Those Calling Returned Professionals 'Ajele' in Osun are Uncivilized

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, on Tuesday condemned those disparaging successful indigenes who return home to serve their people as ‘Ajele’ are uncivilized.

The term loosely means ‘outsiders’ in Yoruba language, and it is being used in Osun State to qualify some successful professionals who returned home to offer themselves for service.

Rather than disparage them, Oba Akanbi said Osun people should celebrate them for their exposure and rich experience which if well applied, would help develop the towns and the state in general.

He spoke in Iwo on Tuesday when he received the medical officers who brought the free treatment mission on behalf of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the September 22 election, and at the venue of the free health initiative where he addressed journalists.

The Oluwo was also tested for blood sugar and given a clean bill of health. Over 2,000 residents were treated free on the third leg of the programme which had been done in Ejigbo and Osogbo. There are seven more towns on the list

Ajele surfaced since the beginning of the campaign as a derogatory word for candidates who are not home based.

The traditional ruler said the towns, communities and the entire state would benefit from the exposure and experience of the ‘outsiders’.

He said: “What I heard is that some people are being called ajele. They said Oluwo is also an ajele. What is ajele? Ajele is somebody who brings civilization to your domain. Nothing is happening here. There are no medical facilities, but you can see the free medical services being offered here today.

“Iwo has lacked civilization because back in the days, we pushed civilization out. That’s why Iwo has not been developed. We want people, even those in Diaspora to come and better the lot of this country. We are in dire need of development. Anybody who calls indigenes living outside the town, state or country ajele is uncivilized.

“We want those in Diaspora to come home with their exposure. Who is actually not an ajele one way or the other? If you study Law in Nigeria, you have to go to Lagos, Abuja or Enugu for your Law school. That’s outside your locality. It then means that everybody is an ajele one way or the other. Ajele is about civilization. And this is what we want. We want development. The way to develop is not by sitting down in a local area. We need exposure. As the Oluwo, I’ve brought a lot of light to my domain because of my exposure. So, if they call me an ajele, I’m happy to be one.”

On the fee health project, the monarch said: “It’s a very good concept and we thank the convener of this programme, Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola, for it. Let leaders bring this kind of initiative to the masses.

“You can see that people are getting surgery for hernia and cataract. They are treating many other ailments. I have seen some of my subjects complaining that they could not afford the treatment, hence they could not go to the hospital. But it’s free here. So, if anyone brings something good, I will always support and help. Any organisation, be it political party, that brings any good project to my kingdom, I will support it. Thanks to Oyetola for bringing this to Iwo!”