The recent series of visitations by the Alaafin Owoade has been a commendable gesture of cultural diplomacy and unity within Yorubaland. These engagements not only reaffirm traditional alliances but also breathe new life into the shared values that bind the Yoruba people across kingdoms and cities. However, for this laudable initiative to reach its full symbolic and unifying potential, it should be extended to include key monarchs such as the Oonirisa (Ooni of Ife), the Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
These revered stools represent significant cultural, historical, and demographic strongholds in Yorubaland. The Ooni of Ife, as a spiritual leader of the Yoruba race, carries profound ancestral significance. The Olubadan, leading one of the most populous cities in West Africa, symbolizes urban traditional authority and grassroots connection. Meanwhile, the Soun of Ogbomoso governs a city known for its intellectual and religious contributions to the region.
Inclusion of these monarchs in Alaafin Owoade’s visitation rounds would not only strengthen inter-city and inter-kingdom ties but also send a strong message of unity, mutual respect, and collective identity. At a time when ethnic pride and cohesion are needed more than ever, such gestures of solidarity could serve as a powerful antidote to fragmentation.
It is in this spirit that I suggest: let these visitations not stop short. Let them reach Ile-Ife, Ibadan, and Ogbomoso. Let them deepen the roots of fraternity among our royal institutions and, by extension, among our people.
