Ijebus Are From Sudan, Awujale Insists
– Oduduwa Is From Benin
By Jide Osokoya
First Published by PM New June
25, 2010
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Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona
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The Awujale of Ijebuland, Ogun
State, Nigeria, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, ogbagba II who will
tomorrow round-off the celebration of his 50 years on the throne.
In an interview with P.M.NEWS in
his palace at Ijebu Ode, the monarch, when reminded of his claim in
1983 that the Ijebus are from Waddai in Sudan, said every tribe in
the country migrated from somewhere.
Says Oba Adetona: “Let me tell
you, there are ways of settlements, even before Oduduwa came to
Ile-Ife, Ife was already in existence. All you just have to do is go
to history books, you'll see all these things there.
Reminded that the statement is often
used against the Ijebus with people regarding them as aliens, Awujale
described such act as rubbish, saying how can they use it against the
Ijebus? Who is using it against them? What about others? Are they not
from other areas before they settled here?
Oba Adetona who marked his 76 birthday
on 10 May, 2010 said no Nigerian has any right to use the source of
migration against another as it is evident all over the world that
everybody has his or her roots.
In his royal message, the Awujale
advised traditional rulers to steer clear of partisan politics as it
is obvious that their subjects can never belong to the same political
party and a royal father must not seen to be taking sides.
He told P.M.NEWS that his
memorable encounter with the first civilian governor of Ogun State,
the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, in 1983 occupies a chapter in his
book that will be launched tomorrow at the grand finale of his
coronation anniversary at the Gateway International stadium,
Ijebu-Ode.
On the clash between him and the Ooni
of Ife, Oba Okunabde Sijuade, Oba Adetona said: Don't forget, people
try to say we have differences, no, not at all. I am the Awujale of
Ijebuland, my instrument of office says so. Ooni is Ooni of Ile-Ife,
the instrument of office given to him states so.
All the claims he is making now are not
correct, they are not tenable. The first time the Obas ever met in
Yorubaland was in 1937. Before then, they never met, so I think the
man is playing politics, trying to over price himself, Awujale
explained.
Asked if they've both met of recent,
the paramount ruler exclaimed: Where and for what!?
He stressed that they were not
competing for anything and he has no cause to go to Ile-Ife just as
Ooni has no mission in Ijebuland.
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CONTRA OPINION
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Awujale is a Foreigner in Yorubaland- Egba Prince Okukenu
By Kolawole Oluyinka in Abeokuta
An Egba Prince, Rufus Adebowale
Okukenu, has lashed out at the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of
Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, saying the monarch has no place
in Yoruba history and should not speak about it.
The Prince, who claimed to be the
Publicity Secretary of Okukenu Royal Family in Egbaland, said the
statement credited to Awujale to the effect that Alake is a junior
traditional ruler was very insulting of Yoruba people and
history.
The Awujale had on Thursday during the launch of his endowment fund in Lagos attacked Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, over his recent ranking of Yoruba Obas, which placed him (Awujale) as the fifth behind Alake.
But Prince Okukenu while reacting to Awujale’s statement, in his personal capacity, described Awujale as a foreigner who migrated from present day Chad and Central African Republic and as such should not talk about Yoruba history.
The 72-year-old historian maintained that Alake was a grandchild of Oduduwa and that the Ijebu people are not descendants of Oduduwa who was believed to be the first Suzerain of Yoruba.
He said: “I read about the tongue-lashing of my royal father by Awujale. He said Alake is a junior Oba in Yorubaland, this is a great distortion of history. My royal father is extraordinarily humble, he manages peace and unity and not crises and that is why he is ignoring all those things from Awujale.
The Awujale had on Thursday during the launch of his endowment fund in Lagos attacked Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, over his recent ranking of Yoruba Obas, which placed him (Awujale) as the fifth behind Alake.
But Prince Okukenu while reacting to Awujale’s statement, in his personal capacity, described Awujale as a foreigner who migrated from present day Chad and Central African Republic and as such should not talk about Yoruba history.
