Seminal Village Square

A SEMINAL VILLAGE SQUARE

By, Seye Adetunmbi (First written in 2006 and featured in MINDSET, a book published in 2012)

More often, one wonders how blessed we are in the Yoruba nation and particularly in Ekiti land whenever our rich native culture and integrated traditional values are displayed. From time in memorial, every community has peculiar natural ways of disseminating ideas, sharing thoughts across the board coupled with entrenched traditional institutions for managing community affairs. For instance in Ifaki-Ekiti where I was born and grew-up, every nucleus family (ebi) is a subset of an extended family compound (agbo-ule) and these compounds constitute a quarter (adugbo) and the collective quarters make-up the town. This structure of course applies to every village or town in Ekiti and each segment has its heads, Olori-ebi, Olori-adugbo and the Baale or Oba respectively.

Personally, I took pleasure in every Sunday meetings my father hosted in his days and whenever I accompanied him to his age grade (Egbe-are) meetings or partook in annual feasts (ewo). I really marveled at their rustic jokes whenever they were in their elements sipping high grade palm wine (aroso/aribale) in cute aboriginal gourds (akeregbe/uwowo). Their nick-names (inagije-oruko) tripped me e.g. Ojo Akun (Ojo Beads personified), Leo, Oba bi Olorun ko si (No king as God), Ojo Olulu (Ojo the Drummer), Eru (Load), Oju Oko (sharp end of a hoe), Olukoko (custodian of cocoyam) etc.

For a restless and inquisitive little boy with strict upbringing to grow-up without electricity to power television not to talk of seeing cartoons or having opportunity to visit amusement parks; mere seeing a masquerade, witnessing slaughtering of goats and preparation for periodic feasts were real excitements and effective forms of recreation for me! I looked forward to it in those days.

On a more significant note and of particular interest to one's curiosity, which is the main essence of this write-up is the way and manner every community or federating units got together to resolve issues of communal interest. As a matter of fact, most family compounds had kindred's' periodic meetings (upade omo-ule). Sometimes whenever matters that were brought forward for consideration at agbo-ule level could not be resolved, it moved to the quarter's meeting (upade adugbo) and the village or town square under chairmanship of the Oba was often the ultimate final arbiter whenever there's need for further consultation.

Of concern in the recent times is the fact that most communities have abandoned this traditional administrative structure due to various reasons. Some may be adduced to intervention of western education, corruption, poverty, economy, urbanization and search of Golden Fleece which has taken away people like those in Ekitikete International Forum (EIF), Ekitiparapo Lagos wing and Ekitipanupo who could support and sustain those timeless traditional institutions and values in Ekiti.

Of course time has changed! Indisputably, things can not be the same again or done the way it used to be. Yet, we can have an effective blend of an extracted good side of those old ways of doing things with reality of our present situation, modern technology and 'free values' dug out through creative thinking and brain storming to improve the lot of our people. It is indubitably wise to use what is available at one's disposal to meet what one needs! Since it is practically impossible to get all the egg heads together to meet regularly because people are now scattered all over the world, internet has made it possible for people to meet with ease and share ideas every minute all the year round.

This new age reality for instance informed the structure of Ekitipanupo which is expected to be complemented by periodic conventions and general meetings for those who can make such gatherings. We have succeeded to have a micro Ekiti global village at full capacity! Ekitipanupo internet meeting has since assumed the status of a contemporary Ekiti seminal village square which has at least an indigene of every village or town on board to deliberate on issues of common interest for the good of Ekiti.

Most village square meetings called through the town crier were often attended by a fraction of the community. Interestingly every age grade, household or neighborhood may have a representative while others stayed back at home for various reasons. It is the responsibility of those who attend to disseminate the communiqué or resolutions at such meetings to other members of the household and community. It worked for the small towns and villages till date; while newspapers, Radio and Television have become more effective ways for disseminating information in the urban centers.

Another interesting observation of typical upade omo-ule, age-grade and village square meetings is the fact that there was no written constitution, yet people behaved themselves, they were orderly and naturally respected the constituted authority. Whenever there is an isolated case of a dissident, the elders seated at such gatherings had effective ways of containing such and moved on.

