Distracted by youths’ alleged desperation for premature wealth, the Araba of Osogbo, Ifayemi Elebuibon insists that killing of fellow beings for money rituals is odd to Yoruba traditional practice and paints those who link the habit to Yoruba culture as ignorant, who, according to him, need to be educated.
Yesterday, the Oyo State Security Network code-named Amotekun paraded three men arrested after they had last Saturday allegedly killed and buried a man identified as Adeniyi Samuel, 73, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Muideen Akande, Abdulrasheed Olanrewaju and Ismail Muraina had made confessional statements, confirming their active involvement in the crime while awaiting prosecution after the ongoing investigation as promised by the Commandant of Amotekun, Colonel Olayanju Olayinka (rtd).
Elebuibon told TheTabloid.net that Yoruba value system was built on hard work, rather than a short cut to prosperity, saying act of shedding human blood was strange to Yoruba custom, which, he emphasized, placed high premium on life.
He alleged that coming of people from different ethnic nationalities into Yoruba land contributed to prevalence of the practice, urging public to seek knowledge of Yoruba way of life with a view to understanding its essence, especially as regards what he called needless and demonic human killings.
“Over the years, our society has been infiltrated by certain groups, from Nupe and Ghana, known for such acts. They have lived among us for years and mixed with us; this causes them to be mistaken for Babalawo. There will always be retributions for our actions, hence we should not seek wealth by force,” he said.
The Araba recalled occasions when non-traditional religion faithful were arrested with human parts but the suspects labeled Babalawo, asserting “this is totally wrong; real Babalawo does not kill or maim for purpose of money.”
He clarified that every act done regularly was ritual, referencing the Webster new world dictionary which defines ‘ritual’ “as having the nature of or done as a rite; ritualism is observance of forms or rites.”
Elebuibon challenged security agencies and the media to engage in research to establish distinction between traditionalists and criminals in the society, beating his chest that no genuine Ifa adherent would be involved in unlawful activities. “Ifa gives strict warnings about greed as it mostly causes untimely deaths,” he concluded.
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