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REMEMBERING MY FATHER AND HIS YORUBA TRADITIONAL PHILOSOPHY FIVE YEARS AFTER HIS DEMISE

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7 years ago

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BY: FEMI ODUFOWOKAN

Exactly five years today, 29th May 2013, my father, Chief John Abolaji Odufayo Odufowokan of Odunuga dynasty of Ijebu Land answered the call of Almighty. He died at an advanced age, about ninety years old.
He was a highly intelligent man despite the fact that he had little education (standard two) but equipped with the good dose of Yoruba traditional philosophy. He was a man that usually held strongly to his positions on issues unless you could convince him with superior positions or arguments. Sometimes, I had intentionally stuck to my position while I engaged him and not expecting him to easily detect my intent of wanting to engage him. He had told me on those occasions, “ti o ba gba temi, mo gba ti e” that is, “if you do not agree with my position, I agree with yours.” He would purposely say this statement to end the argument.
I remember him every day since his demise. One principle that he held and passed to those of us that lived with him and close to him is “Seven O’clock to Seven O’clock” (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) principle. My father would not go out of his house before seven a.m., and as a matter of his principle, he must be back in his home by seven p.m. As a young boy living with him in Ibadan, he had explained the rationale behind his “7 to7” principle to me. He said that the society was full of wicked people and wicked people mostly operate under the covers of night. Wicked people are not necessarily diabolic or occult practitioners alone, but those who can physically harm another person. By seven a.m. and till seven p.m., you can see people coming behind you and people going in your front or sideways. If need be for you to run to safety you will run and if by a chance you are harmed people will see the person that is responsible. On further probing him as to who would want to harm me, a young boy of the elementary school.
He had answered, “Ti owo ko ba ka igi araba, owo a ka egbo idi igi araba.” which has a meaning that if araba tree is too big and strong to be cut down, the roots of araba tree would be easier to cut. He also told me that “oru ko mo eni owo” i.e. darkness does not know a man of honour. Since that time, “7 to7” principle has always been part of me. On some occasions when I have to stay outside beyond “7 to 7”, particularly for political activities or any other compelling reason, I am always conscious and careful. I carried this to the extreme sometimes, for an example, when my children some time ago wanted to go to the mall around 8:00 p.m., in that part of the world, the weather was just like 6 p.m. of Nigeria time. When I told them it was late and that my father had told me and that we should always obey “7 to 7” principle and the reason behind the principle.
They started laughing and replied that even though it was 8:00 p.m., but it was not dark and besides the place is 24 hours country with sufficient security architecture. Not knowing what to tell them, I restored in telling them that one must not disobey his or her father, my father had said “7 to7”, and I am also telling you same.
Another interesting Yoruba philosophy that I learned from my father was when he had told a man at Ibadan where my father was the head of motor spare parts sellers of people that are of Ijebu origin. The position entrusted to him required that he was settling disputes that concerned Ijebu spare parts sellers. This man came to my father for some advice. At that time when my siblings and I were back from school, we were staying with my father at his shop. The man told my father that he doubted the paternity of his last child from his wife. My father asked him if he had any full proof or evidence (eri ti o da ju) that the child was not his, (there was no DNA or probably not popular then), but he gave a negative response. At this time, my father responded that “eni to ni igi obi lo ni eso ori e” i.e., the owner of the kola-nut tree is the owner of the fruits or seeds on the tree. As the husband of the woman, that the man is the owner of the child. I didn’t understand the basis of such declaration by my father until I was in part three of law programme, where the late Prof. Jelili Adebisi Omotola (Omo T) was teaching us land law. He told us one Latin word and the meaning i.e. “qui qui patator, solo solo cedi” which means whatever that is attached to the land belongs to the land. If someone erects a permanent fixture on another person’s lawful land, such a structure belongs to the owner of the land. Explicitly, whatever that is found attached to the land or underneath the land (other than mineral resources) belongs to the owner of the land. I understood the professor’s lecture better with “eni to ni igi obi lo ni eso ori e” that I had heard from my father when I was young.
Among other interesting Yoruba wise sayings, I learned from my father is “omo eye to nko fifo to fe ba adan fiiye gba ara, ile lo ma ba ara e”, meaning a young bird that is learning the art of flying game with a bat will fall on the ground. Naturally, a bat is that species of bird that has both the features of a bird and a rat. It is so skillful in flying to the extent that it can turn its head upside down. I heard this from my father when a younger woman was trying to engage in a fight with another older woman. The younger woman was so abusive and had no regard or respect for the older woman and the generality. Not quite long, the younger woman lost one of her grandsons living with her. She was so pained while crying and wailing, she said she was punished and cheated. As a young boy when I asked my father who punished and cheated the woman and for what reasons? My father said a young or baby bird that is just learning the art of flying is engaging in flying games with the bat that is why the younger woman fell on the ground. After much pressure from me, he told me that if truly the younger woman was punished and cheated from the quarter she suspected, she must have passed her boundary and did not known the limit of her strength compared to the older woman.
Another related Yoruba saying/proverb to the above, but seems to be contradictory to the above wise saying is an acknowledgment of powerlessness,at times of supernatural human being. As a young qualified lawyer, I went to the village where I met my dad. He had gone to the village before me. On getting there, I met him with a woman from another village selling pap (my father favourite meal in the morning), after greetings, I wanted to sit down, but my father wanted me to go greet people at the village about fifteen houses before I settled down. The woman objected on the ground that people are wicked that my father should not allow me to do such as he introduced me to the woman as his newly qualified lawyer and son. My father said for two reasons I should go round. Firstly our village is unique in the sense that it is a neclus family settlement. We are all from the same grandfather or great-grandfather – Odunuga. There is nobody in the village that is not our family or relation. Secondly, and perhaps the gist of the matter, my father said, “Oju oso ati aje ni won se bi oba ilu.” Meaning, witches, and wizards were alive and aware when the king of a town was born. I comprehended the saying literarily to mean that, if super natural human beings are interested in harming you as an adult, they could have done that before you were born or when you are an infant. Anytime I reflect on his Yoruba philosophies, I usually agreed with his saying that “ogbon, imo ati oye ko dogba” i.e. wisdom, understanding and knowledge are not the same. Having knowledge of something or situation may not necessarily mean you have an understanding (which is deeper) and of course, wisdom transcends both knowledge and understanding. May the Almighty Lord grant and continue to endow us with the trinity of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. There is no better way for me to remember him than the usefulness of the lessons of his Yoruba traditional philosophy.
“Erimoje olodo bi ere, o ba obinrin sun tomu tomu, aduro ki oba lodo Esa, Odimoro omo olowo ape, Olalomi Olofamojo”. Sleep on, sleep well, my father and my friend. I am benefitting from many of your Yoruba Philosophies.

