My close tie with media historical-based, says Alaafin

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has traced his sustained relationship with the media to the history of the old Oyo empire, saying the ancient kingdom was known for effective information dissemination.

The monarch, who made the remark on Friday while welcoming the new executive committee of the Oyo state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to his palace, said the old Oyo empire was the only kingdom that existed for 600 years before collapsing, adding that this was made possible by its ability to communicate with the people effectively.

“Due process has been part of Oyo. The longest empire in history was Oyo which lasted for 600 years. This was possible because they placed premium on information. It may not be through the radio or television, we have our own tentacles across the land.

“At the height of its existence, Oyo empire created effective means of reaching the world. We are the first because of the information we dish out. Our ability to send information across the world made us known. Without information, no government can succeed,” he said.

Oba Adeyemi, who said despite the many challenges being faced, African journalists remain the best professionally, noted that his close relationship with the media has given him, the government and the empire he inherited the leverage to do better than his forebears.

While commenting on the security situation in the country, the monarch said Nigeria is in ‘a very difficult situation’, calling for more proactive and concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders to save the situation.

He said he had preempted the current desperate situation the nation experiences when he had, months ago, called for assistance from the international community in the fight against terrorism in the country.

According to him, with its manner of operation it would be foolhardy for anyone to think that the Boko Haram sect is a local terrorist organization.

“I observed that the weapons being used by these insurgents are not ordinary. How could people come into our country, attack us and go away without been noticed until after the operation? They couldn’t have come without intelligent gathering,” he said.

Also speaking on the mutiny at the 7 Artillery Unit of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri last week, the monarch noted that it was too early for anyone to apportion blame.

He, however, said it was human for the soldiers to act the way they did when they saw the corpses of their colleagues killed by the insurgents being brought to the parade ground.

The Alaafin said it was also not right for the commander to instruct the soldiers to leave Chibok for Maiduguri in the night, which led to their being ambushed and killed by the Boko Haram fighters.

While explaining the purpose of the visit to the Oyo palace, leader of the team and chairman of the state NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Ola Ajayi, remarked that the Alaafin has remained a longstanding friend and father of the chapel.

“It will interest you to know that your letter was the first congratulatory message we received on our election as officers of the chapel,” he said.

Ajayi pledged the chapel’s commitment to the Oyo palace and Alaafin stoll.