Idris Lawal: Awujale succession: When cash, ambition, blackmail threaten custom

The race to pick a brand new Awujale of Ijebuland is changing into more and more intriguing. Beyond the reputable aspirations of candidates, disturbing developments recommend makes an attempt by some people to deploy monetary affect, intimidation and blackmail to bypass established traditions and advance private ambitions.

Of explicit concern are experiences that some people whose ancestry reportedly traces by means of the feminine line of the ruling home are in search of to take part in a succession course of historically understood to be restricted to the male lineage. This raises elementary questions on whether or not established customs will be put aside to accommodate particular person ambitions.

Tradition can’t be rewritten just because some people possess the monetary sources to pursue their ambitions. The Awujale stool is a revered cultural establishment, not an inheritance to be acquired by means of monetary muscle or an public sale through which the very best bidder determines the result.

Governor Dapo Abiodun has additionally turn out to be a goal of such assaults. But what precisely is his offence? Is it that he insists on an orderly succession course of that respects established traditions and relevant legal guidelines? Or that he has refused to permit highly effective pursuits to dictate the path of an train affecting the complete Ijebu nation?

Government’s duty is to not impose a candidate however to make sure that the method is performed throughout the framework of the legislation, established customs and due course of. Those who disagree with its place are free to pursue reputable authorized cures slightly than resort to private assaults and campaigns of intimidation.

The Awujale establishment is larger than any particular person, any aspirant and definitely the monetary sources of these in search of the throne. The Ijebu individuals should perceive that preserving their cultural heritage is much extra vital than satisfying the ambitions of explicit people.

No sum of money can purchase a departure from reputable custom, and no marketing campaign of blackmail ought to intimidate these entrusted with defending the integrity of the succession course of.

The knowledge of our forefathers and the collective curiosity of Ijebuland should prevail. The individuals deserve a peaceable and credible succession that preserves the dignity of the Awujale stool.

Affliction shall not rise a second time in Ijebuland.