…accuse Awujale of being mastermind of proposed law
The Osugbo Remo-in-Council and traditional worshippers have warned the Ogun State House of Assembly not to pass the proposed Bill seeking to allow traditional rulers in the state to choose the religious group to bury them after death.
The bill numbered H. B. No. 036/OG/2020 and entitled “Ogun State Traditional Rulers (Installation And Burial Rites),” is being sponsored by Hon. Balogun Akeem Agbolade.
The Osugbo and traditional worshippers’ position is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of their deliberation on the proposed Bill, which has already passed second reading on the floor of the state House of Assembly.
According to the Secretary of the Council, High Chief Johnson Olaseni Adeokun, the Bill is a mere endorsement of the intention and dictates of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
He alleged that Oba Adetona planned to eradicate Yoruba culture in view of his “strange Islamic belief” and introduce unacceptable practices into the Obaship institution in Yoruba land.
He said the traditional institution had, from time immemorial, been headed by the Osugbo, which was responsible for the installation and burial of a demised king.
Adeokun noted that all agitators of the strange doctrine and sponsor of the bill seeking that Obas in the state should be buried according to their religious beliefs would not achieve their aim.
“Even the Nigerian constitution, according to Section 10 of the 1999 amended Constitution, gives everybody the right to practice the religion of his or her own choice without any interference with other people’s beliefs and any religious doctrine,” Adeokun said
He added that the proposed Bill, which empowered Muslim and Christian clerics to perform the burial rites of an Oba would constitute an infringement on the rights of the traditional worshippers and rather engender chaos, pandemonium and violence.
Adeokun said, “Obaship institution is under the traditional institution; as such, anybody who voluntarily gives himself out or permit or volunteer himself to be crowned and installed as a king under the Yoruba culture and or Yoruba traditional institution, will immediately attain the position of ALASE EKEJI ORISA (second in command to the gods).
“Having agreed, accepted and concurred to fall in line and abide with rules, regulations, doctrines and practices of such tradition, of course, such a person cannot be heard to be complaining thereafter, especially after such a person has completely enjoyed the water in the jug, just like the Awujale and other Obas in Ogun state are doing.”
He alleged that the Awujale of Ijebu Land had twice in March 1997 and in March 2005 attempted to smuggle the Bill into the state House of Assembly for consideration, but failed as he was ignored by the majority of the past lawmakers.
He expressed surprise that the same Bill now could now be brought back and this time, it was initiated by a member of the Assembly for consideration.
Adeokun urged the lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used as rubber stamps by immediately throwing the bill out, adding that if it was passed, it would seriously infringe on the rights of all traditional worshippers and hinder Yoruba tradition as well.
He declared that no member of the Osugbo institution or traditional organisations was feeding on human flesh or drinking human blood as being claimed by the promoters of the Bill.
Adeokun said since no Oba had ever witnessed the burial rites of any demised monarch or how such monarch was being buried, the claims of cannibalism by the promoters of the Bill should be discountenanced, stressing nothing could be farther from the truth.
He urged the members of the public to disregard such lies being peddled by the promoters of the Bill.
Adeokun said Obaship was a traditional institution for traditional believers, noting that all the Obas voluntarily joined the traditional institution and willfully surrendered themselves to the dictates of such a tradition before and after installation.
He added that any attempt by the Obas and the Ogun state House of Assembly to direct Muslim and Christian clerics to bury the corpse of a demised traditional ruler could lead to chaos, pandemonium and anarchy.
