I still do not understand why some people are struggling to run away from the fact that IFÁ is a major factor in the selection of ỌBAs and traditional chiefs in Yorubaland.
Another fact is that for you to be picked as an ỌBA in Yorubaland, you must show interest as a prince from the Royal Family whose turn is to produce the next ỌBA.
Now, whether you are a Pastor, Imam or Babalawo, the moment you show interest in being considered for selection as an ỌBA, you have submitted to the authority of all the PROCESSES involved in the selection, including IFÁ.
Also, the moment you are chosen as the ỌBA, you will have to pass through the processes involved in the coronation of a king in your particular town.
And the moment you become an ỌBA, you have become adherent of all religions in your town, IFÁ inclusive. At least, worshipers of all religions must come to pay homage to you during their festivals and you must attend to them.
All these do not still change your religious beliefs, either as a Christian, Muslim or Isese.
When the King of England was coronated, all necessary RITUALS were performed. You get me right… RITUALS were performed and if you don’t believe, search for the video and watch it again.
If you can’t remember everything, you should still remember the STONE of SCONE, also called STONE of DESTINY. It is an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, used for centuries in the inauguration of its kings.
Seen as a sacred object, earliest origins of the STONE OF SCONE are now unknown. In 1296, King Edward I of England seized the stone from the Scots, and had it built into a new throne at Westminster. It was placed under the Coronation Chair.
Coronation of King Charles III was done with symbolism through various objects and necessary rituals. One such objects used was the STONE of DESTINY, which was brought from its home in Edinburgh Castle to London for the event.
And mind you, the King of England was crowned inside the Church of England or Anglican Church!
If you don’t know too, Westminster Abbey, the Anglican Church in which King Charles III was coronated, was built in the 1040s by King Edward the Confessor and rebuilt in 1245 by King Henry III as a place for the coronation and burial of monarchs.
Therefore, to Pastor Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, the new Soun of Ogbomoso (Ìlú Sọ̀ún Ogunlọlá ẹ́ni tó gbé orí Ẹlẹ́mọ̀sọ́),
Ògbómọ̀sọ́ ọmọ ajílété, ibi wọ́n tií j’ẹkà tán kí wọ́n tó mun ẹ̀kọ yangan,
KÁBÍYÈSÍ O. À jẹ gbó, à jẹ tọ́. Adé á pẹ́ lórí, bàtà á pẹ́ Itlẹ́sẹ̀, ìrùkẹ̀rẹ̀ á dọkinni.
•Olayinka writes from Abuja (03/09/2023).
