By
Ante Ajeluorou
Prominent
Yoruba leaders two days ago in Ile-Ife tasked all Yoruba to embrace peace and
promote unity among themselves so as to fast track development in all parts of
Yoruba nation. In particular, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso enjoined all
Yoruba to stop all wars and needless bickering and rivalries capable of
derailing meaningful progress. Oranmiyan Festival had ‘promoting Yoruba unity
through her history’ as theme and is packaged by Flabsy Travel and Tours Ltd.
It ended yesterday.
In particular, three Yoruba leaders governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola,
the Ooni, and Tejuoso made the call at the opening ceremony of Odun
Oranmiyan or Oranmiyan Festival at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, where Oba Tejuoso delivered the festival lecture titled,
‘Oranmiyan: What is a Name?’ Tejuoso, said Oranmiyan, who ruled on three
thrones, as Alaafin of Oyo, Osile of Oke-Ona in Egba and the 6th Ooni
of Ife, left lasting legacies for the Yoruba people. He described him as
nation-builder, bridge-builder of understanding and an excellent leader, who
deepened the institution of monarchy in Yorubaland.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijiwade, highlighted the importance of
understanding history in sustaining and strengthening bonds of unity and
harmony and not division. He also stated, “Knowing the past helps us to
understand the culture of today. The celebration of our cultural heritage helps
us to sustain our own cultural identity”, and commended the governments in
Yoruba states in “assisting in maintaining the cultural identity and
strengthening the emotional, cultural and spiritual bonds that bind them to
their origin, Ile-Ife, the Source”.
Sijuwade cautioned against the bastardization and politicisation of Yoruba
tradition and culture and enjoined children to recognise, respect and
appreciate their cultural heritage. He also tasked tourists to visit Ife to see
the symbols of ancient Oranmiyan paraphernalia of office including his Opa
Oranmiyan among others.
Also, the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented
Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Olelakan Adeoti, commended festival
consultants, Flabsy Travel and Tours Ltd and Ife people for celebrating
Oranmiyan. While speaking on ‘Celebrating Yoruba’s common heritage, forging
common front’, Aregbesola stated that celebrating culture should serve as bond
of unity and rally point for all Yoruba people, noting that in celebrating
Oranmiyan, “we’re identifying with the character of Oranmiyan, who had adept
leadership qualities, virtues of compassion, which leaders of today should
emulate”.
Aregbesola said it was these qualities in Oranmiyan that made him to adopt him
as his campaign symbol and which enabled him to defeat his strong enemies
during his tussle for governorship. He also noted that celebrating Oeanmiyan
would bring enlightenment to young people and tasked all Yoruba people to use
the festival to fortify the walls of unity and forge a common tie. He harped on
the importance of using festivals in Nigeria to accelerate economic development
by developing all tourism sites and actively promoting same so as to attract
tourists from all over the world.
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