CHIEF FEMI ODUFOWKAN
****Chief Femi Odufowokan is the immediate past council Chairman of Ijebu North East Local Government in Ogun State and a Lagos based Legal Practitioner

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Adeleke swears in new Osun LG chairs, urges good governance

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5 hours ago

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February 23, 2025

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Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday, inaugurated the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors in the Saturday poll.

Adeleke urged them to focus on good governance while warning against any attempt to forcibly occupy council secretariats.

He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for resisting attempts by some forces to destabilise Osun State.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony in Osogbo, the governor described the occasion as a major milestone in the state’s democratic process, emphasising that the election was conducted in line with due process.

“We are here to conclude a democratic process for which we all laboured so hard to achieve,” Adeleke said.

Before proceeding with his address, the governor called for a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives during the “illegal APC takeover of local government secretariats.”

The governor recounted the journey leading to the local government election, stating that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission had duly followed all legal procedures.

“The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago. I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors,” he stated.

While acknowledging the legal controversies surrounding the election, Adeleke affirmed that his administration acted within the ambit of the law.

“It is, however, a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain, and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of the rule of law and the constitution,” he added.

Call for Good Governance….

Addressing the newly sworn-in officials, Adeleke charged them to be “agents of change, community developers, and deliverers of the dividends of democracy.”

“You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments.

“I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change,” he said.

The governor also appreciated the people of Osun for their steadfast support, assuring them that his administration would remain committed to their welfare.

“Osun people demonstrated courage and passion to exercise their voting rights, and they did so by massively supporting our party despite all the constraints. We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword,” he promised.

Adeleke commended OSIEC, security agencies, and state officials for ensuring the success of the election.

Appreciation to Tinubu

In a significant moment, the governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for resisting attempts by some forces to destabilise Osun State.

“I should not end this address without acknowledging the contributions of Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I am most grateful to Mr. President for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos,” Adeleke stated.

He reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and the constitution in governance and conflict resolution.

Warning Against Forced Takeover
The governor strongly advised the newly elected chairmen and councillors to avoid confrontation at local government secretariats, citing an ongoing legal process to resolve the leadership crisis.

“I urge you and your councillors to please stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats,” Adeleke cautioned.

He referenced an Osun State High Court ruling that had affirmed vacancies in both chairmanship and councillorship positions before the election on February 22, 2025, assuring that his administration would rely on the judiciary to remove those illegally occupying the secretariats.

“Please be patient and always abide by the rule of law,” he advised.

With that, Adeleke formally declared the swearing-in of the elected local government officials.

