Ooni of Ife: How I devised means to promote Yoruba Language, culture

 

.Yoruba Nation ‘ll be a pipe dream -Son of late Gov Lam Adesina

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, has called for the promotion of Yoruba language and culture, noting he had devised means through which Yoruba Language is promoted.

 

The monarch who was represented by Oba Dr. Adebisi Segun Layade JP, the Alara Odaaye of Ara Land Ife, Osun State made this call at the public presentation and launch of a book about the life and times of late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo.

 

He tasked traditional rulers to champion the promotion of Yoruba language as it is the only way their culture could also be preserved.

 

“Most of our people when they go outside the shores of our country they choose to speak English language above the Yoruba language.

 

“It is a misnomer, whenever I travel to the northern part of the country, I speak Yoruba and when they notify me that they don’t understand I ask them to get an interpreter.

 

“I deliberately won’t speak in English language as they would have preferred, we ought to promote our own language because in other climes they use the mother tongues to teach their wards.

 

“Yoruba Language is easy to translate and good for transmission of knowledge to the children.

 

Speaking in similar vein, His Royal Highness Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Alaago of Kajola Alaago, Osun State and Deputy Leader Pan Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organisation, Afenifere maintained that Yoruba Language must be preserved at all cost.

 

He appraised the qualities of the late sage, lamenting the turn of events now a clear cut departure from what he stood for, as all seem to be without a defined purpose and void of direction.

 

The monarch said, “I am particularly impressed with our Yoruba language that is being purposefully energised here, we are losing it a typical Yoruba man cannot speak English, what is the purpose?

 

“You price yourself high because you can speak English, French and German but your own language you can’t speak it.

 

“The German man will always speak his language any where even at the United Nations same for the French man but we will go there and speak English, what sense does that make?

 

“It is easier for you to learn and comprehend in your own language and when you lose your culture, you lose everything.

 

“The way they took us into slavery and they are still taking us into slavery is because we’ve refused to follow our culture, when you don’t know who you are, how will you become anything in life?

 

“We’ve lost our roots, we’ve lost everything that is why we are where we are, you first of all have to know where you are coming from to get anywhere.

 

Hon. Setonji David, the Lagos State House of Assembly committee Chairman on Information, Strategy and Security who represented the Speaker Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa also said the need for Yoruba Language preservation.

 

“Everything that has to do with our language is so important to me as far as I’m concerned total freedom is guaranteed when you speak your language, any nation that is going to develop must revert back to its original language, it is easier for the Asian countries to communicate because of this.We need to get back the potency of Yoruba language.

 

He also eulogized the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, noting that he was a  beneficiary of his free education scheme at all levels in Lagos State.

 

The Author of the book titled ‘Awolowo Akikanju Asiwaju (AAA)’, Mr. Lagada- Abayomi Olanrewaju, while speaking with newsmen after the event, revealed what spurred him to write the book, citing instances of many collections of  prose works written by authors in other parts of the world, to celebrate unique personalities who have paid their dues and impacted their nation and the world positively.

 

He added that the disconnect he sighted in the generation of people in the world today is basically due to the absence of good write ups, that can immortalise the good virtues portrayed by the characters for upcoming young ones to learn about heroes with whom they one way or the other have a bond.

 

“I feel the dearth of information about the great feats of our heroes in this part of the world and the void it is causing in our children’s social development, this drove me to write this book so as to engrave the memories of our forebear, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in gold for yet to come generation.

 

“This is what obtains in other climes and I think it is high time we started doing same here, that gave birth to this piece targeted at re enacting the life and times of the late sage”. Lagada said.

 

Mr.Obadiah Sunday Akindele Deputy Director Curriculum development and Evaluation Ministry of Education  Science and Technology, Ogun State who represented the state Commissioner for Education Hon.Arigbabu .A. Abayomi while launching the book hinted that the state is poised to enlist the book in their curriculum come January 2022 .

Yoruba nation’ll be a pipe dream, says son of late Gov Lam Adesina

 

JOSEPH OKWUOFU, Ibadan.

 

Dr Ayobami Lam-Adesina, the first son of late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, one-time governor of Oyo State, has expressed doubt over the sustainability of the proposed Yoruba Nation hinging his argument on the inability of two states in the geo-political zone to efficiently manage the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) together.

 

Dr Lam-Adesina said it was a shameful thing for the two Yoruba-speaking states of Oyo and Osun not to be able to manage the institution together adding that he felt embarrassed when he saw his compatriots jubilating when the two states stopped managing the affairs of LAUTECH together.

 

The Scion of the Lam-Adeshina dynasty gave these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Lagelu 96.7 FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s today .

 

According to the son of the former governor , It was a development that made me sad.

 

He submitted “when my late dad was the governor of Oyo State and Papa Bisi Akande was in the same position in Osun, nobody heard of any fight or uproar over how the university was being run or funded. These were two great statesmen, these were two great sons of Yorubaland, these were two great followers of Obafemi Awolowo. They were focused on how to maintain the heritage of the Yoruba nation.

 

“I can say it here that almost immediately after these two great men stopped being governors of the states, crisis of management erupted in LAUTECH. At the end of the day, the two states stopped running the institution together.

 

“This is a very bad omen. Those agitating for the emergence of Yoruba Nation need to tread softly and study the situation on ground. The present crop of leaders we have may not be able to sustain the proposed nation.

 

“Yes, if we move together to form a nation, it will be okay but then, our great leaders, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige and others did so well within the same Nigerian nation. So, why can’t those of us in this generation survive in Nigeria?”

 

When asked to comment on why Nigeria is swimming in economic crisis and insecurity, Adesina, who got his PhD in Economic Development said “We should not put all the blame on the table of President Muhammadu Buhari. The governors, the local government chairmen should all take meaningful responsibility.”

 

He added “I am more bothered about our governors in the south west. When my late dad, and others were in power, they ensured that many moribund industries under O’dua Investment Company Limited like Exide (that used to produce vehicle batteries) and others were resuscitated to provide employment for our youths.

 

“Nothing like that is happening today. Our youth are there roaming the streets after spending years to get educated. And everybody is now blaming Buhari. What is the major assignment given to our governors?

 

“Our governors in the Southwest are responsible for the wellbeing of the Yoruba people. They ought to protect our heritage. I have firm belief that we must not forget our source, we must go back to the ideologies of late Awolowo”.

 

Ayobami Lam-Adesina, who also participated in the 2015 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries explained that he threw his hat into the ring that time to contest against the then incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi “to stabilize and ensure the survival of the party at that time.”

 

He further described his father’s relationship with the former Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as cordial stating that his father did not interfere in the administration of the state during that time as he was a firm believer in efficiency and justice.

 

When asked if he still wishes to become the governor of Oyo State, his response “that is not what we should be discussing now. We should be talking about how good governance will be instituted. We should be focused on how poverty and insecurity will be defeated. God, alone knows what will happen in the future.”