Jadesola Babatola Ph.D
Dr. Jadesola Eyitayo Taiwo Babatola JP, FNIM, FCIA, FCAD, FIMC, MCIPM, MANUPA, MAUA (UK), ACIS, ANIE, CMC, HRPL attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. He holds B.A (Hons) History - Ondo State University, M.Sc Political Science (Public Administration) - University of Ibadan, Ph.D History & International Studies - Ekiti State University. He was a Commissioner in Ekiti State SUBEB, National President of EKSU Alumni Association, Member of the Governing Council and Visitation Panel to the University, and served as Branch & Zonal Secretary (Western Nigeria) of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities. He was Branch Secretary and Chairman, Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (EKSU) for 13 years and chaired ANUPA National Chartered Institute Development Committee.
He is an HEI Administrator, HR Advisor, certified Management consultant and professional Manager with 33 years graduate working experience in private/public sector and a Google scholar with several publications to his credit. He rose to the rank of Deputy Registrar at Ekiti State University (EKSU) and served as the Registrar, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo and later became the Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe on leave of absence. He is currently the substantive Registrar and Secretary to Council, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
Supervisors: Prof. J. Aremu, Prof. K.C. Ajayi, Prof. Mrs. A. T. Ajayi, Prof. I.G. Olomola, Prof. Dele Adetoye, and Prof. Femi Omosinmi
Address: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5fH9EmsAAAAJ&hl=en
He is an HEI Administrator, HR Advisor, certified Management consultant and professional Manager with 33 years graduate working experience in private/public sector and a Google scholar with several publications to his credit. He rose to the rank of Deputy Registrar at Ekiti State University (EKSU) and served as the Registrar, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo and later became the Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe on leave of absence. He is currently the substantive Registrar and Secretary to Council, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
Supervisors: Prof. J. Aremu, Prof. K.C. Ajayi, Prof. Mrs. A. T. Ajayi, Prof. I.G. Olomola, Prof. Dele Adetoye, and Prof. Femi Omosinmi
Address: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5fH9EmsAAAAJ&hl=en
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The British colonial enterprise however helped to accomplish the goals of the Berlin Conference of reducing and eliminating European conflicts on African soils while providing leverage for the imperialistic quest of European States to expand. The scramble for and partition of Africa and the British conquering of Nigerian territories had been laid through the exploration of the vast territories by early European traders, missionaries, and explorers, whose missions were unknown until Africa was surrounded, bombarded, and invaded on all sides. The imperialistic goals that fueled the British invasion and domination of Nigeria therefore influenced the mode of constitutionalism adopted in the colonized Nigeria owing to the mode of political control and governing mechanism introduced in the colonial era via the direct and indirect rule system.
Yorubaland depended on their geography which played strong role in the occupation of the people and in their self-preservation against attacks, total annihilation and destruction from invading armies.
Ekiti was a hidden area in many instances with difficult access into the terrain
since the areas occupied by the inhabitants were not of easily accessible in tropical rain forest and hilly country sides. The people of the hinterland were also very cooperative and vigilant in identifying strangers and making efforts to establish their enemies from their foes. These strong characteristics and parameter of identifying people across their locations and borders helped in their interrelations with others and determines where war starts and end.
In this study, a reconstruction of the history of Ekiti people is attempted by looking at the ethnographic and geographical attributes of the early settlers in showing that Ekiti people had a history of aboriginal and later arrivals that restructure the political and social landscape to what exist in the pre-colonial era and continues till date.
The bulk of activities guiding the process of determining the appropriateness of rules and the application of sanctions owing to the sensitivity and awareness of the University Management stops at the doorsteps of the Governing Council as the final adjudicator. Nonetheless, the Vice-Chancellor as the Chief Executive and academic head of the institution wields extensive degree of influence and authority on matters of staff discipline, sometimes by use of executive fiat. On the other hand, the Registrar bears the brunt of any failure in the University system whenever the Management is not properly guided or counselled on the process of handling staff discipline and whenever the Management failed to have full recourse to due process in the report and investigation of disciplinary matters before applying sanctions on the staff.
A proper study and application of this paper is to therefore aid Registrars and Registry to play their roles properly in intervening at Management levels and in advising Council and the Vice-Chancellor to uphold a fair and accountable process on issues of staff discipline irrespective of their personal sentiments or the pressures and misgivings surrounding information against any staff to be disciplined.
Traditional rulers (Oba) (monarchs or recognized chiefs) are classified by their status and origin from times immemorial. In Ekiti State, the tradition and status of the various chiefs and their ranking have been highlighted at the presentation of various Panel of Enquiry and Judicial Commissions on Chieftaincy Matters before and after the colonial rule. Similar cases have been advanced in other parts of South West Nigeria (Yorubaland) without exception in the attempt to properly classify chiefs and reduces incidence of agitations where they occurs. Nonetheless, there have been attempts by revisionist efforts to change the idea of ranking of chiefs as well as their traditional profile particularly among Obas in Ekiti State.
The situation was strengthened by rising agitations after the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 with the elevation and upgrading of different categories of certain Obas by the Otunba Niyi Adebayo’s administration and much later by subsequent administration of Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. A good number of the recognized Chiefs have been elevated to different classes or grade between Grade A, B, C and D which hitherto was unknown when those Obas were members of the House of Chiefs in Western Nigeria during colonial era and Traditional Rulers Councils or Council of Chiefs after independence when Ekiti State was a Province and a Division under Western Region of Nigeria, Western State of Nigeria and Ondo State of Nigeria respectively.
The recent developments in year 2019 by the Fayemi administration to further thinker with the tradition and customs of ranking of traditional rulers with the intent to obliterate or transmute the traditional process of determining the list of Pelupelu Obas in Ekiti (Superpowers and senior chiefs) has become a major challenge with the appointment of hitherto an Oba in the First Class (Grade A) Grade as an assumed member of the Pelupelu rank without justification other than the assumption that all attendees of the Council of Chiefs meeting particularly those granted independence in 1920s and 1940s as well as those elevated during and after Adebayo’s administration (1999-2003) are automatic Pelupelu members.
The currency of the challenges facing the traditional ranking and status of Obas as articulated in the current Government stance is not only a departure from the traditions and well known practice but a strange introduction into the local customs and tradition, being resisted by Pelupelu Obas and creating divisions fuelled by the State Government among traditional rulers. The most appalling aspect is the White Paper put in place in 2019 penultimate to the amendment of the Ekiti State Traditional Council Laws 2003 to reform the traditional council and redesignate its membership and status of its recognized chiefs. Part of efforts to reconcile the Government and the various traditional rulers is yet to find the proper means of addressing the issues.
It is obvious that there are existence of Principal Obas among various Traditional rulers in every part of Yorubaland (South West Nigeria) just as there are Principal Chiefs among Sultan, Emirs and District Heads across Northern States of Nigeria. Even where District Heads have been elevated in many States to ranks or status of Emirs, it does not totally remove the ranking of these Emirs among each other knowing that the history and custom of the Northern Nigeria only accord original status and leadership status to 14 Emirs comprising 7 Emirs of the original states and 7 Emirs of conquered territories as well as the Shehu of Borno, Tor Tiv, Attah of Igala, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland among others. See Appendix A containing table of a list of traditional states in Nigeria and their traditional heads at the advent of colonial rule who survived till moderm times.
A earlier mention of the growth and development of chieftaincy institutions under the modern day Government shows that prior to the creation of the Nigerian State for point of emphasis, the British imperialists, trade occupation and colonial agents signed treaties of occupation and protection with some of these traditional rulers at the occupation and conquest of Africa after the scramble for and partition of the African territories. Hence, the legitimacy of the modern State system by sources of law largely had its origin in the tradition political institutions and invariably the traditional rulers and their territorial landscape which has become part and parcel of modern day Nigeria.
It is preeminent in appreciating the Nigerian constitution and its inclusion of customary laws as sources of laws even with the exclusion of the traditional rulers from the institutions of government, to give credence to the role and status of traditional rulers within their domains and in line with the customs of their people as it develops from the pre-colonial era till date so as to avoid frictions as long as the tradition does not negate the rights of people to life and equality of all men before the law. Since state ceremonies, activities, offices and fucntions delegates various priviledges and assigned protocols to state officilas and functions, the need to also recognize and sustain the status and ranking of traditional rulers is of essence as a respect for those institutions and acknowlefgement of their prestige as factors of socio-cultural values, political stability and symbol of unity irrespective of their present political status.
It behooves on practitioners in the study of international relations to adopt the study of history as a major source of developing and interpreting behaviours and actions suggested in their models and instruments of measurement to determine principles of international relations and its effects on world affairs. For instance, attempts to create spheres of influence without free will participation among states have definitely resulted to wars, whereas the adoption of collective security and peaceful co-existence have enabled many states to relate and negotiate their terms of relationship and interest in a manner that would reduce inequalities and threats foisted by their differences and limitations. This is what history has shown as a factor of developing modern diplomacy in the theatre of world politics and interstates relations.
The study of history has further shown that alliances and adversities that often resulted to wars among nations with particular reference to international wars (World War I and World War II) had specific import to be situated within the outcomes of states’ interactions and power transitions while engendering the essence and limitations of their diplomacy and importance. It is therefore pertinent to assert that there are streamlined or specific issues, perspectives and approaches that constitute the basis of historical analysis in the study of behaviours and political activities among states and international actors since the late 19th centuries.
Agitations surrounding how, what and where International Relations should be treated as a separate discipline from History suffice; whether it is a coordinate (parallel) or scientific (advanced) study of world and diplomatic history; a branch of history or whether it is has no common ground for appreciation and collaboration, which at best shows that it draws its body of knowledge from political science or the social sciences, International Relations would always requires ‘History’ to form a body of knowledge. This is because history would be the first point of sourcing for information needed to examine activities and actions that provided basis for reactions and counteractions in inter-state relations.