“It is on this note that I, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, hereby effect the swearing-in of elected local government chairmen across Osun State. Congratulations and God bless you,” he concluded.

 

 

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Alcohol, tobacco record highest inflation rate

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5 hours ago

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February 23, 2025

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The National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed that alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics recorded the highest inflation rate at 14.80 per cent, according to its latest rebased Consumer Price Index for January 2025.

In a graphical illustration presented in its CPI report, the NBS noted that the alcohol and tobacco item division was followed by restaurants and accommodation services, which had an inflation rate of 14.14 per cent, while transport and clothing and footwear recorded 12.77 per cent and 12.73 per cent, respectively.

The report, which rebased Nigeria’s CPI to 2024 as the new base year, revealed that headline inflation stood at 24.48 per cent in January 2025, meaning that the general price level of goods and services rose significantly compared to the same period in 2024.

The report by the NBS read, “The rebased All Items index in January 2025 was 110.68, while the headline inflation rate on a year-on-year basis stood at 24.48 per cent in January 2025.

“This means that the general prices of goods and services in Nigeria increased by 24.48 per cent compared to January 2024.”

The CPI rebasing was necessary to reflect current economic realities and consumption patterns in Nigeria.

The rebased CPI structure covers 934 product varieties, classified under 13 divisions based on the 2018 Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose.

The divisions include food and non-alcoholic beverages, clothing and footwear, transport, housing and utilities, furnishings, health, communication, and education, among others.

The weighting structure was adjusted to account for changes in consumer spending, with food and non-alcoholic beverages maintaining the highest weight at 40 per cent, although it declined from 51.8 per cent in the previous base year of 2009.

According to the report, inflationary pressures varied across different categories, with food and beverages inflation at 10.64 per cent, reflecting the continued rise in staple food prices.

The personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services division recorded 12.04 per cent inflation, while furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance saw an inflation rate of 11.48 per cent.

The health sector recorded 9.42 per cent inflation, while housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels increased by 7.61 per cent.

The education sector and insurance and financial services recorded the lowest inflation rates, standing at 4.88 per cent and 4.65 per cent, respectively. Information and communication, which was newly assigned a higher weight in the rebased CPI, had an inflation rate of 7.54 per cent.

The recreation, sport, and culture category recorded 6.85 per cent, highlighting moderate price increases in these services.

The NBS report highlighted the divergence in inflation trends between urban and rural areas, with urban inflation at 26.09 per cent, while rural inflation stood at 22.15 per cent.

This suggests that price pressures were more severe in urban areas, particularly in sectors such as housing, transportation, and restaurant services, where cost increments were more pronounced.

The rebasing exercise introduced new methodologies to enhance the accuracy of inflation tracking.

Data collection was fully digitised, replacing paper-based surveys with computer-assisted personal interviewing devices, which allowed real-time transmission and verification of price data.

The high inflation rate for alcoholic beverages and tobacco is linked to multiple factors, including excise duties, exchange rate volatility, production costs, and supply chain disruptions.

We further observed that Imo State emerged as the most expensive state to reside in Nigeria following the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index by the NBS.

The development marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s inflation rankings, as Bauchi, which held the top spot for seven consecutive months, was dethroned.

The change comes after the NBS updated its methodology, adjusting the base year from 2009 to 2024, revising the weighting structure, and expanding the consumer basket to better reflect household spending patterns.

Earlier, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive of the NBS, Prince Semiu Adeyemi, said, “Rebasing our GDP and CPI allows us to align with these transformations, providing a more precise and relevant picture of Nigeria’s economic landscape.

“This process is foundational to informed policymaking, strategic planning, and effective governance; hence, it is one exercise that the NBS is conducting with significant importance and professionalism.”

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News and Report

Fire guts MTN booster station in Oyo

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5 hours ago

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February 23, 2025

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An MTN booster station located on the premises of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, was gutted by fire on Saturday.

Our Investigations revealed that the fire, which broke out at the booster station within the Faculty of Nursing, was caused by an electrical surge.

One of the witnesses told our correspondent that “the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday around 4 am.”

Another source said, “The incident affected the Mikano electrical generator, board, and other telecommunications gadgets in the booster station.”

When contacted in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.

He said the booster station belonged to the MTN.

He said, “The state Fire Service’s prompt response doused the fire at the MTN booster station beside the Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan.

“The fire incident was reported exactly at 04:00 hrs on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

“The fire personnel, led by ACFS Olubunmi, were promptly deployed to the scene and arrived on time.

“On arrival, we met the Mikano electrical generator and board on fire. We quickly joined hands with the university’s fire marshals, and the fire was extinguished completely. The fire was caused by an electrical surge”, he explained.

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