Muric Urges Ooni To Revamp Teaching Of Yoruba Language In Schools
THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II to use his influence and put a stop to relegation teaching of Yoruba language is being subjected to in schools, especially in Yorubaland.
The group, in a statement signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, warned that cultural renaissance being championed by the monarch “may remain a dream if the education sector continues its current hostile posture to Yoruba as a subject studied in schools.”
The Lagos-based Muslim body said: “Yoruba language as a subject has been relegated to the background in the curriculum. It is so bad that some universities in Yorubaland now reject credit in Yoruba as one of the five subjects acceptable for admission. Worse still, some universities in Yorubaland are threatening to remove Yoruba as one of their degree courses.
“We urge the royal father to use his good office and influence as the chairman of Osun State Council of Obas to mobilise all traditional rulers in the state and subsequently the entire Yorubaland towards ensuring that Yoruba language recovers its pride of place in our curriculum.”
The monarch’s intervention, MURIC insisted, became imperative in view of Ooni’s commitment to cultural renaissance and the development of Yorubaland as well as his incessant advocacy for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
Specifically, the group commended the King for attending 2015 edition of Modakeke Day celebration held last December 26 describing it as a giant step towards peace and reconciliation.
“By brushing aside all protocols and sidestepping bureaucratic red-tape, the Ooni’s deft move has achieved in one day what successive governments have failed to achieve in decades despite parading massive official paraphernalia. This includes the Chief Bode George Committee which was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It is a diplomatic masterstroke.
“Looked at from another angle, the Ooni’s attendance at Akoraiye Day in Modakeke reveals another quality in Oba Ogunwusi which is rare among traditional rulers. It is humility nulli secundus for a first class traditional ruler of the calibre of the Ooni of Ife, to ignore past hostilities and attend the ceremony of not just a perceived foe but that of a people with whom Ile-Ife had engaged in internecine war that claimed the lives of thousands.”
As a result, MURIC appeals to the people of Ifeland to see the trait of leadership by example in the Ooni’s action. “We call on all the sons and daughters of Ife to rally round the young but divinely endowed monarch so that the cradle of Yorubaland can fulfill its destiny. The first step towards achieving this is to eschew violence in all its ramifications. Crisis of all kinds, political, cultural or religious must be avoided. It is unity that can make Ife truly great.
“Since it takes two to tango, we call on the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin, to reciprocate the Ooni’s good gesture. The geographical proximity of the two towns should be exploited for better advantage.
“To this end, we warmly welcome the Ooni’s philanthropic offer of jobs to 20,000 widows of the fratricidal war from both sides. This will help in healing wounds and facilitate full reconciliation. The economic empowerment of widows from both sides clearly portrays the new monarch, Ojaja II, not only as a man of peace but also as a royal father with a heart of gold. Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has stooped to conquer. He has won a life-long battle without firing a single shot. This is a mark of greatness and a symbol of good leadership.”
