Two prominent traditional rulers, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, and the Alaketu of Ketu in the Republic of Benin, Oba Ajibade Adebowale Adegbite, have jointly called for unity of purpose among the traditional rulers in the South-Western parts of the country.
They also expressed concern over what they described as the unacceptable public display and desecration of the traditional institutions in Yoruba land by some of the highly revered monarchs.
These were some of the submissions made by the duo when the Alaketu of Ketu in the Republic of Benin, Oba Ajibade Adebowale Adegbite, paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe in Jibowu, Yaba area of Lagos State.
Oba Ajibade Adegbite said it was sad that people no longer accord respect to the king in Yoruba land because of the way they project themselves in society.
According to him, some of them utter statements that are not king-like, noting that some even now engage in alliances with politicians for financial rewards and undeserved public recognitions.
He cited the example of some traditional rulers in Ogun State who directed that a crown should be removed from another king over an argument on whether he was entitled to the throne.
Oba Adegbite regretted that the Yorubas do not love themselves but play the role of betrayers with no plans for the country.
The monarch, who hails from Ile-Ife, Osun State, disclosed that he started the move to foster unity among Obas in Yoruba land in 2019, adding that some were not forthcoming in ensuring progress in our land.
He was confident that his ascension to the throne was chosen by the Oracle and not through moneybags and political connections that are widespread in Yoruba land.
While expressing dismay with those with misleading write-ups on the stool of Alaketu, he urged the media to always get their facts right before going to press.
According to him, the government in the Republic of Benin upholds dearly the rule of law and order, saying anyone that violates it, including the Oba, will not be spared.
On his part, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, described the visit as historic, long overdue, coming at the period of the birth of Alaketu of Ketu.
Reacting to the recent killings of some traditional rulers in Ekiti State, Oba Adeniyi said it was unacceptable, barbaric, stressing that the traditional rulers should limit their exposures beyond the palace, as well as guarding against things that are forbidden.
He explained that gone are the days when policemen effect arrests without wielding weapons, saying that the traditional rulers nowadays move around with watertight security for maximum safety.
The Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe also blamed modernization for the lack of adherence to age-old culture and traditions in Yoruba land, stressing that the fear is no longer in the land as before.
Oba Owolabi Adeniyi promised to reciprocate the honor that came with the visit by the Alaketu of Ketu in the Republic of Benin.
