World Omoluabi Day: Group Calls For Native Language Version Of National Constitution

Kayode Olawuni, Ife

A group under the auspices of the Yoruba Global Council has called on the Federal Government to make the laws of the land available in Yoruba language.

The Council's global president Aare (Barr.) Oladotun Hassan, stated this on Sunday at the 4th edition of the World Omoluabi Day held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.

This, he noted will create in citizens a better understanding of the processes of governance and ultimately help improve the quality of the system.

He said, "We believe democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people and that is why we are using this occasion to inform the Federal Government that there is need to address the issues with our constitution.

"There is need for the Federal Government to bring the constitution to the understanding of the people so that they can be properly informed and when we need to make amendment on that constitution or restructure the system, everything can be properly checkmated and citizens will not be taken for granted.

"Therefore, using the occasion of today, we demand that the Federal Government should as a matter of priority interpret the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Yoruba language.", he said. 

He added that the festival and Award ceremony offers ample opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the Yoruba culture and to discuss pertinent issues of cultural and national development.

He however decried the alarming rate at which the Yoruba cultural ethos diminish in the society with corresponding negative consequences and fighting against this situation, he said, remains a central point of the Council's undertakings.

"It is a global celebration for all the descendants of Oduduwa, focussing on the promotion of the Omoluabi ethos which are fast diminishing in our society today. In our society of today, children no longer greet with respect. Money syndrome is now everywhere in the society which has got to ritual killings and this is really demoting our integrity and virtuousness as a race. 

"It is in this light that the Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye through the Omoluabi initiative is standing as a vanguard against such inimical things and we believe this will go a long way in chatting a way forward for our people and our nation", he said.

The event organized by the council under the Royal authority of his Imperial Majesty, the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife is an annual gathering of Yoruba Sons and daughters across the globe.

This year's event held at the Ojaja Arena inside the Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial, Park, Ile-Ife, the cradle and spiritual headquarters of the Yoruba race, featured lectures and Awards to distinguished individuals who have contributed immensely to Oodua cause in their respective fields.

In attendance were royalties, prominent government officials, cultural ambassadors and other eminent Nigerians.

The Ooni if Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented at the event by the Alara Oodaye of Ife, Oba Adebisi Layade applauded the organizers of the event headed by Aare Oladotun Hassan for a job well done.

The foremost traditional ruler and head of the entire Yoruba race worldwide reiterated his continued support for projects and programmes that are aimed at amplifying Oodua cultural voices.

Also peaking at the event, the Iya Asa of Ifon, Chief (Mrs) Olusola described the festival as an annual cultural retreat geard towards reawakening the cultural consciousness in the Yoruba people.

She said, "The Yoruba culture is very beautiful and it is very important we preserve and promote it. Our culture and tradition must not go into extinction and this forms the central mission of the Omoluabi festival."

"The festival offers great opportunity to teach and expose the young ones in particular to the Yoruba cultural tenets, bothering around greeting, dressing, panegyrics and other important cultural and traditional values."

Elaborate cultural displays, dance, drama and other performances from the community and guest artists spiced up the occasion.

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