Ondo – Club 66 Idanre has frowned at what it called unguarded words used to denigrate the person and the throne of Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye, by the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
The Club in a statement issued on Thursday said the verbal attack of the governor on the traditional ruler following a peaceful protest by the community over the alleged taking over of the forest reserve in the area by some companies was unnecessary and unwarranted.
It described Akeredolu’s outbursts as an affront on Yoruba culture and tradition , calling on him to demonstrate the “Omoluabi” in him by tendering an unreserved apology to the revered traditional ruler.
The statement was signed by the Club’s President, Dr. Anthony Omolola.
According to him, the reports of the Governor’s insult and threat to the 96-year old monarch during a phone conversation over the issue of Idanre forest reserve forcefully harnessed and allegedly sold to some companies and people by the state government was an insult to all peace loving people in the community.
Omolola said the governor, as a Yoruba son ought to have been modest and diplomatic while talking to elders and traditional rulers who are the custodian of the people’s culture, heritage and values.
“An insult on the Kabiyesi, the Owa of Idanre Kingdom is an insult on Idanre People and we will in all its entirety reject such.
“We believe that the ancestral land/forest of the people can not be shared or allocated to groups or companies without the proper discussion and agreement with Kabiyesi, Community leaders and the people who are the custodian of the land/forest,considering the socio, cultural,moral and economic implications.
“We demand from His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, unreserved apology to our Kabiyesi,” he stated.(vitalnewsngr.com)