Furthermore, history would continue to be the source on which experts in international relations can establish and provide the facts needed for processing inputs and deliverables required to understand the causal factors and formulate appropriate determinants. The theories which social sciences particularly Political Science would only provide a proper framework that are needed to build platforms of justification in understanding the discipline of international relations
In that era, it was uncommon for any contest or controversy to occur once the Kingmakers appoint one of the Princes as the successor in title and the priesthood begins the process of its installation as the next ruling monarch. The tradition follows that those who failed in the bid for the kingship should ordinarily pay homage to the newly pronounced king as a sign of their pledge of loyalty and acceptance. In some instance these set of Princes may end up becoming honoured with Chieftaincy titles equivalent or translated to positions of District Heads, Palace Chiefs, War Chiefs or King’s Major Advisers.
Where such Princes are unable to command such recognition and honour, they will remain recognized members of the royal family in their lifetime. However, whenever a very popular candidate or wealthy contestant was dislodged or disqualified from ascending the throne either by vote of the royal household, by preference of Ifa divination or by the Kingmakers vote for an unpopular, younger or a very humble and relatively unknown contestant with little or no means, the disqualified popular candidate and his supporters may relocate from the Kingdom to other locations to found their own settlements or to go to another Kingdom to serve as a Chief, if he finds it impossible or difficult to pay obeisance to the chosen King or if he and his followers cannot remain under check due to the choice of the Chiefs.
In similar vein, when a King is forced out of the throne without being killed by his chiefs, he may seek refuge in a friendly neighbouring kingdom if the opportunity avails, unless his Chiefs forced him to commit suicide or he does so by his own volition. As he migrates to another Kingdom, he may seek support of the kingdom to recover his throne if the place of refuge is powerful and influential to assist him. Otherwise, he will become a royal guest of the neighbour’s palace or an adviser or Palace Chief in the kingdom. If such position is conferred, the former king will earn a new status in the neighbours or friend’s kingdom. This is why some Chiefs bear the title of kings in other Kingdoms whenever they migrated to serve under a King either abdicated or deposed rulers or heir apparent who relocated or ran to other kingdoms for safety of their lives.
The purpose of this study is to therefore conduct an historical analysis on the choice of a successor to the stool of the Ewi as one of the senior Yoruba Oba following the demise of a reigning Oba. This is focused on how such contest could result to unhealthy relations among members of royal houses, chiefs and eminent people of Ado-Ekiti over a period of time through series of social actions and litigations. This is to help review and highlight the value content of royal tussles in modern times in Yorubaland and how a major contestant can rock the boat of the traditional political system and peace of the state. The focus is to examine the position of Prince Adegoke Victor Adewumi as he stood ground to contest the choice of the Chiefs and the Government declaration on the choice of a reigning Oba and his successor through lingering and very divisive litigations that held Ado-Ekiti spellbound for many years.
The scope of power relationships in relation to the equation of power and the aggregate of influence within the indigenous society has been determined for long by tradition and culture of the people despite the changing phase of the modern society and the reforms that attends it as long as the institution of the traditional society are sustained and protected by the people, the society and the state.
It is evident that despite the influence of western education and culture in many colonized and later independent countries of the world and in particular, Africa and the Third world countries, the aspirations of democratic institutions and societies to attain equity in social leverages and equality for all men, does not remove the existence of class and the impact of class struggle and social stratification at large. This is because the existing society and its culture are deeply rooted in indigenous practices despite changing world order and reforms.
In similar veins, traditional societies particularly in Africa and Asia Minor continues to exhibit high premium of cultural intelligence and harmony through the efforts of its indigenous institution and systems of human communication and controls. This is however not restricted to these societies since it is also obvious among Red Indians and other developed societies in the Middle East, Americas, Australia and New Zealand.
There is no way the traditional society can exist in its purest state without references to the existence of various classes and structures of the society often based on privileged positions, past attained glory and evidence of superior-subordinate relationships. The cultural evolution developed through these political systems often presents a feudalistic approach embedded in an aristocratic or oligarchy structure to sustain their tradition and social interactions in history from the past to the present. This is why an average indigenous society would continue to survive on the relevance of its tradition and culture despite the effect of western modernization in those African, Eastern and Asian countries.
It is imperative for the traditional society to therefore remain unassailable and retain its richness by giving measure of credence to the role assigned to the various structures that forms its system of organization and relationships. This is the only guarantee of preserving the laid down and existing foundation and beauty of the tradition of the people, the class of people and their leadership within the traditional social system and its hierarchy among others. Moreover, the human society cannot be well organized and coordinated without witnessing the desired elements of leadership and processes to drive its organization, activities and objectives.
In modern society, governance and its bureaucratic character remains the major characteristic of an organized system and therefore supports the process and roles played by the leadership. It equally gives room for the adoption of hierarchy and chains of command to achieve the purest form of unity in promoting harmony and control of the people and the society, the governed, the stakeholders and the government. In this study, attempt is therefore concentrated on looking at the role of traditional political systems and the issues of equality and inequality that often results to crisis and controversy in their relationship and social values vis a vis the role of leadership and organization of traditional rulers and the modern government system.
The central theme of the study revolves round the politics of leadership and the hierarchy of Chiefs in Ekiti State of Nigeria as a case study and in relation to their social functions and relevance from times past towards understanding issues inherent in social relations and conflicts within the traditional African society. No doubt, the recent crisis between a class of Senior Ekiti traditional rulers (Pelupelu Oba) and the Government of Ekiti State over the appointment of a perceived interloper and ineligible traditional ruler as the Chairman of the Council of traditional rulers in Ekiti State of Nigeria ginger the need to undertake the study.
The biography of HRM Oba Gen. (Dr) Olufemi Olutoye OFR, JP, the Alani of Ido Ani in Ondo State is entitled ECHOES FROM THE THRONE and was written by Otunba Dr. Babatola Johnson.
The review of the book was commissioned as an academic exercise to Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola in preparation for its launching.
The book consist of 10 Chapters and Tributes to celebrate the Kabiyesi and it is a must read for those interested in history and biographical studies, politics, leadership and governance, Nigeria Government and politics and even mentoring.
The book discusses various phases of the life and achievements of Kabiyesi and his contributions to humanity and the society at large. It is worth reading.
The review is a 10 page presentation on the lifetime achievements of the subject and issues surrounding his role in modern history which can serve as a source of knowledge for the advancement of human traditions and good leadership.
The foregoing tends to situate that regardless of the perspectives that may have arisen in the accounts of history, rendition of accounts of the past must be objective and centred on universal philosophy otherwise regarded as the practical record for establishing the truth and situating its convenience and acceptability in a given society and culture. Wherever the attempts to create the accounts of the past does not give credibility to the purpose that it serves, it rather tends to become an irredentist and revisionist perception to draw unnecessary attention to claims that may rather alter the glory of the past than to enhance it.
Much as missing links in records of accounts of the past can help to advance and contribute to knowledge, such account must be valid and acceptable as part of the history of the whole and not the history of a part of the whole if it will serve its purpose. This is the grundnum for reconstructing African history since the last century. In the attempt to therefore improve on the ideas of Yoruba history and its credibility, it is necessary to inquire into this topic.
In the Yorubaland, most festivals have been linked to the ceremonial city in giving rites of expression to the moral framework of their society and in defining their relations with the various existing groups and their members in the community. Hence, the Yoruba ceremonial city with its celebration of communal festivals remains a ritual paradigm of the ordination of the society, whereby the required values and attitudes are inculcated in people for its continuity. More importantly, the ceremonial framework of the festivals held in the Yoruba palaces (Aafin) gives much needed continuity of rites of legitimacy and authority to the Oba (the King) over his subjects having being epitomized as a ‘sacred person who exists ontologically in heaven and on earth’ like an intercessor, a bridge builder and a divine agent between men and the divinity. The impact of traditional festivals in Yorubaland particularly where it is tied to the culture of the people and the continuity of the society therefore is set to achieve the following goals:
To celebrate a communal event that keeps the community in tune with its traditions
To promote the cultural and local/national identity of the people
To exhort specific characteristics of the community in forms of its religious beliefs or cultural assimilations as a mark of social advancement and commitment
To commemorate a local or national holiday where indigenes at home and abroad can come together to identify with the community and also seek pleasure or rest from work
To celebrate a specific seasonal or annual occurrence that justifies and promotes the communal identity of the people and distinguishes them from other communities.
To use the events to organize the people and provide traditional forms of entertainment for them which is no longer enjoyed due to advent of modern entertainments.
To address issues that could invigorate peoples’ commitment and continuous propagation of their traditions towards reintegrating them into the community.
To employ the elders to play active roles in sharing stories/experiences among the people that can promote their sense of unity and solidify their sense of morality in the society.
To give all the celebrants the opportunity to share a sense of belonging, oneness and identity in order to sustain their group cohesiveness.
To pledge loyalty to constituted authorities or hierarchy of traditional rulers and chiefs in a Kingdom by performing defined rites to affirm their superiority and continuity in office.
The development of each sector would be a reflection of the quality and adequacy of skilled manpower supplied to them by the education sector.
Critical developments of skills are strategic tools for the sustenance of the management of each sector and therefore require the support and quality performance of the educational system. Hence the need for an efficient, predictable and committed institutional system to can coordinate the needs of the various sectors while maintaining an equilibrium between the products available from the education sector their utilization in the economic life.
