The Council of Yoruba Obas in Diaspora on Saturday queried the rationale behind the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams’ criticism of the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, over the installation of some Yoruba monarchs in the Diaspora.
The three crowned traditional rulers are the Oriade of Georgia, United States, Oba Shola Akinrimisi, the traditional ruler of Yoruba in the Republic of Ireland, Oba Saheed Adufe, and the traditional ruler of Yoruba in Liberia, Oba Omobolaji Ogunkoya.
Adams had, as a result of the inauguration, urged the South-West governors and traditional rulers to caution Oba Akinruntan.
But the Secretary of the Council, Mr Olukunle Akanbi, in a statement on Saturday, said the criticism against the Olugbo was a campaign of calumny that would not stand.
The council went further to state that the criticism by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland was an abuse of privilege.
The statement read in part, “It is apposite to say that it is sacrilegious in Yorubaland for a chief like Gani Adams to query or denigrate the office of a highly revered monarch like Olugbo. How can a subject attack a king over a legitimate inauguration that will protect our culture in a vast changing society?.
“The question we want to ask Adams is, what right or authority does he have to denigrate the yearnings of Yoruba sons and daughters in the Diaspora who demanded the endorsement of these authentic royal emissaries as kings over Yoruba communities in the Diaspora?
“Is he more Yoruba than those of us in the Diaspora or is it a crime to be in the Diaspora as a Yoruba son? Did he contribute anything to our relocation to the Diaspora for him to be acting like our caregiver?”
The council commended the Olugbo for being proactive in his decision to install the monarchs.
“We, Yoruba Oba in Diaspora, appreciate Olugbo and Paramount Ruler of Ugbo Kingdom for the honour and formal recognition bestowed on us on April 22, 2019 at His Majesty’s palace in Ugboland, Ilaje, Ondo State.
“The council hails the pro-activeness and commitment of the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom for the preservation of the Yoruba culture, both at home and in the Diaspora,” it added.
Source: https://punchng.com/yoruba-diaspora-monarchs-fault-gani-adams/