Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
A former Minister of Defence, T.Y. Danjuma has claimed that if he reveals what is happening in Nigeria, people will lose sleep.Lt. Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd.), a former Minister of Defence, has warned that in Yorubaland, everyone seems to have lost their voice in terms of speaking against “governance collapse”, The Nation reports.
He also warned that the nation was “in a big hole,” stressing the need for everyone to wake up.
Danjuma, alongside other dignitaries, spoke on Thursday at the launch of a book by the Nigerian Tribune, entitled, ‘70 Years of Progressive Journalism,’ at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Speaking at the occasion, Danjuma said, “In Yorubaland, everybody seems to have lost their voice.
“People appear not to care about what is happening.
“If I tell you what I know is happening in Nigeria today, you will no longer sleep.”
Before Danjuma delivered his speech, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had observed that Yorubaland was in danger, urging the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to lead the crusade for the liberation of Yorubaland.
On the strength of Pa Adebanjo’s speech, Danjuma, who was Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979, added, “So, Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s warning and advice is very timely.
“If you want details, I will give it to you privately. We are in a big hole as a nation.
“And people who put us in this hole have continued today. So, we have to wake up.”
Continuing, the octogenarian billionaire warned, “Only we can save ourselves. The fifth columnist activities going on among your people are not helping matters.
“May Almighty God continue to bless this country. But only we can save ourselves from ourselves.”
In her opening remarks, chairman of the Nigerian Tribune, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, eulogised her late father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for his vision; and her late mother, Chief HID Awolowo, for establishing the newspaper in 1949 with the aim of making it “a leader in courage, an exemplar in forthrightness and a paragon of beauty in page layout and in the use of language.”
In attendance on the occasion were Emeritus Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe; leader of the Afenifere socio-cultural group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti; a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Pa Michael Koleoso; Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji; Basorun Kola Daisi and Dr Alex Anozie.
Also at the event, which was chaired by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), represented by Prof. A. Olowu, was the Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, and the MD/EIC of the Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson, among many other dignitaries.
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