The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, has called on all kingmakers across the Yoruba-speaking states in Nigeria to abide by the customs and traditions of their forebearers or vacate their exalted positions.

He made the call in his palace in Owo, Ondo State, while playing host to the members of the International Council for Ifa Religion, led by its President, Fayemi Fakayode.

This was contained in a statement released by the ICIR President, Fakayode, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday.

Oba Ogunoye said it has become important at this period for all true Yoruba sons and daughters to preserve their culture and tradition.

The monarch stressed that modernisation should be adopted in line with the traditional dictates of the land and should not be allowed to erode the identity of the people.

He called on the traditional rulers toying with the idea of adopting a foreign religion over the Yoruba traditional religion to vacate the throne.

“I am glad to receive the Council on this visit and at this crucial period. It is pertinent to emphasise the importance of preserving our culture and tradition.

“We, therefore, call on true sons and daughters of Yoruba land anywhere in the world to see this as a wake-up call to protect the values cherished by their forbearers.

“Anyone who is not ready to promote the indigenous culture of the Yoruba land should stay away from the position of Oba or abdicate the throne, as Yoruba is a special race endowed with a peculiar heritage, including religion.

“We all know the throne derives its essence from ancient Yoruba tradition, and we know all Princes are entitled to the throne, but whoever among them cannot abide by the custom of the land need not vie for the throne,” he insisted.

The ICIR President, Fakayode, had earlier intimated the monarch that their visit was to thank him for promoting and protecting Yoruba heritage.

Also speaking, a legal counsel of the Council, Doyin Odebowale, appreciated the monarch for championing the cause of keeping Yoruba tradition and values in high regard and protecting the same from those he called ‘intruders’ in the land.

Odebowale, therefore, urged other Yoruba monarchs to take their thrones seriously so as to be relevant to the people and be taken seriously by those who matter in society. (The PUNCH)