pannigeriannews 
By Isaac Adegbite
Recent developments have shown unguarded propensity to cause crisis and promote hatred in Yorubaland. Religious fanatics and bigots have started creating atmosphere of insecurity through several unguarded verbal vituperations which, if not properly managed, could distort the existing peace in the zone.
Yorubaland has been in existence with its own culture, traditions,values and beliefs before the normadic incursions of Islam and Christianity into Oduduwa land. Our forefathers showed their hospitality by accommodating adherents of the two religions without setting boundaries for them.
The palaces of traditional rulers in Yorubaland was always the first point of contact for any missionary who desired to preach their gospel to our people. Interestingly, the traditional rulers of the period gave free land, accomodations and liberty to freely extend the gospels of Islam and Christianity to the people without limitations.
It is quite unfortunate that the same throne, habitat, culture and traditions that abhored those religions and enabled them to flourish at the detriment of traditional religion is now an object of insult and assault from religious extremist, agents and provocateurs whose only sole interest is to compromise our land, heritage, culture and values because of their religious ideology.
Freedom of religion is gloriously enshrined in the Constitution. But major parts of what makes up of the Constitution are our culture, traditions and values. It is morally and religiously wrong for anyone to seek to devalue the throne of our fathers under the guise of obedience to a religious principle which is not in conformity with our traditions.
An average Hausa/Fulani man will never ridicule the throne of Sultan or any Emir under the guise of religious creeds. Why would any sane Yoruba man now decide to exhibit disdain for our traditional rulers.
Religion is an opium of the people.
Government should not fold its arms and allow these reckless act to further before taking meaning and conscious efforts to nip it in the bud. Yorubaland is a land of peace, religious tolerance. It will be out of place for a few fanatical elements to strive to diminish and devalue our revered traditional rulers.
Let those who seek to promote their own creeds, ideology and contrary beliefs move to an environment where such is allowed. Yoruba Kings deserve utmost respect from all and sundry.
…Adegbite writes from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