Public sector organizations and institutions such as Federal and State Ministries of Education, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, National Planning Commission, National Manpower Board, Federal Office of Statistics, National Institute of Labour, National Directorate of Employment, National Population Commission, Department of National Citizenship Registration under Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs and other relevant agencies at State and Federal levels has critical collaborative roles to play in assisting the government to fashion out a sustainable action plan.
Functional education should be a means of eradicating absolute poverty, creation of employment, universal access to basic services, greater equity among the populace, popular participation in decision making, respect for human rights, gender equality, environmental conservation and protection and related issues in the process of development.
Hence, the prospect of revamping the Nigeria’s educational system consists of approaches and linkages with intersectoral relationship in all productive and non-productive sector of the economy.
It is imminent to conclude that the problems plaguing the educational system in Nigeria consist mainly of:
a. Unplanned educational growth and excessive politicised educational policies that is distorting the nation’s educational objectives
b. Unemployment rate in the country and lack of commitment to practical and functional training of school entrants at all levels
c. Progressive dilution of the quality of teaching personnel and college administrators with enhanced institutional funding
d. Lack of the provision of enabling environment and facilities for research and academic development
e. Lack of institutional collaborative efforts towards eliminating examination malpractices, frauds and poor academic discipline in the college system
f. Failure to enhance educational values to promote socio-economic development at all times and to achieve national unity and integration
g. Lack of greater attention on quality service delivery, monitoring and evaluation of courses and teachers qualification through regular inspection, course accreditation and re-certification of teachers
h. Lack of total adherence to standards and ideals enunciated by National Policy on Education in creation of schools and colleges
i. Lack of provision of adequate facilities and improvement of quality of education and effective management of educational sector
If these and many others are reviewed and addressed, a relative chage would be witnessed in the transformation of the educational system.
The British colonial enterprise however helped to accomplish the goals of the Berlin Conference of reducing and eliminating European conflicts on African soils while providing leverage for the imperialistic quest of European States to expand. The scramble for and partition of Africa and the British conquering of Nigerian territories had been laid through the exploration of the vast territories by early European traders, missionaries, and explorers, whose missions were unknown until Africa was surrounded, bombarded, and invaded on all sides. The imperialistic goals that fueled the British invasion and domination of Nigeria therefore influenced the mode of constitutionalism adopted in the colonized Nigeria owing to the mode of political control and governing mechanism introduced in the colonial era via the direct and indirect rule system.
Yorubaland depended on their geography which played strong role in the occupation of the people and in their self-preservation against attacks, total annihilation and destruction from invading armies.
Ekiti was a hidden area in many instances with difficult access into the terrain
since the areas occupied by the inhabitants were not of easily accessible in tropical rain forest and hilly country sides. The people of the hinterland were also very cooperative and vigilant in identifying strangers and making efforts to establish their enemies from their foes. These strong characteristics and parameter of identifying people across their locations and borders helped in their interrelations with others and determines where war starts and end.
In this study, a reconstruction of the history of Ekiti people is attempted by looking at the ethnographic and geographical attributes of the early settlers in showing that Ekiti people had a history of aboriginal and later arrivals that restructure the political and social landscape to what exist in the pre-colonial era and continues till date.
The bulk of activities guiding the process of determining the appropriateness of rules and the application of sanctions owing to the sensitivity and awareness of the University Management stops at the doorsteps of the Governing Council as the final adjudicator. Nonetheless, the Vice-Chancellor as the Chief Executive and academic head of the institution wields extensive degree of influence and authority on matters of staff discipline, sometimes by use of executive fiat. On the other hand, the Registrar bears the brunt of any failure in the University system whenever the Management is not properly guided or counselled on the process of handling staff discipline and whenever the Management failed to have full recourse to due process in the report and investigation of disciplinary matters before applying sanctions on the staff.
A proper study and application of this paper is to therefore aid Registrars and Registry to play their roles properly in intervening at Management levels and in advising Council and the Vice-Chancellor to uphold a fair and accountable process on issues of staff discipline irrespective of their personal sentiments or the pressures and misgivings surrounding information against any staff to be disciplined.
Traditional rulers (Oba) (monarchs or recognized chiefs) are classified by their status and origin from times immemorial. In Ekiti State, the tradition and status of the various chiefs and their ranking have been highlighted at the presentation of various Panel of Enquiry and Judicial Commissions on Chieftaincy Matters before and after the colonial rule. Similar cases have been advanced in other parts of South West Nigeria (Yorubaland) without exception in the attempt to properly classify chiefs and reduces incidence of agitations where they occurs. Nonetheless, there have been attempts by revisionist efforts to change the idea of ranking of chiefs as well as their traditional profile particularly among Obas in Ekiti State.
The situation was strengthened by rising agitations after the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 with the elevation and upgrading of different categories of certain Obas by the Otunba Niyi Adebayo’s administration and much later by subsequent administration of Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. A good number of the recognized Chiefs have been elevated to different classes or grade between Grade A, B, C and D which hitherto was unknown when those Obas were members of the House of Chiefs in Western Nigeria during colonial era and Traditional Rulers Councils or Council of Chiefs after independence when Ekiti State was a Province and a Division under Western Region of Nigeria, Western State of Nigeria and Ondo State of Nigeria respectively.
The recent developments in year 2019 by the Fayemi administration to further thinker with the tradition and customs of ranking of traditional rulers with the intent to obliterate or transmute the traditional process of determining the list of Pelupelu Obas in Ekiti (Superpowers and senior chiefs) has become a major challenge with the appointment of hitherto an Oba in the First Class (Grade A) Grade as an assumed member of the Pelupelu rank without justification other than the assumption that all attendees of the Council of Chiefs meeting particularly those granted independence in 1920s and 1940s as well as those elevated during and after Adebayo’s administration (1999-2003) are automatic Pelupelu members.
The currency of the challenges facing the traditional ranking and status of Obas as articulated in the current Government stance is not only a departure from the traditions and well known practice but a strange introduction into the local customs and tradition, being resisted by Pelupelu Obas and creating divisions fuelled by the State Government among traditional rulers. The most appalling aspect is the White Paper put in place in 2019 penultimate to the amendment of the Ekiti State Traditional Council Laws 2003 to reform the traditional council and redesignate its membership and status of its recognized chiefs. Part of efforts to reconcile the Government and the various traditional rulers is yet to find the proper means of addressing the issues.
It is obvious that there are existence of Principal Obas among various Traditional rulers in every part of Yorubaland (South West Nigeria) just as there are Principal Chiefs among Sultan, Emirs and District Heads across Northern States of Nigeria. Even where District Heads have been elevated in many States to ranks or status of Emirs, it does not totally remove the ranking of these Emirs among each other knowing that the history and custom of the Northern Nigeria only accord original status and leadership status to 14 Emirs comprising 7 Emirs of the original states and 7 Emirs of conquered territories as well as the Shehu of Borno, Tor Tiv, Attah of Igala, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland among others. See Appendix A containing table of a list of traditional states in Nigeria and their traditional heads at the advent of colonial rule who survived till moderm times.
A earlier mention of the growth and development of chieftaincy institutions under the modern day Government shows that prior to the creation of the Nigerian State for point of emphasis, the British imperialists, trade occupation and colonial agents signed treaties of occupation and protection with some of these traditional rulers at the occupation and conquest of Africa after the scramble for and partition of the African territories. Hence, the legitimacy of the modern State system by sources of law largely had its origin in the tradition political institutions and invariably the traditional rulers and their territorial landscape which has become part and parcel of modern day Nigeria.
It is preeminent in appreciating the Nigerian constitution and its inclusion of customary laws as sources of laws even with the exclusion of the traditional rulers from the institutions of government, to give credence to the role and status of traditional rulers within their domains and in line with the customs of their people as it develops from the pre-colonial era till date so as to avoid frictions as long as the tradition does not negate the rights of people to life and equality of all men before the law. Since state ceremonies, activities, offices and fucntions delegates various priviledges and assigned protocols to state officilas and functions, the need to also recognize and sustain the status and ranking of traditional rulers is of essence as a respect for those institutions and acknowlefgement of their prestige as factors of socio-cultural values, political stability and symbol of unity irrespective of their present political status.
It behooves on practitioners in the study of international relations to adopt the study of history as a major source of developing and interpreting behaviours and actions suggested in their models and instruments of measurement to determine principles of international relations and its effects on world affairs. For instance, attempts to create spheres of influence without free will participation among states have definitely resulted to wars, whereas the adoption of collective security and peaceful co-existence have enabled many states to relate and negotiate their terms of relationship and interest in a manner that would reduce inequalities and threats foisted by their differences and limitations. This is what history has shown as a factor of developing modern diplomacy in the theatre of world politics and interstates relations.
The study of history has further shown that alliances and adversities that often resulted to wars among nations with particular reference to international wars (World War I and World War II) had specific import to be situated within the outcomes of states’ interactions and power transitions while engendering the essence and limitations of their diplomacy and importance. It is therefore pertinent to assert that there are streamlined or specific issues, perspectives and approaches that constitute the basis of historical analysis in the study of behaviours and political activities among states and international actors since the late 19th centuries.
Agitations surrounding how, what and where International Relations should be treated as a separate discipline from History suffice; whether it is a coordinate (parallel) or scientific (advanced) study of world and diplomatic history; a branch of history or whether it is has no common ground for appreciation and collaboration, which at best shows that it draws its body of knowledge from political science or the social sciences, International Relations would always requires ‘History’ to form a body of knowledge. This is because history would be the first point of sourcing for information needed to examine activities and actions that provided basis for reactions and counteractions in inter-state relations.
