they are sitting on.
The YYA, said, “This incident saddens our heart and we frown at such alien development in our land, ‘land of the Omoluabis’ as such act is capable of desecrating the traditional institution which has been kept sacred for so long by our forbears.”
“We are also call on the Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and Onni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi to take bold step to eradicate this in order to prevent such incident from repeating itself in the future”.
“Ibi Gereje Laba Agbalagba, for the sake of the entire traditional institution, the Yoruba Youth Assembly advise that a panel be formed which will exclusively be constituted and made up of reputable personalities to look into this matter and do as deemed fit.”
“We however urge wailers, especially politicians not to see this occurrence as an avenue to fuel discord in our traditional institution as you must always remember that – wherever two elephants fight the grasses will suffer it most.”
“To our traditional rulers, you must remember that both God and man have kept you in that position of leadership to play a fatherly role which on one hand, the people are watching and won’t be happy when you fail them for whatever reason and on the other hand, your actions and inactions will rob on your children especially when you are no more.”
“At this trying time of our nation, when security challenges are currently roaring against the peace of the country, our traditional rulers have no other option other than to unit and corporate with the government in making the country peaceful, flourish and prosper”, the statement concluded.
