Ooni Adesoji Aderemi on Proliferation of Chieftaincy Titles…
“The proliferation of chieftaincy titles in Yorubaland was turned into an important source of income for the obas many of whom were paid meagre salaries. By 1958 this trend was becoming unbearable to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.
At a gathering of Obas and Chiefs in Benin, he (the Ooni) sarcastically remarked: “In any gathering every third or fourth man is a chief.” He deplored the practice of creating spurious chieftaincy titles which he described as indiscriminate award to those who merely applied ostensibly in return for large fees or for underserved favour or cheap popularity.”
Source: The Egbe Omo Oduduwa: A Study in Ethnic and Cultural Nationalism by Prof. S. O. Arifalo
Image Credit: His Royal Highness Late Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi I Ooni Of Ife 1930-80, Olufunmi Odunsi
