The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has called for unity and oneness among the Yoruba speaking people of the country, saying only through that can the desired development of the region be accomplished.
The monarch made the call on Tuesday while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executive council and committee members of the umbrella body of all Ibadan sociocultural groups, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) at Ibadan House, Oke Are, Ibadan.
Some of the prominent dignitaries at the event include the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, Ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Bode Amoo, the state commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, CCII President-General, Mr Yemi Soladoye among other prominent indigenes and friends of Ibadan.
The event also saw the Ibadan House headquarters of the Council, a police station among others commissioned by the dignitaries.
Alaafin who chaired the event, in a brief remark noted that there are some indications that some elements are bent on dividing the Yoruba’s for different reasons, but warned that the people must be careful and ensure unity of purpose.
He also emphasis the place of living in love and peace for unity to be achieved in the region.
He said, “Some people want to divide the Yorubas but we should be very careful.
“We should continue to live in peace, in one love and in unity so that we can have the desired development for our region.
“There is no love within us in Yorubaland, and we have to learn how to live in love and peace within ourselves and I can assure you that this will foster the development we are yearning for in our region.”
In his speech, former Governor Ajimobi said the quality of the leadership of the CCII often makes him a proud Ibadan man any day and every time, noting that the exemplary leadership styles of the Soladoye led Council is worth commending.
He recounted that during his tenure as Oyo state governor, some amount of monies were raised to build an ultra-modern central palace for the Olubadan, but was quite surprised that the project has remained uncompleted till date.
He however assured that he will not be discouraged from doing more in his capacities to contribute more to the completion of the project.
He said, “During my tenure as governor of this state, we raised the sum of N240 million to build an ultra modern palace for Olubadan but it is quite unfortunate that the palace is still yet to be completed.
“I suspected that some people that are in charge of that money and the project were not judicious in its usage. But I will continue to contribute my efforts to make sure that the project is completed.”
Earlier in his address, CCII President-General, Mr Yemi Soladoye called on all indigenes of the ancient city to always be ready to contribute to the development of the city, especially on terms of ongoing projects to uplift the state.
He recounted the various achievements of the immediate past executive which he led, noting that the city is still a long way to go.
He said, “Despite the fact that we have made some modest progress in the life of Ibadanland, there is still a long way for us to go as a people.
“The fate of Ibadanland has been left for too long in the hands of basically nobody. Most of us see just the privileges of being Ibadan indigenes and not the responsibilities.
“The aspects of Ibadanland that is known to the rest of the world are a people that lack political unity, people with crisis in their traditional system, people with fragmented leadership and the most populated single ethnic group in Nigeria that does not have its own state, palace or united ethnic agenda.
“We are a people that do not appreciate our self-worth and the leadership role that we must play in Yorubaland in Nigeria. We are loved and respected by others, but we hate ourselves with passion.
“We are a people that prefer to cede our love outsiders than to ourselves and our fighting strength exhibited more at home than outside”, Soladoye lamented.