Furthermore, history would continue to be the source on which experts in international relations can establish and provide the facts needed for processing inputs and deliverables required to understand the causal factors and formulate appropriate determinants. The theories which social sciences particularly Political Science would only provide a proper framework that are needed to build platforms of justification in understanding the discipline of international relations
In that era, it was uncommon for any contest or controversy to occur once the Kingmakers appoint one of the Princes as the successor in title and the priesthood begins the process of its installation as the next ruling monarch. The tradition follows that those who failed in the bid for the kingship should ordinarily pay homage to the newly pronounced king as a sign of their pledge of loyalty and acceptance. In some instance these set of Princes may end up becoming honoured with Chieftaincy titles equivalent or translated to positions of District Heads, Palace Chiefs, War Chiefs or King’s Major Advisers.
Where such Princes are unable to command such recognition and honour, they will remain recognized members of the royal family in their lifetime. However, whenever a very popular candidate or wealthy contestant was dislodged or disqualified from ascending the throne either by vote of the royal household, by preference of Ifa divination or by the Kingmakers vote for an unpopular, younger or a very humble and relatively unknown contestant with little or no means, the disqualified popular candidate and his supporters may relocate from the Kingdom to other locations to found their own settlements or to go to another Kingdom to serve as a Chief, if he finds it impossible or difficult to pay obeisance to the chosen King or if he and his followers cannot remain under check due to the choice of the Chiefs.
In similar vein, when a King is forced out of the throne without being killed by his chiefs, he may seek refuge in a friendly neighbouring kingdom if the opportunity avails, unless his Chiefs forced him to commit suicide or he does so by his own volition. As he migrates to another Kingdom, he may seek support of the kingdom to recover his throne if the place of refuge is powerful and influential to assist him. Otherwise, he will become a royal guest of the neighbour’s palace or an adviser or Palace Chief in the kingdom. If such position is conferred, the former king will earn a new status in the neighbours or friend’s kingdom. This is why some Chiefs bear the title of kings in other Kingdoms whenever they migrated to serve under a King either abdicated or deposed rulers or heir apparent who relocated or ran to other kingdoms for safety of their lives.
The purpose of this study is to therefore conduct an historical analysis on the choice of a successor to the stool of the Ewi as one of the senior Yoruba Oba following the demise of a reigning Oba. This is focused on how such contest could result to unhealthy relations among members of royal houses, chiefs and eminent people of Ado-Ekiti over a period of time through series of social actions and litigations. This is to help review and highlight the value content of royal tussles in modern times in Yorubaland and how a major contestant can rock the boat of the traditional political system and peace of the state. The focus is to examine the position of Prince Adegoke Victor Adewumi as he stood ground to contest the choice of the Chiefs and the Government declaration on the choice of a reigning Oba and his successor through lingering and very divisive litigations that held Ado-Ekiti spellbound for many years.
The scope of power relationships in relation to the equation of power and the aggregate of influence within the indigenous society has been determined for long by tradition and culture of the people despite the changing phase of the modern society and the reforms that attends it as long as the institution of the traditional society are sustained and protected by the people, the society and the state.
It is evident that despite the influence of western education and culture in many colonized and later independent countries of the world and in particular, Africa and the Third world countries, the aspirations of democratic institutions and societies to attain equity in social leverages and equality for all men, does not remove the existence of class and the impact of class struggle and social stratification at large. This is because the existing society and its culture are deeply rooted in indigenous practices despite changing world order and reforms.
In similar veins, traditional societies particularly in Africa and Asia Minor continues to exhibit high premium of cultural intelligence and harmony through the efforts of its indigenous institution and systems of human communication and controls. This is however not restricted to these societies since it is also obvious among Red Indians and other developed societies in the Middle East, Americas, Australia and New Zealand.
There is no way the traditional society can exist in its purest state without references to the existence of various classes and structures of the society often based on privileged positions, past attained glory and evidence of superior-subordinate relationships. The cultural evolution developed through these political systems often presents a feudalistic approach embedded in an aristocratic or oligarchy structure to sustain their tradition and social interactions in history from the past to the present. This is why an average indigenous society would continue to survive on the relevance of its tradition and culture despite the effect of western modernization in those African, Eastern and Asian countries.
It is imperative for the traditional society to therefore remain unassailable and retain its richness by giving measure of credence to the role assigned to the various structures that forms its system of organization and relationships. This is the only guarantee of preserving the laid down and existing foundation and beauty of the tradition of the people, the class of people and their leadership within the traditional social system and its hierarchy among others. Moreover, the human society cannot be well organized and coordinated without witnessing the desired elements of leadership and processes to drive its organization, activities and objectives.
In modern society, governance and its bureaucratic character remains the major characteristic of an organized system and therefore supports the process and roles played by the leadership. It equally gives room for the adoption of hierarchy and chains of command to achieve the purest form of unity in promoting harmony and control of the people and the society, the governed, the stakeholders and the government. In this study, attempt is therefore concentrated on looking at the role of traditional political systems and the issues of equality and inequality that often results to crisis and controversy in their relationship and social values vis a vis the role of leadership and organization of traditional rulers and the modern government system.
The central theme of the study revolves round the politics of leadership and the hierarchy of Chiefs in Ekiti State of Nigeria as a case study and in relation to their social functions and relevance from times past towards understanding issues inherent in social relations and conflicts within the traditional African society. No doubt, the recent crisis between a class of Senior Ekiti traditional rulers (Pelupelu Oba) and the Government of Ekiti State over the appointment of a perceived interloper and ineligible traditional ruler as the Chairman of the Council of traditional rulers in Ekiti State of Nigeria ginger the need to undertake the study.
The biography of HRM Oba Gen. (Dr) Olufemi Olutoye OFR, JP, the Alani of Ido Ani in Ondo State is entitled ECHOES FROM THE THRONE and was written by Otunba Dr. Babatola Johnson.
The review of the book was commissioned as an academic exercise to Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola in preparation for its launching.
The book consist of 10 Chapters and Tributes to celebrate the Kabiyesi and it is a must read for those interested in history and biographical studies, politics, leadership and governance, Nigeria Government and politics and even mentoring.
The book discusses various phases of the life and achievements of Kabiyesi and his contributions to humanity and the society at large. It is worth reading.
The review is a 10 page presentation on the lifetime achievements of the subject and issues surrounding his role in modern history which can serve as a source of knowledge for the advancement of human traditions and good leadership.
The foregoing tends to situate that regardless of the perspectives that may have arisen in the accounts of history, rendition of accounts of the past must be objective and centred on universal philosophy otherwise regarded as the practical record for establishing the truth and situating its convenience and acceptability in a given society and culture. Wherever the attempts to create the accounts of the past does not give credibility to the purpose that it serves, it rather tends to become an irredentist and revisionist perception to draw unnecessary attention to claims that may rather alter the glory of the past than to enhance it.
Much as missing links in records of accounts of the past can help to advance and contribute to knowledge, such account must be valid and acceptable as part of the history of the whole and not the history of a part of the whole if it will serve its purpose. This is the grundnum for reconstructing African history since the last century. In the attempt to therefore improve on the ideas of Yoruba history and its credibility, it is necessary to inquire into this topic.
In the Yorubaland, most festivals have been linked to the ceremonial city in giving rites of expression to the moral framework of their society and in defining their relations with the various existing groups and their members in the community. Hence, the Yoruba ceremonial city with its celebration of communal festivals remains a ritual paradigm of the ordination of the society, whereby the required values and attitudes are inculcated in people for its continuity. More importantly, the ceremonial framework of the festivals held in the Yoruba palaces (Aafin) gives much needed continuity of rites of legitimacy and authority to the Oba (the King) over his subjects having being epitomized as a ‘sacred person who exists ontologically in heaven and on earth’ like an intercessor, a bridge builder and a divine agent between men and the divinity. The impact of traditional festivals in Yorubaland particularly where it is tied to the culture of the people and the continuity of the society therefore is set to achieve the following goals:
To celebrate a communal event that keeps the community in tune with its traditions
To promote the cultural and local/national identity of the people
To exhort specific characteristics of the community in forms of its religious beliefs or cultural assimilations as a mark of social advancement and commitment
To commemorate a local or national holiday where indigenes at home and abroad can come together to identify with the community and also seek pleasure or rest from work
To celebrate a specific seasonal or annual occurrence that justifies and promotes the communal identity of the people and distinguishes them from other communities.
To use the events to organize the people and provide traditional forms of entertainment for them which is no longer enjoyed due to advent of modern entertainments.
To address issues that could invigorate peoples’ commitment and continuous propagation of their traditions towards reintegrating them into the community.
To employ the elders to play active roles in sharing stories/experiences among the people that can promote their sense of unity and solidify their sense of morality in the society.
To give all the celebrants the opportunity to share a sense of belonging, oneness and identity in order to sustain their group cohesiveness.
To pledge loyalty to constituted authorities or hierarchy of traditional rulers and chiefs in a Kingdom by performing defined rites to affirm their superiority and continuity in office.
The development of each sector would be a reflection of the quality and adequacy of skilled manpower supplied to them by the education sector.
Critical developments of skills are strategic tools for the sustenance of the management of each sector and therefore require the support and quality performance of the educational system. Hence the need for an efficient, predictable and committed institutional system to can coordinate the needs of the various sectors while maintaining an equilibrium between the products available from the education sector their utilization in the economic life.
Public sector organizations and institutions such as Federal and State Ministries of Education, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, National Planning Commission, National Manpower Board, Federal Office of Statistics, National Institute of Labour, National Directorate of Employment, National Population Commission, Department of National Citizenship Registration under Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs and other relevant agencies at State and Federal levels has critical collaborative roles to play in assisting the government to fashion out a sustainable action plan.
Functional education should be a means of eradicating absolute poverty, creation of employment, universal access to basic services, greater equity among the populace, popular participation in decision making, respect for human rights, gender equality, environmental conservation and protection and related issues in the process of development.
