The
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Saturday, advocated the adoption
of the historic Oyo Empire as a model for the development of a strong
and prosperous Nigeria.
Adeyemi made the call in Oyo during the
conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles on Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi
State and his wives.
According to the monarch, the Oyo
example is a model in empire building which can still be adopted by
Nigeria in its efforts at state and nation building.
“I expect that the Presidential Advisory
Committee on the National Conference will find time to understudy how
Oyo became a prosperous empire and sustained its leadership over a long
period,’’ he said.
The traditional ruler said that the
crises rocking Nigeria had assumed a frightening dimension, threatening
its corporate existence.
“The national question has thus far
remained unresolved, one hundred years after amalgamation, making calls
for a sovereign national conference strident,’’ he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that
the monarch conferred on Yuguda, the title of Obasayero of Oyo Empire,
while his wives, Aisha, Abiodun, Mariya and Nafisa bagged various
tittles.
Adeyemi said that the honour done to the
Yuguda family was in line with the ancient tradition of the old Oyo
empire‘s building of bridges across different cultural and ethnic
divides.
Yuguda, in his acceptance speech,
described the action as a clear testimony of Alaafin”s true and genuine
disposition to the unity of Nigeria.
He pledged loyalty to the monarch,
promising that he would not hesitate to give constructive and honest
advice at the appropriate time.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony
included Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the Speaker of the state
House of Assembly, Mrs Monsurat Sunmonu, and a former Governor of the
old Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.
No comments:
Post a Comment