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Fashola Calls For A Return To The All Encompassing Yoruba Culture And Tradition

Feb 24, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday made a clarion call for a return to the all encompassing Yoruba culture and tradition which has been discarded for foreign culture.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the 70th birthday celebration and book launch by renowned Yoruba poet and playwright, Professor Akinwunmi Isola held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka added that the forebearers of the Yoruba had a culture and tradition which covers all spheres of human endeavour.

The Governor who delivered a paper titled: “The Role of Culture and Language in Yoruba Politics”, notes that the European modeled adjudication system through courts of law cannot be compared to the arbitration system used in those days.

He explained further that while the foreign system encouraged a winner takes all situation, arbitration had a way of achieving dispute resolution in a rancor free way which still enabled affected people to relate harmoniously after the resolution of such misunderstandings

Governor Fashola who also said the culture of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is alien to African tradition because only a people without a family and kindred base like the Whites thrive on NGOs.

He added that every facet of the life of Africans and Yoruba is built around the activities of the family and kindred and that these have largely shaped the way Africans cater for themselves all lifelong.

The Governor while examining other areas like health care said that the indigenous African system had a ready antidote to the dreaded HIV AIDS and other diseases ravaging the world by preaching abstinence and fidelity for all unmarried people especially maidens going into marriage by making it reproachable for a lady to be disvirgined before marriage.

Governor Fashola said Nigeria will record more speedy progress if it accords due recognition to culture and tradition in politics by ensuring that the interest of the people comes first instead of self interest.

Said he: “Let us go back to the basics. Let us allow virtues such as honesty, transparency, accountability and trust guide us in electing political leaders. We should constantly identify with our people to make our governance meaningful”.

“We must not forget to embrace our rich traditions to bring a fair, just and egalitarian society. We must stop diversionary politics. We must begin to play the politics of our founding fathers like Awolowo where the delivery of the dividends of democracy was the centre piece of their politics”.

Governor Fashola while congratulating Professor Akinwunmi Isola for clocking the age of 70, added that he is a man who has redefined the Yoruba culture and language to create the rich materials for cinema and theatre that everyone has been enjoying.

Said he: “Many of us do appreciate that apart from his rich presentation and adaptation of characters that depicts the Yoruba culture in his books, Professor Akinwunmi Isola has gone a step further to underscore the theme of cultural identity through the use of proverbs, metaphors, idioms and anecdotes”

He said the works of Professor Akinwunmi Isola has again made Nigerians to be conscious of their heritage and be in constant touch with the culture and should be embraced by all.

In his remarks at the event a close friend of the celebrant, Chief Bayo Faleti describes Professor Akinwunmi Isola as an altruistic gift to the Yoruba race who is a very honest man.

The event which also featured display by various cultural groups and public launch of a book titled “Saworoide” written by Professor Isola was attended by founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr Frederick Fasheun, Architect Muyiwa Ige and many other dignitaries.