Hence, the prospect of revamping the Nigeria’s educational system consists of approaches and linkages with intersectoral relationship in all productive and non-productive sector of the economy.
It is imminent to conclude that the problems plaguing the educational system in Nigeria consist mainly of:
a. Unplanned educational growth and excessive politicised educational policies that is distorting the nation’s educational objectives
b. Unemployment rate in the country and lack of commitment to practical and functional training of school entrants at all levels
c. Progressive dilution of the quality of teaching personnel and college administrators with enhanced institutional funding
d. Lack of the provision of enabling environment and facilities for research and academic development
e. Lack of institutional collaborative efforts towards eliminating examination malpractices, frauds and poor academic discipline in the college system
f. Failure to enhance educational values to promote socio-economic development at all times and to achieve national unity and integration
g. Lack of greater attention on quality service delivery, monitoring and evaluation of courses and teachers qualification through regular inspection, course accreditation and re-certification of teachers
h. Lack of total adherence to standards and ideals enunciated by National Policy on Education in creation of schools and colleges
i. Lack of provision of adequate facilities and improvement of quality of education and effective management of educational sector
If these and many others are reviewed and addressed, a relative chage would be witnessed in the transformation of the educational system.
Most University mandate therefore inclines and focuses on stimulating critical thinking through normative theories and process analysis to distill the outcome of social interactions and rules of engagement; reiterating the use of methodical approaches, due process, and democratic application of acceptable academic traditions to enrich emerging trends in social norms for best practices; sharing ideas in various specialization for robust scholarship and institutional accreditation; and pursuit of total quality management for organizational stability and restructuring of the society.
The process of reinventing strategic roles of the University system in the new normal depends largely on the stimulus and activities of University Administrators and their compelling influence because the university system cannot survive in isolation while the process of managing University growth and expansion requires multifaceted, multidimensional and multi-disciplinary approaches to enrich and sustain its institutional goals.
The university system further requires its leadership to concentrate on promoting co-existence, consultation, cooperation, and coordination among faculties and arms of the University by adopting strategic management for work to be done right and in an appropriate and efficient manner. This would stem the myriads of leadership crisis, sectarian tyranny, and dearth of ideas and help refine University goals for an all-round and well-developed plan and process where existing norms and best practices can transform Universities into places of pride.
University academic foundation stimulates scholarship and excellence through continuous study, networking, and research collaboration. The change dynamics in the University system are also premised on fundamentals of administration that gravitate towards making University governance effective while relying on the use of the Committee system, departmental functionality, and expertise.
Professional Administrators need to continually improve on the job and familiarize themselves with administrative knowledge and skills to guarantee their expertise and occupational relevance.
Keywords: Strategic Roles, University Administrators, New Normal, Corporate Governance, Digital Skills
a. Operational framework
b. Regulatory principles
c. Charter of rights, privileges and duties of workers (public servants)
d. Details of sanctions for erring workers and guidelines for workers conducts
The Public Service Rules (PSR) is a guidebook for employee- employer relationship and stipulates conditions of their engagement. From the colonial period to 1974, it was known as “General Orders” and from 1974 to January, 2000, it was called “Civil Service Rules” and became known as the “Public Service Rules till date.” There are contextual, textual and structural changes with historical import on PSR apart from the problems associated with its palpable linkage to the quality of the rules and its application for an effective public service system as the country within globalization pressures, need to be responsive to change because the PSR like 1999 Nigeria’s Constitution is an imposed document binding on workers without their input.
Effective Service Delivery in Public Sector Organization is a medium of making effective service available to the people towards promoting the wellbeing of society and human development in a public choice theory, where workers are required to display emotional intelligence and apply service expertise and discipline to services provided to the society. Service delivery has been severally conceived therefore as a contact through which public administration interact or interface with customers (citizens, residents or enterprises) in sourcing for or providing services in form of data collection, documentation, retrieval or issuance of information and instructions, managing public affairs or handling private matters of public concerns and or interest, fulfilling civic duties and performing statutory functions stipulated by law or statutes, which should be delivered with the following aim and conduct:
a. In an effective (desirable and purposive) ways
b. In a predictable (foreseeable) manner and
c. With a reliable and customer-friendly (dependable and trusting) approach.
Common approach to ensure effective service delivery requires taking the following steps:
i. Identify business tools and commodity services required for a functional office/unit to perform its work
ii. Identify the Key Stakeholders and their priorities for every service provided (business service)
iii. Develop an Enterprise List (a set of utility concerns and interest) within a service area
iv. Engage in regular interactions within and outside the organization (Socialize across Enterprise)
v. Develop and execute laid down Work Plan of the organization
vi. Measure levels of achievement in work provision (Service delivered)
vii. Continuous improvement of the work environment.
The implication is to achieve the following:
1. Make approach to the work environment and attitude responsive and civil to safeguard personal integrity and dignity of labour
2. Promote public trust for the sake of probity and accountability and
3. Achieve results within minimum period to instill public confidence in the State and system.
The common organization and political structure in most traditional states is that various communities had quarter chiefs and district heads while the towns have traditional heads and a collection of towns often had a recognized principal ruler (king), who may be subordinate to an emperor or chief ruler of the ethnic group. The ranking of traditional rulers are therefore based on several factors such as:
a. Their ancestry, history and age-long traditions for preservation and communication
b. The scope of territories covered in terms of land mass
c. The distinctive nature of its people and their degrees of loyalty to the State
d. The population of the people
e. The economic prospect of the communities and traditional state
f. The strength of its standing army and ambition of its Generals
g. The weather and geographical locations of the state
h. The resources available in terms of military hardware, food and other raw materials for expansion, building of palaces and sustaining the state
In same vein, the title and names of many rulers in ancient times are regarded as divinely pronounced or issued by higher or supreme sovereigns which places them above others by human sentiments and traditional/cultural choices, myths and feebles. The title of traditional rulers differs from villages, towns, city states, kingdoms and empires depending on their tradition and customs either as a traditional state or an ethnic groupings. The title is sometimes tied to the degree/level of the chieftain in relations to others. The number of the nobility, warriors and aristocrats that surrounds a ruler in ancient times often suggest the prestige of the office holder and legitimacy of its political authority and or economic prosperity whether ordained or acquired or bestowed. This is similar to what occurs in the Ekitiland and in various Yoruba kingdoms and traditional states for centuries.
Kingdoms and Empire may rise and fall and new rulers may emerge, however, the sanctity of the royalty and the nature of their nobility continues to retain similar structure or identity. It is obviously clear that many dynasties and ruling houses that survived generations of wars and revolutionary change across the world were transformed to constitutional monarchy or in Saudi Arabia and other Arabian countries like Brunei and UAE where monarchy still wield a great influence. Reforms were carried out in many colonized African countries to reduce or eliminate the powers of traditional rulers as native authorities in British West Africa, the traditional institutions that survived enjoy a sign of respect as the symbol of the traditional authority among the people and essence of its cultural identity and unity among the local population.
The paraphernalia of office of an Oba is a matter of historical significance and any person who claim to be an Oba but without a beaded crown traced to Ile-Ife by Yoruba tradition cannot truly be a full fledged traditional ruler. Most Oba who lay claims to possession of beaded crowns therefore relied on Ile-Ife as their source with the belief that descent of Olofin Oduduwa wears crown and could grant it to others, though some Obas had acquired rights of beaded crowns for centuries while villages that transformed into cities and big towns also acquired similar status overtime. Findings showed that at various times, there were four different types of crowns in Yorubaland namely:
a. Ade Are exclusively worn by the Ooni of Ife;
b. Ade Omo Olofin Oduduwa with 16 decorative birds;
c. Ade Omo Olofin Oduduwa without 16 decorative birds and
d. Ade Oriogbofo.
Indeed, Yoruba Obas were classified in their seniority and importance in historical hierarchies of institution and privileges.
Earliest restructuring of Nigerian State started with 1881 European Conference on the Scramble for and Partition of Africa in Germany. The creation of British colonial administration in Northern Nigeria in 1900 and Southern Nigeria in 1906 led to 1914 amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria to seal the fate of Nigeria as a modern African State.
In the colonial era, restructuring of Nigerian State to meet yearnings of the people and ensure administrative convenience at the lowest ebb was evident in 1939 creation of the Northern Provinces, the Eastern Provinces and the Western Provinces of Nigeria. The introduction of Richards Constitution in 1945 and later MacPherson Constitution with three autonomous Regions prepared Nigeria as a politically independent state on 1st October, 1960.
Further political restructuring influenced by political crisis led to creation of Midwest Region in 1963 when Nigeria attained the status of a sovereign Republic. Much later in May 1967, military intervention in politics and successionists threats of Eastern Nigeria as the Republic of Biafra led to Gowon’s creation of 12 States. By 1976, Muritala Mohammed junta expanded Nigeria’s Federation to a 19 States structure which remained until 1983 fall of Second Republic. In 1987, Babangida led junta adopted a 21 State structure which grew to 30 States in 1991. In 1996, Abacha’s regime reinvented Nigeria into 36 States apart from the Federal Capital Territory at Abuja.
State creation as part of restructuring after British colonial rule surrounds the need to protect minorities, create opportunities and political platforms for diverse people of Nigeria, remove ambivalence surrounding geographical and topographical access, population cluster, customs and administrative convenience.
In this paper, restructuring of Nigeria and the goals served in meeting people’s aspirations within the potential scale for harmonizing national security and national development is discussed.
