The founder and spiritual head, Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Prof Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP has on Monday called on all prominent Yoruba sons and daughters especially those blessed with financial resources to trace and identify with their ancestral homes to strengthen the bond kinship, unity, love and development.
Olagoke who is the Mogaji Ogunelu Ejemu, Aare Alasa Dynasty in Ibadanland made the call during a fact finding visit to Ile-Oye, Okere-Ado rulling house in Saki said to be the ancestral home of Ogunelu a renowned warrior in Ibadanland who hailed from Itameko and also one of the sons of Oba Onipode, who hailed from Saki.
Ogunelu, a brave warrior, was said to have migrated from Ejigbo to settle in Ibadan in 1796 under the auspices of Aole and Ogbori-efon who were also great warriors of their time.
Prof. Olagoke disclosed that his visit to the Ogunelu ancestral home was not only to trace his roots and to identify with the people but also to enable him contribute his quota towards it’s growth, adding that he would soon come up with a book titled “The Blood Line” which would shed more light on the historical lineage of Ogunelu.
Olagoke said, “I am now part and parcel of the family, my goal is about development, unity and supporting the cause of humanity and whatever you are doing in life you must have a base, an origin, this is my source, Ile-Oye, I have gone through Otamokun, Somgbe and Ibadan. My pledge is that we must come together, support ourselves on the issue of development, without unity of purpose, you can never achieve your aim.”
He warned that whoever forgets the parents, bloodline and the source of his origin or birth awaits the wrath of the people and God in future.
“The areas of this kinship which is being joined as a cable that must not be broken matters so much to God that if you are able to be associated with ensuring that it is intact, surely, the people will be ready to identify with you.”
“We have a lot of people that are so rich all over, and have never come to their source since they came to limelight, they must emulate this, am from Oyo state and am setting the pace.”
“While we are being grateful to our parents and their ancestors for living such a life of defending the cause of human rights. Warriors of note are fighting for the rights of others not to be jeopardized and that is what I stand for.”
“Apart from that, I am a religious leader, by the essence of culture and how best you can use your religion to define it and put it right is the onus of the blood line which is the book that is coming up.” He said.
Olagoke had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyebisi Ilugbemidepo 111, in his palace where he was welcomed by the Okere-in-Council, the Aare Musulumi of Sakiland, Alhaji Awidere Master and a former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Oyo state, Alhaji Oyedemi Muslim.
Professor Olagoke, in his remarks at the palace said he was ready to extend his arm of embrace to any sons and daughters of Sakiland who might be willing to identify with the Aare Alasa Dynasty in Ibadanland as well as the Shafaudeen in- Islam organization.
In his response, Oba Khalid Oyebisi who appreciated the visit urged religion adherents not to discard their culture and traditions as it plays a significant role in the growth and development of the society.
He urged the Shafaudeen Islamic organization and it’s leadership to pass the legacies to the upcoming generations.