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...
PRAYERS AGAINST CORONAVIRUS
On my way to the village, last weekend, at the boundary between the Igede and the Tiv people – that was in Konshisha I saw these the women of Methodist Church Nigeria, Ukpute, whose photos appear underneath, with their white uniform all laid on the red sand praying completely smeared. Upon sighting them, I stopped quickly and wasted no second to join them in the prayer. They called on God to put an end to coronavirus. They asked God to preserve Igede sons and daughters and bless them wherever they are. They prayed for Governor Samuel Ortom and the people of Benue State. They begged God to stop the killings in Benue and in other parts of the country. They expressed their happiness that I was the first among those who passed before me to stop, and they prayed for me. Mrs Jessy Obwo, the wife of the circuit minister, specifically requested the women to pray for me and appreciated me for identifying with them. The world is on a trajectory to a devastating end, if nothing is done. A famous American elite, yesterday, charged the people of the United States to spend more time on their knees than they do on the internet. The social media too have been awash with pictures of doctors surrendering to God in prayers while treating Coronavirus patients. Are these not clear statements that the solution to the global health crisis is in the place of prayer?
Let's speak to God. Suffer your knees and save your life. Emmanuel wrote on Facebook