Apparently, participants at these meetings grew-up with the unwritten constitution because they watched their forebears did it, thus the culture is instinctive! In essence high and low convened, likewise the wealthy and the underprivileged and yet there was often mutual respect for one another coupled with giving honor to whom honor was due.

With the advent of education and the jet age, written constitution becomes inevitable to keep pace with the reality of socio-political and economic environment. Thus, most modern associations like Ekitipanupo, Yoruba Elders Council, Ndigbo Association, Arewa Consultative Council and Ekitiparapo Lagos wing do have written constitutions because of the peculiarity of the goals and objectives they have set out to achieve. Different native groups have been springing up in virtually every nationality in Nigeria expressing one concern or the other on the state of affairs in their respective domains.

The quintessential Ekitipanupo is therefore not in isolation. "Ekitipanupo is an indigenous think-tank & intellectual round-table advocating selfless governance of Ekiti people, by sincere indigenes, for the benefit of Ekiti people" The forum is not a political party, it is indeed an instrument of facilitating positive change.

There are enough political parties and other interest groups that are well thought-out to be in perpetual opposition. Desperate positions and extreme personal ambitions that could be inimical to collective responsibility are relegated to political parties and not part of the commitment of the typical village square! Whenever things are on course, a well meaning village square will recognize such and rebuke uncomplimentary developments without prejudice.

A seminal Ekitipanupo in the long run would be well poised to serve as the melting point of all the diverse interests for the good of Ekiti people at large.

Apparently attention seems to be more on the office of the Governor in Ekiti State and other places with similar situation. This should be expected because no state may make appreciable progress if the leadership is not trusted, isolated, disrespected and does not enjoy the cooperation of well-meaning indigenes. Ekitipanupo has actually introduced another dimension to the jostle for taking charge of governance by brainstorming on effective ways to move the state forward. For the benefit of those who are just getting acquainted with the forum, four strategic Committees were constituted to look into grass root awareness schemes, modalities for the involvement of Ekitipanupo in politicking, Finance and Ekiti Policy Development blue print. All these committees have since come up with initial reports which can be reviewed as the need arises for a going concern.

Interestingly, most of the aspirants for the office of the Governor for instance are either friends or brothers, while some attended same school or university. It will definitely be honorable for everyone to work together as soon as elections are concluded and wait for the next one for the sake of Ekiti except if indeed the motive for contesting is not to serve a communal interest. If the incumbent could unseat his predecessor then there is no cause to be despair because if change is bound to happen, nothing can stop it! Anything short of this is no longer a collective agenda, but a personal trip.

In effect emergence of a winner who is not as a result of a communal effort and collective responsibility may not augur well for the polity in 2007. It is thus imperative as a matter of policy for Ekitipanupo to conduct its affairs such that at the end of the day; whoever is elected to the position of authority would not be reluctant to implement the customized and well thought out programs put together by brilliant indigenes in Diaspora towards empowering the people and transforming Ekiti State.

Essentially, discerning indigenes must remember and appreciate the fact that it is not everybody who contributes to village square deliberations or embarks on community development projects that is interested in a chieftaincy title or favor of the King! Likewise, forums like Ekitipanupo have on board those who have some value to add and yet their least consideration is neither an elective post nor government appointment.

However, some are sincerely keen on being a vessel of change or serve the polity with every sense of responsibility and are inclined to present issues the way they see it without fear or favor or patronage. While this forum needs more of rational people like these on board and encourage them to contribute to discussions, members must all resist fifth columnists or anyone who will work against the laudable goals and objectives of Ekitipanupo.

The responsibility of everyone in this forum is to balance all interests, make the environment right and conducive for all ranks/class of progressive people in as much as it is in the interest of what the group has set out to achieve. This is the whole essence of Panu-parapo. Nothing will take the place of persistence. Once progressive minds are determined to see through what they started, success is around the corner. With sincerity of purpose and commitment, victory is certain and ours. Well meaning Nigerians shall overcome.

Kindly accept this as a new-year goodwill message meant to amuse, refreshen and challenge everyone who has responded to the clarion call for Ekitipanupo forum in 2005 and are committed to seeing the journey through! May God abide with us all in 2006 and beyond! Amen.