Rejoinder to Yoruba Kings as Kidnappers’ Supper’ written by Festus Adedayo.
I have carefully read the piece written by Festus Adedayo on 04.02.2024 published by Tribune Newspaper.Below is my response.
It has always been my pleasure to read anything from Festus Adedayo, a prolific writer. I have been reading and following him over 30 years ago and have always agreed with many of his writings, he is a wonderful writer. However, on this occasion, I have to differ from him. He has touched on a subject that I am well versed, and the ratio of his piece is not acceptable to me for many reasons. I made my intention known to him when we met this week.
The kidnappings of the three Kings and the killings of the two of them while one king escaped is very humilliating and pathetic, but what is the cause and how can we ensure it does not repeat itself
Festus in his piece made it look as if our old system was perfect, the monarchical tyrannical absolute power of our kings of the old, the deceit and human sacrifices that they practised in our land then, he curiously glossed over it without any emphasis on the failure of the system itself, why change took place and the old system was submerged. He did not empathise with those who suffered under the old regime and why it must not continue and why we should not go back to it. I am not against revisiting our culture and taking some of the good aspects of our culture into the modern world. I am one of those who promotes Yoruba culture all over the world, first as an artist who later turned lawyer and one of the chiefs in Ibadan land.
Ekene, the bird says that “when men have learnt to shoot without missing, he has learnt to fly without perching”- ‘Things Fall Apart’.
With careful observation, the Yorubas learnt the easiest way to kill porcupine without weapons. They devised a powerful method in the use of pawpaw. Just throw them at the porcupine and the more porcupine dispatched its weapons (quills)the more it finds itself entangled as the pawpaw will become glued into his body and cannot run with the weight of the pawpaw, thus you can even carry it with your bare hand. Unfortunately, Porcupine has not developed any other protective gear to resist its predator.
The problems we are facing now generally in Nigeria are 21st century problems; unemployment,insecurity, terrorism and lack of political will to seriously fight and resist those behind it. The kidnappers have acquired sophisticated weapons and strategies that defile some traditional power. They have many antidotes to our juju that can only be repelled by modern superior weapons. Nigeria is not prepared for these problems, and neither are the Yorubas. Despite lots of warnings of the impending attack from the Fulani herdsmen and their Yoruba collaborators, we have not developed an effective security system to counter the menace. We are now in the modern world, and we must use a modern method to overcome the enemy.
It is true that Yoruba venerated their kings of old and showed them respect like the gods, but the Fulanis have never venerated our kings since the capture of Ilorin until they were defeated in Osogbo war in 1830 under the Balogun Oderinlo of Ibadan. Let me give you an example, Shitta, the emir of Ilorin in the early eighteenth century commanded Alaafin Oluewu to come to Ilorin to pay homage to him in Ilorin. This was to humiliate the Alaafin of Oyo of Yoruba empire, Oluewu was livid with anger and took counsel from his chiefs, and he was prevailed upon and was persuaded to do the biddings of Shitta This was an ongoing issue between the Fulanis and the Yorubas until the Yoruba shook off the yoke and defeated the fulanis. It was an opportunity even for the Yorubas to march to Ilorin and take back Ilorin from the Fulanis. I have explained the reasons why they did not choose the option in my book Balogun Oderinlo in yoruba history. In essence, the lack of veneration of our kings started from the Fulanis even before colonisation. Our kings of old also have their issues then in terms of tyrannical rules over their subjects. The myths and secrecy woven around them can not stand forever, and once the myth is broken, their weaknesss and their fragility exposed, they become mere mortals. I heard chief Yemi Elebubon saying that when a king divorced his wife or his wife divorced him, the woman needed a cleansing before another man can climb her. This is a complete insult to women folk and discrimination against women; are women property of men or partner in the family and are they not human beings to determine what they want and what is good for them. Who will conduct the cleansing? Anyway, ‘Portable’the musician is in better position to tell them that it is not necessary to do so as he is now dating one of the Oloris of Late Alaafin. It is just part of the deceit of men to hold women captive. It was stated that the kings were chosen by the oracle, whilst the Ifa itself would not lie but the priest on many occasions did and picked their own choice, and they were the only ones that understood the coded word of Ifas. Should we continue to allow Ifa to choose our leaders? Is it not easy to bribe few ifa priests than millions of people? In my opinion, it is admirable and acceptable to choose our leaders by ourselves. There are time for everything and the new world is moving at high speed. That the modern system is being manipulated in Nigeria by the powerful people is a subject of another time.
Yoruba would say that the Eagle can not snatch pigeon in its house ( Asa o gbodo wole gbe Eyele) that was 15th century proverb. The Eagles are snatching anything edible from anywhere where chance permits them. The kidnappers are now visiting peoples houses to kidnap them. It is in vain to say that one doesn’t live in his house and breaks his neck. ( a ki gbe ile ara eni ka fi orun ro).The government’s failure to provide an enabling environment and lack of adequate resources to fight crime accounts for the kidnappings and killings. It has nothing to do with lacks of veneration or reverence or failure of juju power of the kings or anybody. The kidnappers have learnt the ways to kill porcupines and tamed their quills with ease. They possess sophisticated weapons and even juju to operate. Such happenings are not strange in a failing state. Italy was such in a situation like that before, when the Mafia were controlling the country and ruled her ferociously. Is Nigeria not becoming a failed State?
Where are our drones to fight crime? did we put sufficient surveilance around ? Go to the kings palaces, and you will see only 2 or 3 police officers guiding them. The security arrangement was poor, inadequate and it is easy to snatch them even from their palace. No one is safe now. So, instead of going back to the Stone Age, we need to address the security system in accordance with the modern world. The government must create more jobs, as an idle hand is a tool in the hands of the devil, the government must be ready to resist the bandits ferociously,fight the herdsmen, and the terrorists with modern weapons. The government must create an enabling and peaceful environment where everyone, including kings and ordinary mortals will be safe and secured
Niyi Aborisade is a Lawyer, an Historian, and a Human Rights Activist.
