Niyi Akande, Osogbo.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has condemned those disparaging successful indigenes who return home to serve their people as “Ajele”.
Oba Akanbi said on Monday that such people are uncivilised.
“Ajele” loosely means “outsiders” in Yoruba and it is being used in Osun state to qualify some successful professionals who return home to offer themselves for service.
Rather than disparage them, Oba Akanbi said Osun state people should celebrate them for their exposure and rich experience, which, if well applied, will help develop the towns and the state in general.
He spoke in Iwo when he received the medical officers who brought the free treatment mission on behalf of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the September 22 election, at the venue of the free health initiative where he addressed reporters.
The Oluwo himself was tested for blood sugar and given a clean bill of health.
Over 2000 residents were treated free the third leg of the programme which had been done in Ejigbo and Osogbo.
There are seven more towns on the list.
Ajele surfaced since the beginning of the campaign as a derogatory word for candidates that are not home based.
Oba Akanbi said the towns, communities and the entire Osun State ajeles with the benefit of their exposure and experience.
He said: “What I heard is that some people are calling some people ajele.
“They said Oluwo is also an ajele.
“What is ajele? Ajele is somebody that brings civilization to your domain.
“Nothing is happening here.
“There are no medical facilities.
“But you can see the free medical services being offered here today. Iwo has lacked civilization because back in the days, we pushed civilization out.
“That’s why Iwo has not been developed.
“We want people, even Diasporans, to come and better the lot of this country. We are in dire need.
“Anybody that calls indigenes living outside the town, state or country ajele is uncivilized. We want Diasporans to come because of their exposure. Who is actually not an ajele one way or the other?
