The Egba Ifa priests has called on Oba Olufemi Jacob Omolade, The Olubara of Ibara land to quit his throne if he is not in support of Yoruba culture and traditions in a press conference held during the weekend in Gbodu Egba, Kobiti Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The Ifa Priests in Egbaland, who called on the Paramount ruler of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Adedotun Gbadebo to call the Olubara of Ibaraland, Oba Olufemi Jacob Omolade to order over his recent comment on irrelevance of traditional rites to the upcoming traditional rulers 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 seperate speeches during a press briefing organized by Ijo Babalawo Onifa of Egbaland shortly after a meeting in Kobiti area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, warned that such uncomplimentary comment is capable of destroying the rich traditions and customs of Egbaland if not checkmated by the Alake as the Paramount ruler in the Kingdom.
They accused Olubara of relegating Egbas traditions and custom on Obaship installations and rites to the mud.
The Ifa Priests expressed concern over the claims by the Olubara in 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 Ifa-oracle in selection of traditional rulers in Yoruba land including himself (Oba Omolade ) when he was ascending the throne of his fore fathers in Ibaraland
The Ifa Priests described as a complete falsehood, the claim by Olubara that traditionalists usually tamper with the body parts of a traditional rulers who joined their ancestors.
They express worries over utterances of traditional ruler who supposed to be a custodial of Culture and traditions turning around to destroy it after his ascension to the throne for 30 years interrupted.
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.
“Who ever 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 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.
