Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed a resolution on the need to encourage the speaking of Yoruba language in schools across the state.
The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Ade Ajayi who moved the motion for the lawmaker’s consideration, observed that any culture that does not re-recreate itself would stagnate and die off.
Hon. Ade-Ajayi said that gradually, Yoruba language is going into extinction as a result of disuse and lack of pride in it.
He called for urgent action to stem the ugly trend.
The motion seconded by Hon. Ogunrinde Olaseinde, representing Ekiti East Constituency I, attracted divergent view from the lawmakers.
Some lawmakers argued that the word mandatory in the motion should be changed to encouragement, so that the motion would not be viewed as discriminatory, as schools in the state had pupils from other tribes.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Orisalade Adetunji, Hon. Odu Ayodeji, and Hon. Adeyinka adeloye argued that the motion when passed would be discriminatory to other students from other parts of the country in the state.
Hon. Orisalade specifically said the motion would violate section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying efforts should only be geared towards promoting Yoruba language rather than making it mandatory.
Hon. Ogundele Folorunsho, Hon. (Mrs.) Ayo Fatunbi, Hon. Dele Olugbemi and Hon. Erinle Samuel among others, however observed the motion should be approved by the House, noting that the Assembly had already set the ball rolling by setting a day as Yoruba day to conduct parliamentary duties.
They cited the recent lecture organized by the Assembly to mark the third anniversary of the Fayemi administration which was done in Yoruba language to buttress their point, stressing that the move would promote our cultural heritage as well as identity.
The motion was approved by all the lawmakers after the word mandatory in the original motion was changed to encouragement.
Last modified: November 29, 2013