The 72-year-old historian maintained that Alake was a grandchild of Oduduwa and that the Ijebu people are not descendants of Oduduwa who was believed to be the first Suzerain of Yoruba.
He said: “I read about the tongue-lashing of my royal father by Awujale. He said Alake is a junior Oba in Yorubaland, this is a great distortion of history. My royal father is extraordinarily humble, he manages peace and unity and not crises and that is why he is ignoring all those things from Awujale.
Awujale shouldn’t have dabbled into
the issue of Obas in Yorubaland because he is not of Oduduwa origin.
The Ijebus came from Wadai and my contemporary authority is Pa
Olusegun Obasanjo because he had put it to Awujale himself that they
are not Oduduwa descendants.
“What Awujale said was very insulting and great distortion of history. Our Progenitor father is Oduduwa who came from Saudi Arabia. When he was coming from Saudi Arabia, he came with an aide who was later named Ooni. By the time he was dying, he left all he had in the possession of Ooni; both Omonide, his wife and Okanbi, the only surviving son.
“First of all, we know who-is-who in Yorubaland, their progenitor father emulated Oduduwa, they are from Wadai, that man heard that Oduduwa has settled down in a place called Ife, so he also came down and settled.”
The Prince who is from the same ruling house with the incumbent Alake maintained that the foremost Oba in Yoruba ranking is the Ooni of Ife and that Alake is the third behind Oba of Benin.
He said: “Alake said Ooni is the foremost Oba in Yorubaland, that is very correct, because Ooni had known Omonide and Okanbi who now beget the Obas in Yorubaland even because they are born. There is a part of history that Oduduwa dies at Ife, Omonide, Oduduwa’s wife died in Egba forest at Alake’s place.
“What Awujale said was very insulting and great distortion of history. Our Progenitor father is Oduduwa who came from Saudi Arabia. When he was coming from Saudi Arabia, he came with an aide who was later named Ooni. By the time he was dying, he left all he had in the possession of Ooni; both Omonide, his wife and Okanbi, the only surviving son.
“First of all, we know who-is-who in Yorubaland, their progenitor father emulated Oduduwa, they are from Wadai, that man heard that Oduduwa has settled down in a place called Ife, so he also came down and settled.”
The Prince who is from the same ruling house with the incumbent Alake maintained that the foremost Oba in Yoruba ranking is the Ooni of Ife and that Alake is the third behind Oba of Benin.
He said: “Alake said Ooni is the foremost Oba in Yorubaland, that is very correct, because Ooni had known Omonide and Okanbi who now beget the Obas in Yorubaland even because they are born. There is a part of history that Oduduwa dies at Ife, Omonide, Oduduwa’s wife died in Egba forest at Alake’s place.
“So, when she died at Egba forest,
she was buried and when the Egbas were coming to Abeokuta in 1830
August, they came to Abeokuta with the pots which she was using in
preparing concoctions for her children; they are at Ake palace here
where we shine them and we worship Omonide every year.”
He explained that other Obas in Yorubaland including the Alaafin of Oyo have never contended the superiority of Alake.
“So all others, they do not contend superiority with Alake; Orangun of Ila,, Owa Obokun, and some twos who are no longer in Yoruba kingdom now, one is Alaketu, so you can see now that to even say Alaafin is next to Ooni is great distortion of history.
“What I am
contending here is that Awujale, who is not of Yoruba origin cannot
be requesting for yardstick in setting out our seniority cadre. Both
Awujale and Alake lacked history. If Alake is Alake of Ake, what concerns Awujale who is a foreigner? We are grandchildren of Oduduwa,” he said.He explained that other Obas in Yorubaland including the Alaafin of Oyo have never contended the superiority of Alake.
“So all others, they do not contend superiority with Alake; Orangun of Ila,, Owa Obokun, and some twos who are no longer in Yoruba kingdom now, one is Alaketu, so you can see now that to even say Alaafin is next to Ooni is great distortion of history.
SOURCE:http://westernpostnigeria.com/awujale-has-no-place-of-leadership-in-yoruba-history-egba-princ/
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