The death of the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Friday, put an end to a reign that brought glory and honour to Yorubaland, The Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (TYLPI) has said.
In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, the group said the late Alafin, during his reign always defended what he considered to be the best interest of the Yoruba.
It said that the Alafin, always resplendent in the best attires of the Yoruba, promoted the culture of his people beyond the nation’s shores.
According to TYLPI, the late Oba Adeyemi’s strong voice on issues whenever he spoke, gave honour, respect and dignity to the Yoruba race.
It also praised the late Alafin’s foresight in working with those who could assist in transforming to reality, his dream of Oyo becoming a modern city and a major hub for business, commerce and tourism.
The group commended the strong commitment of the late traditional ruler to education, noting that it was a lasting tribute to his doggedness in that regard that, during his reign, Oyo became a university town and a host to other higher institutions of learning.
The deep knowledge of the history and traditions of the Yoruba, TYLPI added, made Adeyemi a living resource for those interested in knowing more about the race.
It said Oba Adeyemi’s death had created left a big leadership vacuum in Yorubaland and prayed that at the right time, a fitting successor to the late monarch would emerge to continue the struggle for the improvement of the lives of the people.
TYLPI expressed its condolences to the people and government of Oyo State as well as the family left behind by the monarch.
Ikú Aláàfin ti Òyó, Oba Làmídì Adéyemí ní ọjọ́ ẹtì, fi òpin sí ìjọba kan tí ó mú ògo àti ọlá fún ilẹ̀ Yorùbá, Aṣáájú Yorùbá àti ìpilẹ̀ṣẹ̀ Àlaafíà ( TYLPI ) ló soọ́.
Nínú àlàyé kan tí Olùdarí ti ìkéde rẹ̀ tí Ògbéni Túndé Ìpínmisó fi owó sí, ẹgbẹ́ náà sọ pé nígbà ìjọba Aláàfin, nígbàgbogbo ni ó má n dá àbòbò ohun tí ó rò pé ó jẹ́ ànfàní tí ó dára jùlọ ti Yorùbá.
Ó sọ pé Alàáfin, nígbàgbogbo ni wón wọ aṣọ tí ó dára jùlọ ti Yorùbá, ṣe ìgbéga àṣà ti àwọn ènìyàn rẹ̀ kọjá etí òkun orílẹ́-èdè yìí.
Gẹ́gẹ́bí TYLPI, ohùn tí ó lágbára tí Oba Adéyemí àná lórí àwọn ọ̀ràn nígbàkugbà tí ó bá sọ̀rọ̀, fún ọlá, ọwọ̀ àti iyì sí ìran Yorùbá.
Ó tún yin ojú iwájú Aláàfin nípa pé ó ṣiṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú àwọn tí ó lè ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́ ní ìyípadà àlá rẹ̀ di mímúṣe, ti Òyó di ìlú ìgbàlódé àti ibùdó nlá fún ìṣòwò, ọrọ̀ ajẹ́ àti ìrìn-àjò.
Ẹgbẹ́ náà yin ìfarajìn tí ó lágbára tí adarí àṣà àná ní sí ètò-ẹ̀kọ́, ó ṣe àkíyèsi pé ó jẹ́ oríyìn tí ó pẹ́ tó fún ìwa rẹ̀, wípé ní àkókò ìjọba rẹ̀, Òyó di ìlú ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ gíga àti agbàlejò fún àwọn ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ gíga mìíràn.
Ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀ ti ìtàn àti àṣà ti Yorùbá, TYLPI ṣàfikún pé ó jẹ́ kí Adéyemí jẹ́ orísun alààyè fún àwọn tí ó nìfẹ́ lati mọ̀ síi nípa ìran yorùbá náà.
Ó sọ pé ikú Oba Adéyemí ti ṣẹ̀dá ààyè àtẹ̀gùn *nlá* kan ní ilẹ̀-yorùbá, ó sì gbàdúrà pé ní àkókò tí ó tọ́, arọ́pò tó yẹ fún oba tó wàjà yóò farahàn láti tẹ̀síwájú ìjàkadì fún ìlọsíwájú ti àwọn ìgbésí ayé àwọn ènìyàn.
TYLPI ṣàlàyé ìtùnú rẹ sí àwọn ènìyàn àti ìjọba ti Ìpínlè Òyó àti ìdílé tí ọbá náà fi sílẹ̀.
