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In the past, the Oba Yoruba of Kano (Sarkin Yarabawan Kano), Alhaji Abdullahi Salihu (Olowo) and the mo Ibadan high chief in Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) G.A. Bello were of enemies as they fought for supremacy and relevance.
In the past, the Oba Yoruba of Kano (Sarkin Yarabawan Kano), Alhaji Abdullahi Salihu (Olowo) and the mo Ibadan high chief in Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) G.A. Bello were of enemies as they fought for supremacy and relevance.
The protracted war of relevance took almost three decades to abate through horse trading and concession, midwife by some prominent Yorubas in the North, including, medical giant, Dr. Jimpat Aiyelangbe.
Today, the duo are best of friends. To show the friendship Dr. G.A. Bello willingly agreed that his politically conscious group, Ayorekan, should be fused into the mainstream Yoruba community and has been using financial backing to the Yoruba community traditional leadership in Kano ever since.
To cap this new found reconciliation that has been established for nearly two years now, the Oba, last January, proceeded on, a vacation for six months and allowed G.A. Bello to hold the forth as the acting Oba Yoruba of Kano!
Dr. G.A. Bello spoke with Daily Sun on his experience as the Oba Yoruba of Kano for six months.
Prelude to my being Oba for six months
After our misunderstanding, we resolved our differences for the unity of the Yoruba people in Kano State and by extension the Yoruba in the North. The Oba, in his magnanimity, has always acted as a father to all the Yoruba in this state and we have always carried out his instructions to the letter. He normally sends some of us on errands and whenever there is a public gathering or ceremony, we normally accompany him to such a gathering because he is the leader and symbol of theYoruba race in this city.
Then, one day, I was sitting in my office here when the Oba sent a message to me that he wanted to see me. I left immediately and on getting there, he told me that he was going on a vacation, that for over 30 years, he had never gone on vacation that we should leave for the emir's palace immediately so that he would formally present me to the Emirate council as some body who would sit-in for him! I was amazed, I said okay and we left for Emir's Palace. On reaching there, he presented me to the members with the Emir in council and they acknowledged me. I am not a new person to them anyway. They later gave me a letter approving that to sit in for Oba Salihu Olowo. That was how I started my stewardship in the service of our community for six months.
On our return from the Emir's palace, the Oba sat me down and gave me advice on how to handle complicated matters and how to settle minor dispute and protect the interest of our people and community. We had a lengthy discussion and thereafter, he bid me goodbye. I returned to my office to assume the leadership, bestowed on me by the Oba himself. As luck would have it, I had a peaceful reign and the Emir was happy with me. I undertook all the functions that Oba was doing. I succeeded more because of my experience. Before then, the Oba had been giving me some specific responsibilities.
Lessons learnt
Like I told you, I had experiences in traditional leadership before, when I started acting on behalf of the Oba, I followed laid down procedures. There were issues I handled myself while others that already had the channels through which they could be disposed, I sent them to the relevant authorities. You know, the Yoruba traditional institution has its mechanism and laid down procedures, so it is the same and it is through the same organs that matters of importance and of concern to us as a people were settled.
Also, it is important to point to our people that our Oba is our mirror. We have to take care of him and cater for his office if he is to be respected by others. The man is working full time for the peace and unity of Yoruba. He is not doing anything again to sustain himself. The responsibility is now ours to take care of his office and family. Only Dr. Aiyelangbe has been trying and he alone cannot shoulder that huge burden. What I have done personally for the leader and his office, I don't want to talk about it, let others do so; whatever I have done, it is by the grace of God Almighty.
Editor's note: This piece had been done before Ibrahim Barde died in auto crash