The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has said that peace and development are deeply interconnected and that without them, sustainable development is impossible, justice cannot prevail, and hopes of future generations will remain dreams instead of realities.
According to a release signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch stated this on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit on the Olota of Ota, Oba Professor Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege, Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode. He is the 14th traditional monarch of the Ota-Awori Kingdom in Ogun State, Nigeria.
While advocating harmony among monarchs in Yorubaland, Alaafin said that until traditional rulers in Yoruba land close their ranks and embrace harmony and mutual coexistence among themselves, progress and development will remain a forlorn hope.
“To him, no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere enveloped with vendetta, bickerings, hatred and acrimony.
According to him, “unity can only be predicated on mutual trust and understanding, reciprocal friendly, brotherly, and sisterly relations, as well as shared interests, values and aspirations, as this would only best be promoted through tolerance and accommodation of each other’s differences, opinions, ethnic, religious and communal or even regional identities.
“Unity and harmony in diversity is a core principle of federalism. All federations are required to adhere to, and actively nurture and entrench, expectations associated with this core principle.
“Nigeria, as a federation with a complex mosaic of diversity, needs to continue to find and deploy ways and means of forging, entrenching and sustaining unity in diversity and national integration.
“It is the joy of our forefathers for us to be in unity, and they did their part in ensuring peace and unity in Yorubaland. We must also strive to achieve this.
“God Himself is involved in our matter, therefore we must always, at all times, be concerned about the peace, harmony and unity of Yorubaland. We say we want development, but no meaningful and sustainable development will come without peace and unity”, he stressed.
Oba Owoade described traditional rulers as formidable barricades which reinforce peace and security of the nation, noting that “if the British who colonised Nigeria and introduced liberal democracy still preserve their traditional institutions by making the Queen of
The Ceremonial Head of State, England, has powers over the British Armed Forces; there is no justifiable reason to throw traditional rulers in Nigeria into the dustbin of modern politics and governance.
“Since the citizens who are the major determiners of the success or otherwise of democratic and development programmes are under the traditional influence of the Obas, the position of the traditional rulers as potent mobilisers, advisers, mediators, facilitators, adjudicators and nominators should be greatly harnessed”.
Earlier, the Olota of Ota described the Alaafin as “a visionary, proactive, and selfless Paramount Ruler who is deeply and consistently committed to peace, unity and progress of Yorubaland.
“The entire people of Awori land and I are delighted to receive Your Imperial Majesty and indeed glad to acknowledge the good works that you have been doing towards the emancipation of Yorubaland. We pray God Almighty to continue to fortify your efforts, Kabiyesi”.