Keywords: Restructuring, National Security, National Development, State Creation, Nigeria’s Constitution.
a. issues surrounding a nation, its nationality and the role of leaders;
b. the existence of Yoruba as an ethnic group, the formative and earliest stages of their existence;
c. the consciousness of the identity and culture of the Yoruba people as a race or nation;
d. the factors sustaining Yoruba nationhood and the parameters of leadership among Yoruba people;
e. the emerging Yoruba Leaders from time past and the challenges of Yoruba People in defining and following their Leaders;
f. the current and growing concerns of Yoruba and future of Yoruba Leadership and followership in the Nigerian Project;
g. the fundamentals of nation building and its challenges; and how Yoruba Leaders and people can survive as a nation.
I will attempt to be brief in addressing the questions, though it is impossible to satisfactorily do so without borrowing historical leaf and references from existing works.
I cannot do justice to the topic without equally raising more questions for others to answer with inquisitive mind, deep knowledge and appreciation of other traditions and knowledge. If that occurs, I have contributed to knowledge. However, I appeal that this Lecture should also motivate us as Yoruba people to identify with our common sense of history, strengthen our bound of unity and sustain the ideals of our common identity and interest, putting our differences aside to strategically work for the advancement and causes of a people.
i. The National Policy on Education for Tertiary Education in Nigeria
ii. The Laws and Statures establishing Universities in Nigeria owing to the type of Universities and the goals and objectives to be achieved
iii. The accreditation and ranking parameters for evaluating University education in Nigeria and the place of various institutions in terms of
a. The key players in University Management
b. Governing policy and management strategies
c. Academic resources and research development
d. Working environment vis a vis the culture and input and output of work and the performances and
e. Availability of funds
Discussing the environment of Nigerian University, therefore, speaks volume about the type of institutions of higher learning or tertiary institutions in Nigeria, whether state owned institutions, mission based, corporately or privately owned. It also specifics about the trend and culture of the institutional stakeholders, whether as policy makers, managers, academics, administrators, members of the community or clients of the University system, even the town and gown relationship.
The complexity of the Nigerian University system, therefore, brings to fore the need to see the Nigerian University as a child of necessity and a MODEL conceived to bring about change in the acquisition of knowledge, education of literate public and contributions to the development of national life. The performance and scope of the University system are however limited to the degree of the knowledge and practice available to its teachers, specialists, and students in rubbing minds together and tolerating one another towards providing a SUSTAINABLE AGENDA for the University to function and move in the right direction. Such step must be seen as not only DEMOCRATIC, PRODUCTIVE and SOUND, but not SELF-SERVING and people centered. As long as the University is running like a CLIQUE or an ANIMAL FARM, rather than a place of MERIT and VALUES, little can be done to do things right and put things in perspectives across the ladder.
If on the other part, we are desirous of examining the Nigerian University in the context of what a University is expected to be in global perspective of University System and management, then we have to look at the existing standards, the best possible and universally acceptable standards using verifiable methods to ascertain if Nigerian University is within those templates or working towards it and if the other participants are also capable of playing their roles. What is most astounding to state here is that Nigerian University has produced some of the WORLD BEST and also some of the WORST. For us to have produced inventors like Olu Awojobi, legal sound minds like Gani Fawehinmi, profound medically celebrated scholars like Oshuntokun, a literary giant like Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe amongst others, indicate that there was upon a time that Nigerian University was the WORLD BEST. The same University system had first class Academic Administrators like Kenneth Dike, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, and Ade-Ajayi, as well as University Professional Administrators like Simeon Adebo, Femi Eperokun, and Moji Ladipo.
Why is that same institution of scholars (an ivory tower) also producing nowadays Academic Administrators and Professional Administrators without grounded knowledge of management, respect for propriety in administration and academic standards? Why has the University system transformed into a community of unlettered and unruly managers who compromises standards and work for their personal interest rather than the development of the society? Why has policy makers in the University transformed into contractors and politicians when they ought to be concerned with the quality of discipline and development that the University can surmount! When we can truly address these issues, then we would be able to situate the University system in proper perspectives.
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines REPORT as a media that give information to people about something that was heard, seen, done etc; a presentation written or spoken account of an event in the news; a statement forwarded to those in authorities; a register of data or feedback; an appearance before a superior; written account of an event published or broadcast; transcript of information required by someone; an official document or study; a piece of story or commentary etc
Scholars severally agreed that any documented statement useful for record purposes or reference is a REPORT whether minutes of meeting, inquiry, test, petition, memorandum, survey, thesis etc.
Different types of Report are:
A. Reports on Events
B. Reports on Meetings
- Minutes of Meeting
- Decision Excerpts and
- Communiqué and Resolutions
C. Reports of Interviews, Tests and Experiments
• That the mission statements and activities of Alumni Associations in most Nigeria’s higher institutions lack the appropriate mechanism and strategies for effective administration and participatory management skills in the governing processes and organization development.
• That absence or erosion of requisite alumni culture and tradition to stimulate formidable and continuous alumni presence in the higher institutions through collaborative action and cooperative activities is an inherent factor in the context of Nigeria educational system.
• That the situation is further worsened by the nature of Nigerian society characterized by intense competition for personal and social recognition, due to divided interest and power struggles that undermines membership growth and participation in alumni activities.
• That there is an urgent need to review issues of conflicts, the environment of conflict management and resolutions in the Alumni Association of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions through interactions, dialogue and continuous training foe leadership and mentoring.
• That Alumni Association should be properly situated to develop attainable and well known mission, organization and activities towards playing its roles while eschewing politics of bitterness and division which paralyses or reduces the purpose and gains of alumni bodies.
On the basis of the foregoing assumptions, the topic is reconceived as: “CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTIONS IN NIGERIA HIGHER INSTITUTIONS ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS: A Personal Experience and Observations’’ To further do a justice to this topical issue, we can quickly review the keywords that sum up the conceptual framework of the lecture:
• The place of alumni association in their former institutions for the renewal of scholarship, academic linkages and social connections
• The direction of national policies in the management of tertiary institutions and attainment of national development
• Understanding the diversity of academic communities and orientation with probabilities of conflict, intense competition and the need to manage it without destroying alumni fabrics and spirit
• Understanding conflicts, conflict resolutions and management in using tools of organizational mechanisms and institutional objectives to attain world class strategies and effective collaboration, cooperative spirit and sustainable participation in alumni associations
• Examine few cases of conflicts in alumni bodies and the danger to alumni growth and development from the flow of public perception on the image of the academic communities where conflicts are externalized and not well managed.
This paper is a position paper presented as part of the submissions as Coneference proceedings at the just concluded Academic Summit held at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Further to the inauguration of the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. S.O. Bandele on 2nd December, 2015 and the delivery of his mission statements where he mentioned the need to be transparent and fair in dealing with staff matters, I decided to present this paper at the Academic Summit.
I believe the paper can help the University to work towards reviewing and making necessary reforms in the Registry and invariably in the University administrative system with focus on:
a. The review of the University condition of service
b. Updating of the University scheme of service and
c. Introduction of policy regulations guiding establishment rules with respect to:
i. Specialization and departmentalization
ii. Posting and transfers
iii. Placement of officers and
iv. Periodicity of staff posting and tenor in the Registry as a matter of interest under appointments, promotions and placement in the University.
The University can see this paper as a personal contribution and purely an academic exercise to infuse administrative knowledge and practices basically drawn from bureaucratic organizations and the public service in the University Registry.
The proposal may help to identify issues of reforms in the University administrative practices towards promoting merit, motivation, fair and proper treatment of staff while eschewing unfair practices and stigmatization, redundancy and highhandedness, favouritism and nepotism, sycophancy and mediocrity.
Sowore either exposed his beliefs and conviction in African traditional beliefs or he was ready to set the stage to intimidate the Bench and the fearless State from his continued perceived oppression.
He seems ready to create a psychological premise around his END SAR conviction and intellectual strength to explore powers beyond the realm of the State and the possibility of evading an incarceration, further harassment and humiliation.
It is a theory or hypothesis of using whatever you have to defend yourself against the power or oppression of others. These can be admissible from the perception that if the powers used against you become unbearable, and you are limited from using physical force or coercion in your favour while others use it to have there way, you may turn to other powers that can save you or fight your cause. Otherwise, we have just witnessing a DRAMA.
I feel concerned for our oppressed people as much as I fear for the future of our country. Indeed, many of the demands of our youths are genuine concerns and issues of social realities that requires extensive surgical procedure to unmask, unearthed and dissect in finding appropriate solutions to them. Nonetheless, I also bemoan the challenges of a lawless society and the alarming rate of crime in our society.
Pericles son of Xanthippus (428-494 B.C.) was the 1st known orator who celebrated the deeds of great men at public funeral where they were laid to rest. He spoke of the attributes of great rulers and Generals who took charge of the affairs of men in times of war and of peace, just as we here pay our last respect to this great man, our great leader and a great old boy. At the funeral of a great General and a Ruler of that age, Pericles rambles thus: 'Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Time is the wisest counsellor of all...For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial. Trees, though they are cut and lopped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again.'
The oration speaks for itself. It was composed for Christ's School ALumni Association and presented by Jadesola Tai Babatola
Reacting to Reno’s assertions is necessary for an intellectual engagement without sentiments because it is necessary to do so if one is making the least of efforts to repair the damage or to caution people who carry the burden of similar perspectives that could undermine the legacies and great works of Samuel Ajayi Crowther. Moreover, the attempt to revise Crowther’s conception lacked spiritual depth and academic merit in any attempt to puncture the logic of the choice or to suggest inappropriate criticism against the authorship’s lasting legacies with assumptions of any shortcomings.
Administrative Practices and Rules are not based on personal sentiments but the principles of occupational assessment, work ethics, and professional standards. What makes a worker the boss or superior is the qualifications that he possess and the career path that the qualifications can take you.
