Some traditional rulers and high chiefs in Ogun State have lauded the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, for averting a traditional crisis over the Alaketu stool.

The monarchs also condemned an attempt by some individuals to subvert the history and tradition of the Ketu nation by orchestrating the installation of the Alaketu of Ketu from outside the Ketu kingdom.

The traditional rulers who applauded the Alaafin include Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite; Onijale of Ijale-Ketu, Oba Bashiru Oyero; Fimojoye of Ketu kingdom and Asiwaju of Yewaland, Prof Anthony Asiwaju; Apena of Ketu kingdom and Lisa of Imeko, Chief Sina Adejobi; and Akogu of Ketu kingdom, Chief Lucien Taiwo.

The Alaafin was reported to have waded into the attempt to select and install a new Alaketu of Ketu by some elements based outside the kingdom after the installation of the Alaketu in the Republic of Benin.

The installation of Oba Anicet Adesina on July 27, 2019 as the Alaketu of Ketu in the Republic of Benin was supported by the Alaafin who sent representatives of the Oyo Mesi to the occasion.

According to Asiwaju, there was an attempt to subvert a traditional process on the coronation of Alaketu in 2020 by some reactionary forces.

He said the historical ancestral Yoruba kingdom whose seat was in the Republic of Benin was on the verge of witnessing a cultural aberration in respect of the Alaketu stool.

“Some individuals in a desperate move attempted to create a parallel Alaketu stool in Ogun State (Nigeria) with the covert backing of some monarchs from Osun State in contempt of the legitimate one already in place in Benin Republic,” he said.

Asiwaju hinted that the recent visit of the Alaketu to the palace of Alaafin of Oyo had solved the matter and sent a clear message to the monarchs involved in the subversive action to desist from it forthwith.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, it (the attempt) is nailed in the coffin. If in the face of that, somebody still parades himself as the Alaketu of Ketu kingdom in Nigeria, it will be planned mischief and such a person should get traditional sanctions.”

Both the Onimeko and Onijale, who spoke separately with our correspondent, said the people behind the move repeatedly visited some Yoruba monarchs in Osun State not only to lobby them for recognition but also to install one of them in Nigeria as a parallel Alaketu of Ketu.

The monarchs said the persons also claimed that letters were written to the governments of Ogun State and the Republic of Benin to recognise the move.

Also reacting to the development, the Apena of Ketu kingdom, Adejobi; and the Akogu of Ketu kingdom, Taiwo, expressed concern that if the alleged subversive move had succeeded, it would have set a dangerous cultural precedent for Yorubaland’s “hallowed traditional institution.”

Culled from www.punchng.com

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