04/11/2025
Why Development Efforts Without The Prisms Of Culture Are
Wasteful Discharge Of Energy, Shadow -Boxing, Mindless Waste Of
Scarce National Resources ..... ALAAFIN
By Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin , Paramount Ruler of Oyo and the Titan of Yorubaland.
The Yoruba race evolved a very practical method of administration,
by adopting the Cabinet system of Governance.
A good student of the evolution of British Constitution would know that the cabinet system came about in Britain only as a matter of temporal expedience, as it was not by design.
As far back as the 16th Century, the old Oyo Empire developed the cabinet system of government, from the Prime Minister, to the Alaafin, and the various divisional heads, including all tiers have their roles and responsibilities clearly spelt out, and adhered to with separation of powers, and inputs for checks and balancesโโ.
Oyo Empire was the most politically organized entity founded by the Yoruba speaking people in the present day Nigeria.
The Empire was well organized and was influential and powerful. The political administration of Oyo Empire was based on complex system of checks and balances involving layer and structure of traditional rulers.
In the old Oyo Empire, monarchical was the first form of government practised by the Yoruba, adding that at the Center of he political structure is the Alaafin who was the Paramount Ruler and most powers were controlled by him, as he wielded both political and spiritual powers.
However, since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, the incumbent Alaafin and the Titan of Yorubaland, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has left no one in doubt that he is not only learning fast about history, the sacred nature of his institution must also be respected.
This is because the Alaafin's throne is a symbol of cultural pride, unity, and enduring legacy of one of Africaโs most powerful Empires.
Oba Owoade has constantly been hammering on the confounding power of cultures to drive growth, which he said, can never be underestimated even when they are in their traditional forms and isolated, let alone when they are appropriated as collectivities in a nation as viable as Nigeria.
Unfortunately, these cultures have been largely seen as given, familiar, problematic and unimportant to national growth and development.
At public functions, or why attending to visitors, especially traditional rulers, Oba Owoade often explained that the Cultures of people are veritable social capital that could be deployed for growth and development and even translated to economic and technological capitals.
He added that Culture is a cure-all for growth and development.
To the Alaafin , "" nothing is achieved and could be achieved except it is operated within culture. These foreign countries gave utmost consideration and attention to their cultural imperatives, even in diversity and domesticated developmental trajectories within their cultural domains and environments. Their cultural ethos determined directions for policies and demonstrated the road to popular
implementation. They made cultural sense of policies and programmes.
""A nation that does not pay sufficient attention to its cultures and traditions will thus, certainly not grow, never develop and will ultimately extinct. It will be swallowed up within the scheme of things as it will lose its very essence and define character that makes it different for others and that which will drive her growth and
development"".
The Titan of Yorubaland pointed out that "" appreciation and annexation of culture will certainly lead to elusive development, just as development efforts without the prism of culture are wasteful discharge of energy, shadow boxing and mindless waste of scarce national and regional resources. The old Yoruba Empire, known as Oyo Empire distinguished itself in the world, with very distinctive and unique
models"".
He posited that despite the century long disturbances and turbulence, the basic culture and civilization which the Yoruba have built, e
