Egba Ifa Priests Berate Olubara of Ibara, Warn Against Desecration of Yoruba Culture
Ifa Priests in Egbaland have asked the Paramount ruler of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo to call the Olubara of Ibaraland, Oba Olufemi Jacob Omolade to order over his alleged recent comment that performing traditional rites does not exist as regards the issue of Obaship in Egbaland.
The Ojubona Onifa of Egbaland, Chief Onifade Ogundele as well as Oluwo-Ifa of Egbaland, Chief Ifagbeminiyi Attanda Baoku and Oluwo Ifa of Ogun State, Chief Aregbesola Anipupo in their separate speeches during a press briefing organized by Ijo Babalawo Onifa of Egbaland shortly after a meeting held over the weekend at Gbodu Egba in Kobiti area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, warned that such uncomplimentary comment was capable of destroying the rich traditions and customs of Egbaland if not checkmated by the Alake as the Paramount ruler in the Kingdom.
Salient Times report that the Ifa Priests accused the traditional ruler of relegating Egba traditions and customs on Obaship installations and rites to the background
The Ifa Priests expressed concern over the claim by the Olubara in a viral video on social media that the Ifa-oracle does not play any Divined role in the selection of traditional rulers in Egbaland.
They quickly reminded him of the Divined role of the Ifa-oracle in the selection of traditional rulers in Yoruba land including himself (Oba Omolade ) when he was ascending the throne of his forefathers in Ireland
The Ifa Priests described as a complete falsehood, the claim by Olubara that traditionalists usually tamper with the body parts of traditional rulers who joined their ancestors
They wondered why a traditional ruler who should be custodial of Culture and traditions should turn around to destroy it after his ascension to the throne over the past 30 years
Obaship according to them, is about strict adherence to customs and traditions of Yoruba land and nobody under the guise of Christianity or Islam should discard such traditional rites
“Whoever is not comfortable with our traditions and customs on Obaship installations and rites should quit the throne, we will not allow anybody to destroy our tradition and beliefs under the guise of Christianity and Islam. They should not dictate to us how we should practice our traditions inherited from our forefathers”, they cautioned
The Ifa Priests numbering about 200 at the meeting including the Chairman of the House of Assembly of the Association, Chief Ifalola Alawode, Chief Ifasesan Abati, Chief Ifasola Akanbi, Chief Olaifa Adisa Awoyemi, Chief Adeniyi Ayinla Fagbemi, Chief Ifaniyi Awoyemi amongst others also took a swipe at the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Olakunle Oluomo for not verifying his claim the body parts of a traditional ruler is usually mutilated by traditionalists before burial
They cautioned him not to destroy the age-long tradition of Yoruba land under the guise of the new Ogun State Obaship installations and rites law, saying Yorubas through traditional rulers have running their towns and villages before the advent of colonial masters who came with their foreign religion and beliefs.
