The Oba of Lagos' staff and the irony of tradition.
A closer look at the new reality... By: Abdur-Razaq Abdur-Rahman {@walejobbs}
The traditional rulers have always been a set of silent and self serving individuals. Their reign of being utterly good probably ended when the Europeans came to the shores of Africa. They are ready to do anything to please them rather than fight for the rights of their citizens or at least use “juju" on them.
The few who fought against white imperialism and the indirect rule like king Jaja of Opobo who will forever have my respect, was sent on exile which to me is better than bending over backward and being a Yesman to murderers. These “kings" sold their subject for things as ephemeral as gun powders and mirrors, so you don't need to look far to see reasons why African governements have no regard for human life. They're just fruits off the same tree. So why do they still hold so much whim in a democratic society?
Overtime, people have come to realise this but the fear of tampering with “culture" has always made them take a step back, I guess not anymore. A few days after the #ENDSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums, a good number of hungry Nigerians took to the streets to cart away with anything they could get, hence visiting several places to used to house "pallatives" and take “whats their's". Among the foremost places visited was the Palace of the paramount traditional ruler of lagos. The Oba Akinolu's Palace was burgled and palliatives were taken amongst other valuables including the Oba’s staff of office and his official footware. His throne was destroyed and his subjects were swimming in his pool to relax after a long day of looting.
He was nowhere to be found but this was not the case during the last general election. A faction of the Igbos in Lagos had come out to say they won't vote in APC for the election and the Oba has threatened to throw them into the sea back to "their land". This didn't go down well with people then and now it still doesn't. I'm mot justifying the stealing of the staff, rather I'm questioning the power that his authority holds. It is no ordeal for me to acknowledge the presence of supernatural powers but to what extent does it work or seem crucial in our daily life in this century is what I seek to enquire.
On October 27th 2020, news sources reported stones known as the Ikom Monoliths smuggled illegally from Cross River State to Cameroon and then to America. Experts believe that the artefacts date back between 200 A.D. and 1000 A.D. This, coupled with several others are scattered around the world in museums and show rooms. This artifacts are not just artifacts artifacts like the Monalisas and the Van Goughs, they are mostly idols, scratch that, gods. These are gods worshipped in Africa before the advent of the European and it was taken away by the europeans when they left, as a form of collectible just like a star wars'. At the end of the 19th Century, British troops looted thousands of works of art from the Benin Empire (modern-day Nigeria) and brought them back to England. Till date, several Benin and Enok artifacts are still in the British museums.
Personally, I feel the gods should have done better than “be taken” just like that and the spiritual forces should have shocked and scared the white men from sieving them but alas they did nothing. This reminds me of The evil forest in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. This forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases, like leprosy and smallpox and because they want to give the missionaries that came to their land more reason not to teach them Christianity, they gave them the land in the forest. The missionaries built their houses and church on it and nothing happened, infact they gained more converts due to this very act.
The Lagos menace also reiterate a very significant tradition of the Yoruba people. It is custom that once a king Staff is no more available, the king himself is no more available. If it was during those days, suicide would have been the penalty but instead there was a coronation for a new staff of office which adds jokes to insult that's already being metted out about the legitimacy of the so called tradition. Many people wander if it would have been easier for the Ifa (oracle) to just tell the Chief priest or the Oba himself the location of the staff than go through all the stress, why didn't this happen? I guess we'll never know.
Economically, there really is no need for traditional kings and chiefs. They make no laws, judge no case, fight no battles, wage no wars and everything known as duties of kings in the old Oyo empire. They simply are there to preserve what remain of our tradition and its understandable. However, we also need to seriously cut down expenses to the sector and channel it more to the people than the authority.
A couple days after the Oba of Lagos Palace was looted, youth of Ijora prevented hoodlums from invading the Palace of the Ojora of Ijora land. This to a large extent,shows the relations hip between the oba and the people. The way you treat your people will affect the way they will treat you when time comes. Safe to say, one did good while the other has a lot to work on. I really hope this serves as a lesson, not just to the Obas but to everyone in authority that anything can happen any time and people will only treat you the same way you've treated them. Be kind.
I think it’s high time we come to the fact that our traditional ways are as good as gone. If throug all these years, they can't help Nigeria positively in choosing a good leader or at least fixing a good road, I don't know what level of trust you will put in it to find a Staff. On the legitimacy of throne, I think that's left to Ifa to determine, that's even if Ifa will answer. But at least now we know, “ole koja niwaju ile oba laikioba” (you can pass in front of the Obas Palace and not greet him) with no repercussion, no office. Kings are now just men with tiles!
Have a nice week.
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Has the traditional rulers helped you in any way or not? Please lets know in the comment!
Luyyaahh❤🧚♂️
Nice write up.
Sigh!