The educational system, training, and work responsibilities as well as occupational assessment for each category of workers are different in line with their status. The standard practice has established the placement of each certification in recognition of institutional ranking, training, orientation, and accreditation. For instance, a university graduate is expected to be intellectually sound and competent. The establishment and labor policy cannot equate a Polytechnic (Technically and Industrially trained) graduate that is taught the best way to do things for the best result to a University graduate that is taught all the best ways for the thing to be done and left to his discretion to study various approaches and perspectives, to conduct researches, hold to the best view of how to do it and even improve on existing methods through further research, knowledge generation, and dissemination.
There is no comparison between degree holders and diploma holders because they hold different certificates irrespective of the years of their learning and makeshift or multidisciplinary learning opportunities. The issue of training and certification is very fundamental to the quality of access and type of education received and it is not a matter of stigma or dichotomy.
By
J E.T. Babatola PhD
This scanned paper was presented in 2003 as a personal contribution to guide the presentations of SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (SSANU) representatives at the Federal Government negotiation table.
It was part of the highlights to demand proper staff emolument for senior staff in the agitation for salary parity, equitable salary package and payment schedule in Universities when I was a Branch and Zonal Secretary (West) of SSANU
The challenging aspect is that many of these graduates also engage in sophisticated criminal activities with high yielding but destructive gains in the areas of armed robbery, bank robbery, narcotics trade, human trafficking, ritual murders and voodoo to make money, kidnapping, internet scam, credit card schemes and fraudulent practices aided through their advanced knowledge. Those who become blue-collar employees often possess technical skills or exposure to industrial-related work if they lack academic competency but acquired skills and exposure.
The employability and limitations of graduate exposure to competitions with the demand for competencies in the labour market continue to hamper and restrict the opportunities for young graduates to find a fulfilling career or well-meaning job after graduation, particularly those seeking white-collar jobs in industrial complexes or the corporate world. Even where the job exists, the saturated population of job seekers and well-qualified educated graduates and those regarded as half-baked or less qualified certificate holders in the work environment makes it difficult to get the best based on one peculiarity or the other.
It is therefore imperative to submit as a phenomenon that the labour market is vast and open to all categories of job seekers to meander and find something to do wherever the factors of production in relation to the economy are determined by the return on investment, the trend of activities and reward system of each organization with extensive impact on the human and national development.
In making any contribution, I wish to underscore the relevance of historiography and philosophy of history to establish and streamline the facts and fictions that assail our understanding of the study of history. This is important in addressing the challenges of reconstruction when new ideas are learnt that seems strange and different from known values schooled in the knowledge of Yoruba traditions. I need to state here that we should not be alarmed but to take it with pinch of salt and allow the dead to bury their dead. What’s important is that scholars of history will hold sacred the facts of history told despite its perspectives, the focus and objectives of research and the findings of a writer.
All readers of our local history ought to know that changes have occurred in the collation of our traditions before the advent of western literacy. What helped the African traditional society to preserve their history was the reliability of its local historians and court recorders drawing from their extensive knowledge of oral traditions, narratives, myths and legends, Ifa corpus and other customs that helps in deriving the facts of history in relation to what historians later found very useful when corroborating facts from their neighbours and other empirical sources.
Many have tried in the past and some will continue to attempt to change the tradition or storyline of history to suit their intent and purposes failing to realize that the formation of kingdoms and the tradition of various societies were established around well known ancient practices that are age long and not easily distorted. That is why most of the attempts to reconstruct history outside well known traditions will fail. No one can easily distort history and get away with it. The storyline will expose the frauds apart from the lack of well known traditions to support and establish the facts of history. Needless are anthropological and archeological evidences on the sociology of the people and intelligence report in the archives that cannot be faulted.
The interesting storyline that most of those who intend to rewrite history often focus on is to achieve:
a. The recognition of their separate identity or a sense of different sources of origin.
b. The possibility of using this idea of a different identity to rent the robe of equality of race or ethnic nationalism
c. The need to use their newfound claims (without age long proof) to either perpetuate a supremacy theory or superiority with a major founder who is regarded as the traditional source of authority within their territorial space
d. The possibility of using their reinvented storyline to concentrate on the idea of underscoring existing traditions where they were not treated well or where they felt that the process of formulating the history has not given them the prominence or status they desire or deserve
e. The possibility of agitating for a separate traditional and political independence, internal autonomy or relevance within the ethnic relationship and identity.
The rendition of most of the storyline therefore tends to perpetuate a new idea of history among Yoruba people that is not only creating unnecessary controversy and unguarded statements, it often underscore the validity of the new claims as may be shown in the course of this exercise. This is because the storyline often does not remove the fact that the most possible intent of the writers is an attempt to justify the basis of why we cannot totally do away the facts of history and well known traditions that predates their claims.
There is no self help in history because history is not the end justifies the means. Rather, history helps to represent issues in the facts of life and records of events interpreted over time and space by tracing the events of the past and the development of the society and its people. This is why the Yoruba would say: Enitan kii J’awa de (No one can tell it all). Literally it is impossible for a person to let the story of his birth. It is people around him who witnessed it that would say it better.
History therefore become more pronounced and honourable as a legacy when the accounts are corroborated in traditions of neighbours far and near and not in what you believe or conceive as your storyline. It takes two to tango.
What is wrong starts from the premise that what he/she possesses is not enough to ensure success. This is why we can probably know that success is not predicated on academic brilliance or intelligence alone. It is more than that.
McClelland (1958) postulated that it takes more than academic brilliance and technical expertise to attain success in life and career. Everyone need a measure of endowment and competence that radiate a ‘special kind of ’ intelligence towards engaging and attracting success and acceptance within our increasingly turbulent job atmosphere and competitive market environment. People and organizations began to give attention to the acquisition of these special competencies in the areas of staff development and repositioning.
Equally, another renowned Social Scientist - Daniel Goleman asserted that emergence and choice of leadership in most organizations and settings are dependent on the acquisition of a kind of competency to be defined here. He stated thus: “As a leader moves up in an organization, up to 90% of their success lies in EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.” This suggests that, no executive can lead effectively without this type of human endowment and competence.
John Gottman even said that "In the last decade or so, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives. Researchers have found that even more than IQ, your emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life…”
Emotional intelligence is therefore summarized as follows:
1. The ability to understand your emotions and the emotions of others
2. The ability to manage emotions, both yours and others and
3. The power to use emotions to enhance, and not destroy
In this teachings, you will gain insights into its relevance and importance in advacing your work as a Chief Executuve, a top management staff, a Professional Administrator or Manager in the Public or Private Sector. Welcome aboard.
Conflict indicators often manifest through provocative utterances, communication gap, demonstrations, protests, resignation and peaceful representation. It may also manifest through the influx of violent activities, indiscriminate use of small and light arms, holding of rallies and meetings or strange movements and attacks on one party by the other. Inter-state conflicts are reviewed and often influenced by mass media publications, pamphleteering, news reports, intelligence mechanisms and information generation networks. Most conflicts are bound to result in a measure of misunderstanding with negative setback, disintegration and consequences if not properly managed. However, conflict can also translate into corrective signal or warning and eventual turns to a positive development for the individuals, groups and the society with its resolution and adoption of an integrative mechanism to accommodate all interests and be development driven.
The index of conflict therefore ranges from mutual image of misunderstanding to hostile utterances, actions and responses that seek to put the interests of a party in a disadvantaged position at the expense of other parties. Generally, the tendency towards conflict is inherent is human nature and our social existence, and it is the failure to detect, control and respond to crisis signals or conflict indicators that often foist conflict. No conflict came as a surprise. Conflict and violence does not have origin in class, status, ethnicity, sex, religion, nationalism or resource control, but in fundamental flaws of human interactions and perceptions due to perceived disagreements and competition.
Peradventure a conflict is in the negative or positive, it needs to be tailored towards the support for existing norms and practices in the social strata and human existence so as not to be counterproductive. Hence, the end product of every conflict is CHANGE - change in attitude, change in perception, change in reactions. This leads us to three major issues viz.
Conflict Prevention
Conflict Management and
Conflict Resolution
All of us who decided to embrace this vocational career have gradually become part of a league of technocrats and bureaucrats often described as generalists, specialists and policy experts in the disciplined corps of professional administration. This is because we engage in team building, strategic management, peoples and situation management, frequent academic discourse and interactions to improve on our skills and knowledge.
In our conscious and consistent determination to transform into an hallmark of integrity, ethical conduct and good leadership, we have also participated in activities that are centred on determining the organization culture while serving the community and humanity at large. We also contributed to moulding lives of younger people and meaningfully contributing to our environment. We have become a handy tool and resourceful partners that cannot be easily dispensed with or disposed off, without a reassurance that our relevance and role can be overlooked either by the Chief Executive or other participants in the organization.
This training workshop is to emphasize that your job is a great opportunity that must be well guarded and must not be lost. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS possesses minimum of a bachelor's degree in humanities or social sciences and readily acquire and display general knowledge in policy issues and law with the potentials to articulate relevant skills for the management of men, materials, methods, money and machines. Our display of good conscience, rational character and possession of intellect, brilliance and self-confidence to do the job is commendable.
Note that all typographical and grammatical errors observed are regretted. Remember the words of Albert Einstein thus: Academic chairs are many, but wise and noble teachers are few; lecture rooms are numerous and large, but the number of young people who are genuinely thirst after truth and justice is small. The individual, if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we hardly conceive.
