Yorubas used to be the most respected ethnic group interms of their lifestyle, for instance, when a Yoruba younger person wants to greet the elders, the females kneels down to greet while the males prostrate to salute which gives a high sense of respect and recognition.
By Tola Folorunso
A visit to a traditional rulers palace will vividly capture respect in culture and tradition of Yorubas. Though all other ethnic groups in Nigeria have their diverse culture and traditional beliefs but that of the Yorubas is extremely superb as the traditional head is the supreme authority whereby every individual that visits the palace regardless of his/her status must pay obeisance to the traditional head.
Gradually, politics crept in and turned the situation around whereby politicians gradually began to hijack the peace and sanity within the society.and this began to turn the traditional leaders into stooge thereby turning the system to suit themselves and this gave birth to thuggery where power is taken by force and this can be dated back to the pre-independence era.
These leaders marshalled out different strategies to outwit one another as different political parties were in place. A typical example was that of an era when a slogan, “Operation Wet e’ rented the air. This was the era where arson was freely introduced and practiced and this reduced respect and regard for humanity.
With this, many people especially the youths thought this was a way of life and keyed into it.
The Military, on sighting danger, intervened and took over the entire political system in Nigeria after which politicians started gathering in groups to fight for the enthronement of democracy (government of the people for the people and by the people).
With this, thuggery took a different dimension and this continued to destroy the system where extortion, corruption, cultism, killing and maiming took the center spread in the name civilisation.
Embezzlement, stealing of government property, and looting of treasury were done with impunity. To worsen it all, the judiciary did not help matters but turned justice upside down and respect for the rule of law declined and the spate of anarchy increased.
Each era began to create one identity or the other to justify their goals in order to seize power.
As things grew worse, the Military came into power again and never wanted to leave but for some pressure groups which ensured that democracy was entrenched again though many lives were lost.
Along the line, thuggery became the order of the day that politics became a do or die affair as some politicians began to use thuggery as a weapon to get into power.
Thuggery can be defined in various ways: corporate, social, religion, ethnicity and touting to mention but a few.
These politicians also devise the means of empowering motor park leaders and equipping them with arms and ammunition thereby creating portfolios, executive offices and powers for them in order to attack their opponents and infiltrate political offices.
In the present day politics, the traditional rulers no longer have a say as these strong politicians have found the means of installing their thugs into traditional leaseship for selfish purposes.
Nowadays, it is pathetic that Yorubas have found themselves in a situation whereby garage parks and touts have suddenly being installed as traditional rulers and chiefs, to serve and protect their selfish interest such that sacrilege is almost eroding as some traditional rulers have become a tool in the hands of politicians.
It is sad to notice that some traditional rulers have stooped so low that they can no longer differentiate between let and right as they are being ordered around by some Half-baked politicians.
It beats one’s imagination that our Yoruba culture and tradition are being swept under the carpet because some o those who are supposed to be the custodian of our culture cannot interprete what culture is.
I was at a social function one day when a Yoruba traditional ruler was called upon to address the participants.
It was unimaginable that with his regalia, expensive beads and walking stick, he could not pronounce the number, 55 in Yoruba Language.
Than God for the compere who noticed the situation and quickly took the microphone from him and jokingly announced that the number, 55 means, ‘Marun-din-l’ogota’.
Curious about this, I did some findings about the traditional ruler only to discover that he was imposed by a politician and the community knows no peace since then.
It is alarming that some governors have forcefully imposed their political thugs into traditional institutions by substituting the traditional rites with political will, hence he who pays the piper, dictates the tune.
In our naked eyes, these so called traditional rulers protect the interest of their political masters to present, protect, project and defend their interests not minding the consequence.
As if that is not enough, thuggery has extended to the transport system where union leaders usurp powers at will as they are accorded necessary assistance by the powers that be. In most cases, thuggery has grown rapidly to the entant of enjoying executive privileges and rights.
When it comes to general elections, thuggs are usually on standby as they are equipped to the teeth. Some viral videos of the 2023 general elections are reference points to this claim.
In Lagos State, one of the videos captured some ethnic groups being openly threatened and this was taken with kids glove bas the government of the day overlooked it.
In furtherance to that, many shops were either looted, demolished and set ablaze without compensation.
Some ethnic group leaders became subjects of attack and intimidation while some were detained for no just cause all in the name of nailing a dog bad in order to hang him.
As part of measures to subject the masses to abject poverty, palliatives that were meant to cushion the effect of harsh economy were freely diverted for political gains so that the masses can dance to the tune of political office holders.
It was evident that looting in high places was in top gear as some top politicians have turned themselves to agents of economic sabotage in disguise.
While these are on, the judiciary seems to be allegedly pocketed, the clergy have abdicated their responsibilities while traditional institutions have been weakened as the oracle no longer speaks because money has exchanged hands.
Who is to speak for the commoners is a question begging for answer.
*Tola Folorunso is a journalist writes from Lagos
