News

[OPINION] Game Of Thrones: Ooni, Alaafin And The Ridiculing oF Yoruba Heritage

Published

4 months ago

August 20, 2025

By Israel Adebiyi

I recently visited my family in Lagos, and as always, my aged father took time to tutor me on the significance of my name — Adeniran (the crown has lineage). He reminded me of our heritage and where our royalty stems from. His weak voice, now distorted by the frequent grinding of his teeth, carried a burden of weight and seriousness.

“You are royal,” he declared firmly, “and you cannot afford to mess around, nor allow anyone to mess with you. Omo Aláwó ni ẹ́, Aláwó yàdé, Aláwó jọbí etí Ẹ̀dẹ.”

The lesson was clear: royalty is serious business and cannot be trivialised. Yet, barely two weeks after, some royal fathers seemed not to have received this same memo from the source where they ought to have. Instead, they are on national tabloids, dragging themselves before the public.

As you read this piece, kindly note this disclaimer: as the young ones would say when they attempt a proverb in the midst of elders, t’otó̀ ń ṣe bí owe, òun kì í ṣe owe. I am but a child before the custodians of wisdom. I dare not assume the place of counsel before monarchs who are living reservoirs of knowledge. My words are but whispers in the presence of gods—unworthy to instruct those who hold the staff of tradition and the heritage of our people.

In Yoruba history, the crown has never been a mere ornament. It is a living symbol, an emblem of continuity, and a spiritual covenant between a people and their deities. When a Yoruba monarch steps out in full regalia, he does not walk as an individual but as the custodian of centuries-old heritage, the voice of the ancestors, and the embodiment of the divine on earth. That is why kingship in Yorubaland is not just political; it is metaphysical, transcending ordinary governance to embody the very soul of the people. As the Yoruba say, “Oba kii ku, oba wà bí o ti wà” (a king never dies, he only transforms in existence).

Take the story of the late Obafemi Awolowo’s collaboration with Yoruba monarchs in the Western Region. While Awolowo carried the vision of modern governance, it was the blessings, counsel, and mobilization of traditional rulers that anchored his reforms in education, health, and infrastructure. The people followed Awolowo not just because he was brilliant, but because their kings gave legitimacy to his vision. This sacred synergy between traditional authority and modern governance remains one of the strongest demonstrations of how monarchs elevate their people.

Similarly, the Alaafin of Oyo has historically stood as the political rallying point of the Yoruba, the custodian of the Oyo Empire’s legacy, and the symbol of unity in times of turmoil. The Ooni of Ife, on the other hand, carries the spiritual weight of being the custodian of Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. Both stools are not just thrones — they are altars upon which the destiny of the Yoruba people rests. To sit upon them is to step into a covenant of restraint, wisdom, and eternal dignity.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:[OPINION] BUHARI: The Man Who Missed Redemption

This is why the current supremacy clash between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife is deeply unsettling. It is not about whether one monarch is right or the other is wrong. It is about what these revered stools represent. The Yoruba say “Kabiyesi, Alase Igbakeji Orisa” — unquestionable ruler, second only to the gods. When such figures are seen washing their royal linens in the market square of public opinion, it is not they alone who are diminished; the collective pride of the Yoruba nation is bruised. When elephants fight, the grass suffers; when royal fathers lock horns in public, the moral fibre of the society they lead trembles.

History teaches us that when monarchs elevate their stools, their people rise with them. When they descend into the mud of ego battles, the people’s heritage suffers ridicule. The crown does not belong to a man; it belongs to the race he represents. The Ooni’s beaded crown and the Alaafin’s royal stool are not private property but sacred trusts passed from generation to generation. To trivialize them in the public square is to weaken the very foundation of Yoruba identity. To watch monarchs wash their royal linens in public is to cheapen the value of the stools their forebears protected with blood and sacrifice. As the proverb says, “Bi omode ba subu, a wo iwaju; bi agbalagba ba subu, a wo ehin” (when a child falls, he looks forward; when an elder falls, people look back to trace the cause).

The contention over titles may be legitimate within royal circles, but the manner in which such disagreements are ventilated should never erode the dignity of the thrones. The Yoruba society thrives on the belief that the king is the rallying point of cohesion. When kings disagree privately and resolve silently, the society moves on in harmony. But when kings take disputes to the marketplace or national dailies, they expose themselves to ridicule and diminish the respect the people instinctively owe them. “Oba tí kò lè so ilé rẹ̀ di mímọ́, báwo ló ṣe máa so ìlú di mímọ́?” (A king who cannot keep his household in order, how will he put his community in order?).

The point, therefore, is not to judge. It is to remind. The Yoruba monarch is not an ordinary mortal. He is the bridge between the seen and the unseen, the living and the ancestors, the deities and their people. If he falters in dignity, the people’s reverence falters too. This is why Yoruba monarchs must rise above mortal pettiness. They must embody the restraint of Orunmila, the wisdom of Oduduwa, and the dignity of their forebears who understood that true power is exercised in silence and majesty, not in public altercation. And as another Yoruba proverb warns, “Àgùntàn tó bá dá ilé olúwa rẹ̀ rú, kí lón jẹ́ pé ó máa fi ara ẹ̀ jẹun” (a sheep that destroys its master’s house will eventually feed on its own flesh).

The Yoruba nation watches. The world watches. And as history has always shown, the monarch who elevates his stool elevates his people.

News

Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

14 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

News

How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

16 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

19 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.