Opinion: Why Yewa Traditional Rulers Deserve Respect for Rejecting Alleged Political ‘Trojan Horse’
The decision by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, His Majesty Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, MFR, alongside other Yewa traditional rulers, to reject a gift allegedly presented through Hon. Ladi Adebutu has continued to generate public debate. However, the criticism directed at the monarchs calls for a more balanced and objective assessment.
Rather than rushing to condemn the traditional rulers, observers should first consider whether the Olu of Ilaro was expected to accept what many in Yewaland perceived as a “Trojan Horse” capable of undermining the region’s long-standing political aspiration.
For more than five decades, Ogun West has awaited the opportunity to produce the Governor of Ogun State. With many believing that the moment has finally arrived, the traditional institution, as the custodian of the people’s collective interest, has a responsibility to guard against actions capable of creating division, distraction or controversy.
From this perspective, the rejection of the gift should not be viewed as hostility or intolerance but as a demonstration of caution and responsibility by monarchs conscious of the historical burden they bear on behalf of their people.
The opinion further notes that every kingdom, town and community operates under established customs, traditions and protocols that guide the conduct of its traditional rulers. Respecting these values remains essential to preserving the dignity and integrity of traditional institutions.
According to the writer, attempts to politicise the monarchs’ decision overlook the broader issue at stake—the protection of a collective aspiration nurtured by generations of Ogun West indigenes. Any action capable of sending conflicting signals or sowing discord, he argues, naturally deserves careful consideration.
While acknowledging that public commentators have the right to express differing opinions, the author urges that such views should be guided by fairness and an appreciation of the role traditional rulers play as custodians of peace, culture and communal harmony. He argues that reducing every action of monarchs to partisan politics diminishes both the institution and the communities they serve.
The piece concludes that, at this crucial moment in Ogun West’s political history, unity should take precedence over political theatrics. Rather than criticising the Yewa traditional rulers for exercising their judgment, well-meaning citizens should commend them for placing the collective interest of their people above all other considerations.
The writer also invokes Yoruba cultural values, stressing the importance of respecting elders and traditional institutions. Quoting the popular Yoruba proverb, “One does not use the left hand to point at one’s father’s house,” he argues that those who truly appreciate Yoruba heritage should refrain from ridiculing or undermining the custodians of the people’s ancestral traditions.
The opinion was authored by Abu-Satar Idowu Hamed, a veteran journalist and Convener/National President of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP).