Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has vowed that nothing will make him violate Yoruba customs and traditions of which he is a custodian.
“I want the entire world to know that I will never violate Yoruba law and customs for any reason”, he said.
In apparent reaction to the news making the rounds that he vacated his traditional stool for Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Olugbon declared that the Olugbon stool could not, under any circumstance, be mounted by anyone other than the Kabiyesi because of its sacredness.
Speaking exclusively to The Yoruba Times, Oba Alao explained that he only offered Pastor Adeboye a ceremonial chair usually offered to dignitaries as a courtesy, adding it’s cultural in Yorubaland to show respect to those who were worthy by treating them with respect and dignity.
Such chairs with the insignia of the Olugbon, he said, existed in his palace and were often used on different occasions.
Oba Alao further explained that he was standing in the picture in circulation because he was praying before Pastor Adeboye came in, adding that as the host, he had had one of the ceremonial chairs prepared for the renowned pastor to sit.
The Olugbon concluded that there was no reason for him to compromise Yoruba culture and tradition which he swore to protect and uphold.
