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!”
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