“Emperor” of the Yorubas, By Akin Adeoya

The scandalous exploits of the current Alaafin Owoade makes me remember Ola Rotimi’s unforgettable statement in reference to Odewale in “The gods are not to blame”:

“A butterfly who thinks himself a bird”

I hold the view that the monarch in question is gradually but irrevocably demystifying the reverred Alaafin throne and depleting the goodwill and honor which he inherited as a natural ruler over his people.

Time for reflection.

A reading of the 48 laws of power(Robert Greene)will help this young monarch. Let me share a few nuggets: Law 4: Always say less than necessary. A statement from a Palace of such stature should be a major event. And when it lands, it should be simple, clear, oracular, short and controlled. Instead, he is adopting the language of power, raw power I may say, which is sourced at the barrell of the gun, as famously espoused by Mao Zedong. A throwback to empire days maybe. But that is history. The battle for hearts and minds is what is required and that is won through measured communication with emotional resonance. A monarch without constitutionally valid authority cannot depend on raw power. He doesn’t have it. 2. Law 39 addresses the resort to frustration and emotional outbursts. This law emphasizes that anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive, acting as a sign of weakness rather than strength. A monarch who wishes to project strength cannot do so by appearing so frustrated as events glide past. This suggests helplessness, the last trait you want to display as a prince. The Alaafin’s frequent and unguarded public outbursts targeted at different significant individuals, the last of which was Seyi Makinde the governor of Oyo state is akin to the screaming tantrums of an infant in need of mummy’s mammary. 3. Law 22. The surrender tactic teaches the need to avoid a conflict with a party you cannot defeat. How does a monarch develop the temerity to frontally challenge the governor who chose him and virtually imposed him on his “territory”. Even if that were not so, the governor is constitutionally empowered to give staff of office to any monarch. The real constitutional power rests with the governor. An Alaafin openly challenging his governor is playing with a force far beyond him, another realm of power and authority as it were, which has replaced his own. A mean and unforgiving governor can easily find a constitutionally valid reason to evict him from that Palace and send him back to Canada. This law teaches you to surrender and fight another day in a battle you cannot win. Thus you preserve your perception of power. Openly opposing a decision that has being made by your governor and casting him as a liar is infinitely unwise, to be charitable. Law 19 is key too. This law advises princes to know who they are dealing with and not attack the wrong party. The Alaafin seems to be at daggers drawn with all the most powerful Monarchs in Yorubaland over his claim to be the superior leader in Yorubaland. I personally feel offended by that. Even though I am proud of the rich history of the Oyo Empire, my Ekiti peoples were never conquered by the Oyo Empire even at its apogee. Resistance, aided by the rugged landscape of Ekiti, was constant. How does this Alaafin now seek, in the year 2026, to impose himself on me, ages after even his empire has collapsed. Even when the Oyo allies, Ibadan, came to Lord it over us, the Ekitis and Ijesha came together(Ekiti Parapo) and met them on the feild of battle. Man to man. Sword for sword. For 15(1877-1893) long years of this brutal fatricidal war the Ekitiparapo alliance never faltered. They were never defeated until the armistice of September 13 1886, which was spearheaded by the British. So what legitimacy does this Alaafin have to be claiming some imaginary suzerainty as superior leader of all Yorubas.
Which Yorubas?