The organization of various kingdoms and the arrangement of the major towns in relations to the subordinate towns constituted the basis of their traditional relevance in Yorubaland prior to British occupation. This is why the status and hierarchy of natural rulers in Ekiti were based on the strength of their tradition and customs, geography and influence and interactions with their neighbour's. The coming of the British, nonetheless gave opportunities for official recognition of different categories of traditional rulers. In some instance, some towns took new identities by severing relationship with their founding fathers due to their expansion and need to break the yoke of dominance as they became politically relevant. This is because many trading centres and coastal towns with larger population began to struggle with their former overlord in order to gain political relevance and it resulted to conflict where the higher traditional authorities (Oba Alayeluwa) resides in the hinterland while their designated Trading Ambassador or Chiefs called Oloja (Chief of Trade) or Baales (Community Leaders or District Superintendents) thst resided at the coast or trading centre's got upgraded or given equal recognition by the British.
The characteristics of Ekiti people prior to the advent of colonial rule was traced in the works of G.O.I. Olomola. A brief examination presupposes a trend of the historical development described Ekiti as unique in an aspect of its popular traditional beliefs attached to their solidarity and oneness from past generations. The uniqueness reverberated in Olomola’s work while observing their collaborative, cohesive and cooperative ‘solidarity’ spirit and relationship in championing their common causes and in facing common challenges in the pre-colonial era. Hence he noted ttha the most celebrated instance of the application of the ‘ethnic’ solidarity among Ekiti communities was the organization of their formidable military alliance against Ibadan imperial power. In looking at the solidarity among the Ekitis with its unique peculiarities due to the governing structure, societies and the weight of internal-communal relations, Olomola opined thus
each Kingdom and city-state in Ekiti had maintained its own corporate existence, managed its own affairs in peace and in wartime as best as its leaders and citizens could utilize available human and material resources…while each kingdom pursued its own internal interests with little interference from outside…
The position above did not however neglect the parameters of power relations among the major towns and subordinate towns and their traditional rulers. Indeed, Olomola drew attention to the powers of traditional rulers and their status in Ekitiland before the British colonial rule, when he noted their legend with reference to Kingdoms of Ado, Ikole, Ijero and Moba and asserted thus:
Each Kingdom consisted of a major (mother) town and a few or numerous subordinate communities while each city-state comprised a main town and a couple of villages and cottages. Each Kingdom or city state was, to all intent and purposes, a territorial unit over which its Oba (ruler), for all practical purposes, was sovereign from its inception…The Oba of the mother town wore crowns and lived a life governed by protocol, while the heads of subordinate communities …wore crown lets (orikogbofo) and caps.
Reading through another piece contributed by our father figure and former Principal-Hon. Kehinde Ojo PCS on the school traditions and use of facilities up to the 70s behooves on me that we have an enriching tradition and very long history as a school. (Though I know this fact before now but it came again to me in a new way and different dimension when going through details supplied on students' activities over a generation of the 30s through the 70s). I wish to observe however that a concentration of assessment of the content of character and values examined in the activities of the school and its students revolved around major events recorded in the 40s, 50s and 60s. No doubt, school traditions are to enrich scholarship and the culture of a community and I really commend the writer who is our father for the great compilation. In view of the above, my contribution by way of critique is to ensure that any historical material about the school like any other that attract my attention or interest is compiled, developed and examined within a robust environment that gives room for a more concise information and acceptable rendition in the context of facts and figures unless they are taken as junk mails or written personal accounts of a different perspective that is often subjective in natures. The writer of the piece is definitely a father, an authority figure in academia and policy environment, the community and larger society and indeed a reference point in historical tradition and appraisal that his writings cannot be overlooked without an appraisal. His writings connote an EPISTLE OF PAUL to the People of CORINTH. It is Canonical and we can only help to improve it by citing issues that need to be addressed when they are absent from such great writings that can outlive us. Reading through other existing papers, many of our school history have been linked to and ended with the great Dallimore-the founder (even from my father's 398-page biography written by me and published in 2008) and by extension many more surrounded the indomitable Mason-the Builder. I noted further that many of the accounts and their mentions focused on the older generation, particularly experiences of the 40s to the 70s while even the pioneers (30s) were relatively few and unsung.
intellectual enterprise is the totality of a treasured memoir that encapsulate the struggle for
survival of Ekiti people and the value chains of her soul and future. The end result of that
struggle was the battle won for the soul essence and character of Ekiti people and their
survival within the Nigerian nation, a goal set for our posterity.
The book reminds us of issues and events that could be easily or quickly forgotten, but
very essential to our political history in Ekiti and must not be forgotten on account of our
immediate past. It is a marvellous job that constitute the very essence of a crafted work
which constitutes a source of documented, compelling authorities and assertions
propelling the key to knowledge of political intrigues in contemporary history of Ekiti
State in the past 10 years.
It speaks volume of the events of an unfortunate era when great sacrifices were made by
notable Ekiti people assaulted by an oppressive regime through its demonically concocted
and deadly experiences. Many went into self-exile from their own state and those who
came around had to be extra careful about their personal security and safety. It is a must to
read book for every committed Ekiti Stakeholders joining in the next stage of agenda
setting to determine the quality of leadership, work process and consciousness of our
people for the greatness and fortunes of Ekiti.
I have reasons to stake my neck into this review exercise because we are all witnesses or
co-travelers in those past experiences. Even when I was not too close to the author or some
of the principal members in the struggle for Ekiti liberation, I was in the same boat and
often wore same shoes with them on the path to the attainment of the struggle. When my
focus was altered by specific demands of a benefactor and when circumstances beyond my
control altered my participation, I never truly forgot the struggle for restoration of sanity
and sanctity in Ekiti polity. This is why I am happy for ‘Egbon’ Wole Olujobi who made a
debut of his experience as a statement of fact and as a matter of conviction.
It is therefore a rare privilege to review this book which documented facts of life and not
mere fictitious imaginations of man. If I am worthy to carry the shoes of forerunners of
this good news, then I am satisfied to unveil the contextual framework of the book for the
next hour, since this review and book presentation forms the basis of our august gathering.
The writer of a book is like a craft man who understands his tools and knows how best to use it to deliver the best part of the goods. All depends on the skills and attributes of a good craft man to put his job to the best taste the best value and the best price. All it takes the writer is the skill, the proficiency the proportionate value and techniques used in the presentation and delivery of the works and the attitude of mind to propel fashion out and preserve the way of thought, the lifestyle and the attributes in the work. A book may not totally capture the ideas or interest of the writer as well as his in-depth appreciation of life. Yet they are seen to bear the propriety that fathoms the talents and potential of the writer in contributing significantly to the literary works in his environment.
What we are presenting here today is a legacy of our time, a celebration of the past, the present and the future and a stage in the life of a man who is our great friend colleague and brother – Mr. Akin Braithwaite. Mr. Braithwaite has written a narration that not only effervescent his environment and their heritage as a merry making race courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica, but went further to expose the rich culture and values of the African people at imparting wisdom in their people and making them a better people for all it counts in a big but small world.
There is a Yoruba adage that says charity begins at home. Another says Remember the child of whom you are. And yet another says learn to leap and do not leap to learn. Yoruba literally by their culture are full of proverbial teachings and learning, part of which can be drawn from the rich folklore’s and traditions. What Mr. Akin Braithwaite has done in his work is to present and demonstrate the wisdom in Yoruba teaching-learning culture and traditions from the past to the present in order to find a place for it to survive in the future.
Mr. Braithwaite has employed his writing skills consciously and skillfully to bring about a legacy of knowledge for our children on the pages of his book. To him, writing is a means to an end in the discovery and impartation of knowledge and not an end to the means. He has shown us by his literary dexterity and success that a gifted man can live different parts of life and demonstrate a wholesome and worthwhile recognition of his environment social and educational needs while simultaneously pursuing his career. The educational and social background of an author often indicates his challenges and limitations. How we can bring this to fore in Akin Braithwaite’s work depends on how he has gone far in acquisition of good education as shown in his style of writing and the use of language in the book.
I have the pleasure at this launch to present a review of the book titled – AJAPA – the day the tortoise broke the shell. The book is one of the children book series in Yoruba folklores narrated by an author celebrated – Mr. Akin Braithwaite.
As a model of world diplomacy through the quest for new territories in that era, the need to enhance the imperialistic goals of Western powers, with the naming of new spheres of interest on the world map, made major European powers invade and colonize Africa, Asia, and to dominate the world scene all over. The unsettling conflict of interest in Europe, however, altered the balance of power in Europe owing to a series of events resulting in Germany’s retaliation to deal with its adversaries, in an avoidable World War I and a more damaging World War II which ended with birth of United Nations and aspirations of new colonies for independence.
The world wars and gradual exposure of Africans to Western education led many African leaders to clamor for political independence and sovereignty with the return to autonomous rule of their people and governing of their affairs in a preferred way. In setting the pace for sovereign states on African soil, the proclamation of national independence of most colonies ended with neo-colonialism, the continuous exploitation of Africa by foreign powers, and their proxies. As an independent nation-state, Nigeria has been bewildered by issues of political stability shrouded in controversies of struggle for power and continuous agitations arising from defects of lack of strong democratic leadership and representative government, demand for changes in constitutional provisions, and the need to properly manage the challenges of nation-building.
This study of Nigeria as a former British colony is an attempt to review political events and circumstances leading to underlying factors in the creation of Nigerian States concerning its existence in the pre-colonial era and the continued realities in her relationship and quest for national cohesion, unity and the co-existence of the citizens of the Nigerian State. Efforts of Nigerian leaders to also determine the focus and gains of true federalism in Nigeria through the constitutional developments and emergence of political leadership suffices.
The study, no doubt, attempts a review of the concept of constitutionalism and republicanism, the British colonial rule, constitutional development and negotiations for national independence, and the emerging political culture of Nigeria as a sovereign state transforming into a Republic for the guarantee of a stable political system, free of colonial interest and building political governance around democratic aspirations of its diverse people and cultures.