A Frontline monarch in Ogun State, Olu of Ikija Orile, Oba Babatunde Kolawole Ayorinde has urged traditional rulers to be at the forefront of promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the people.
Oba Ayorinde said rather than desecrating the tradition and culture of Yorubas, the monarchs should promote and be a good custodian of the ways of life of the People.
He described culture as an identity that defines a people.
Oba Ayorinde who refer to Yoruba Monarchs as Traditional rulers, said they should stick to the protection of culture and tradition rather than illegal sales of land under the pretext of ‘Kings own all lands’.
Oba Ayorinde who said these while addressing Journalists at his Palace over the weekend on the State of the traditional institutions in Ikija Kingdom of Ogun State, warned traditional Rulers to guide against domain hunting and illegal sales of land saying that the purpose of their installation as kings is to continue to move for the development of their domains.
Oba Ayorinde who frowned at the unnecessary imbroglio between some Chiefs in Ilawo and the Olu of Orile Ilawo, Ogun State said the Olu of Orile Ilawo, Oba Professor Alexander Olusegun MacGregor remains the prescribed authority for all the Ilawos, just as the Olu of Ikija Orile remains the prescribed authority for Ikija both home and abroad.
He said the Osile Oke Ona Egba, the Olu of Orile Ilawo, and the Olu of Ikija Orile are all monarchs who by the 2024 Ogun State Obaship and Chieftaincy law as amended are prescribed authority in each of their domains, hence, each has its domains and Kingdom to administer.
He warned against domain hunting or incursion into other kingdoms as it could generate into crisis.
He frowned at the infighting leading to the destruction of family ties and relationships in an effort to penetrate into other monarch domains and kingdoms, citing his altercation with the Aworis who daily penetrate into the Ikija Kingdom with the hope of illegally acquiring lands.
Oba Ayorinde warned his subjects, particularly Ikija Chiefs against plots to sell the Community lands saying that Yorubas do not sell its lands to strangers, but only lease them out with the aim of collecting annual rent on those lands.
The monarch said : “We don’t want to be gambling with our tradition and there is the need for us to be one and not to politicize our culture.”
He charges all indigenes of Ikija “to continue the unity that binds us together in our quest to bring development to our community. We succeeded in improving our community following the unity that binds us together”
My palace is open to all my subjects for suggestions and advice that will improve the lives of my subjects and bring development to our community”.
“I am about two years on the throne and we have all started well. My palace is not restricted, I run an open door policy, all sons and daughters are free to make contributions towards the development of our community”.
He however commended the sons and daughters of the community who he said have been tasking themselves in rendering services and complementing government efforts.
“I am a listening traditional ruler and whoever that has ideas that can move the community forward, should not be reluctant to come to my palace and share it with me. Let us maintain peace and be an example for other communities”.
While lamenting the spate of controversy surrounding the Chiefs law in Ilawo town, Oba Ayorinde said: “We need to enlighten these Chiefs that immediately a King has been Installed in the homestead, such a king has become the prescribed authority for all the indigenes of the town wherever they might be.
He called on the errant Chiefs to maintain a high degree of commitments towards the growth and development of the community, rather than selling the common patrimony and hiding under the excuse that they were installed by Osile of Oke Ona as Chiefs, hence, they may not bow to the headship of the town’s monarch.
While appreciating the leadership role of Alake of Egbaland at ensuring that peace reigns supreme in all the Egba towns, Oba Ayorinde called on Egba traditional council to inaugurate committee that will see to the settlement of crisis that might arise between kingdoms in Egbaland.
“With the committee in place, there will be less crisis within the Egba towns as these issues would have been looked into and settled amicably.
He also called for a regular seminar for the royal father’s saying that it will allow the monarchs to know their limits and discourage domain hunting, thereby allowing peaceful coexistence among people of different cultures and customs.
