Sectional Agitations Unnecessary – Elebuibon
Flanked by his spiritual colleagues from the United States of America, the Caribbean and other parts of the world at a press conference to flag off his 70th birthday ceremonies in Osogbo, the Araba Awo of Osogboland described the agitators as unpatriotic and self centred.
Elebuibon, who rather preached togetherness, wondered whether such agitations, when realized, would bring food to the table of the down trodden, alleviate their suffering and not further worsen their situation.
He lamented the decline in the speaking of the Yoruba language, expressing fear that the way things are going, the language may go into extinction if nothing drastic was done by government and every individual who are custodians of the language.
The world acclaimed traditionalist argued that all leading languages of the world gained popularity due to the importance attached to them by the custodians, adding that the reverse is the case for the Yoruba language.
“While government championed its silent removal from the school curriculum, the Yoruba man also prohibits it from being spoken at home.
“Our generation has fallen short of being proud of promoting the Yoruba culture and tradition, it should be of great concern, what we will bequeath to the coming generation in the area of promoting our culture, especially the Yoruba language.”
According to Taiwo Elebuibon, other programmes lined up for the one week celebration of the birthday include, a birthday lecture entitled ‘The Contribution of Elebuibon To The Development of Yoruba Tradition and Culture’, to be delivered by renowned historian, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso and presided over by former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Others include Art exhibition, book presentation, conferment of traditional titles on friends in the diaspora, visitation to orphanage among others.