In both your haste to cry wolf and call ur superior a slave, u miss the write-up in its entirety.
The four categorisations that remain the core of the article are not original to me, but rather from discussions with proper Yoruba elites who form the core of the landed gentry group.
I agree with that classification and even said it is not limited to only the Yoruba grouping but also all other ethnic groupings, and illustrated with the easterners who I said have lain on their bellies for the Aremo to walk all over their backs
The four categorisations swiftly push most of the elites in your tribe into any of the four
Unfortunately, neither of you falls into any of the categories since you do not vaguely apply to the construct that my article labels as Elites
This was an article for mass consumption such as did not afford me the luxury of time to delve into intellectual rigours, Abbey has posited.
But be sure that as a brilliant Master’s Degree holder in Political Science from the prestigious universities of Ibadan and Lagos, I am ready and capable of going into a debate with the two of you on the deep political connotations of my writing
I watched Langbodo first as a child in the 70s and also Prof Ojo Bakare’s interpretation in Ekiti and even you will agree that I have a right to come out with my own interpretation and also reserve the right to adapt it in the same way that u have interpreted my work in your own eyes and adapted it in the way that u have
See, I borrowed the name from the play – which I have the right to – to label a leader who remains anonymous and who like Langbodo seems to be on a mission etched on a superior appellation which gives him the audacity to traverse other tribes in search of something that I still don’t understand
Same as your hero who says he has a mandate that we still do not understand how he got it but who has leveraged the mandate to do whatever for the last three years
When Langbodo got to Calabar, he abused the hospitality, killed everybody and eloped with the Queen, this is what we are facing with the reign of this my own Langbodo
How many of the hunters came back with Him Abbey? What led to their demise? Why did he come back alone
These are the questions that my Langbodo would have to answer at some point in his journey. Questions he cannot run away from
Lastly, let me address this issue of slavery that Makinde always throws at me
First integration. Makinde and Abbeys integration series supposes an inferiority of other tribes to the Yoruba in this federation
That is so wrong and must be rigorously challenged
The fact that we live in Lagos does not suggest any superiority of the Yoruba man over any tribe living in Lagos
In case both of you have forgotten, Lagos until quite recently was a FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY and as such under our constitution, every Nigerian has and still has the right to live here and anywhere
Today Abuja is witnessing mass immigration of Yorubas as a result of Langbodo’s reign that doesnt confer on the Yoruba man the need to be ‘integrated’ into whatever tribe that manifests ownership of Abuja
It smirks of socio-cultural grandstanding and intellectual mischief to be referring to a freeborn like myself as a slave, no matter the analogy
However, your analogy can be quite correct if I attempted entry into any bastion of Yoruba cultural heritage, then you might call Mr Makinde’s slave seeking integration’ theory to order.
To the best of my knowledge, I have not sought a chieftaincy title from any Yoruba stool, even though I have been offered twice, I have not sought ‘integration’ into any Yoruba socio-cultural grouping, I have not changed my name to a Yoruba name, nor have I begged to change my state of origin to any of the beautiful Yoruba states
I am from AKWA IBOM a proud Ibibio man who happens to live in Lagos as a free-born Nigerian with all the rights that come with that
So throwing the ” slave appelation at me, anytime I speak on national issues as relating to Langbodo is verbal political thuggery
Lastly, Makinde especially, let me tell you that in history slaves have been known to be better integrated than some freeborns – Joseph in Egypt for example
I can proudly state that even in my slavery, I am better positioned than you within the Yoruba socio-economic and political establishment
You do not have the access I have, you do not have the facial recognition that I have within any Yoruba gathering from Lagos to Ilorin and beyond and you certainly do not have the voice that I have even in the innermost sanctuaries of Yoruba leadership ajd society.
I have been invited to the Metropolitan Club, the bastion of Yoruba elites something I do not think you will achieve in this lifetime
I have almost all present Governors as my friends, most political leaders as my friends and have sat in front of President Tinubu watching him have his lunch as he listens to me, things you will never aspire to as you remain an outsider even with you freeborn Oriki hanging over your neck.
I remember very succinctly the morning after my very successful showing of Aremu, my play on Chief Obasanjo in which you served as assistant director, how i was with the legendary figure in his inner chambers at 6am and after the 30minute meeting and i exited, I saw you standing outside with the crowd and drummers and I asked you, what you were doing here and you said – na person bring me-but a slave like me had the keys
Remember when I contracted you to do Awo. I went into the inner bowels of the Awo dynasty, discussing and getting the support of the huge family, paying trips to their home, eating with mama and becoming a family member and later me the slave pulled in a sitting VP, sitting Governor, sitting Speaker of the house of Rep and Segun Awolowo of blessed memory and you the free born just stood outside the hall refusing to Come in even as director
You struck a lone figure and I went to you to say, ” Come in and you said – I no dey watch my plays – you were intimidated
Let me remind you that I do not need to be integrated into any tribe lest the Yoruba cos I deal with the highest levels of Yoruba elitism with respect and on my own terms.
Remember how you came to me to push for you to be made SA Culture and how I pushed with the Governor and how all I was hearing was – we don’t know him Duke
Lastly, remember when I had issues with Chief Afe Babalola, almost all pillars of Yoruba society from Chief Obasanjo to Prince Julius Adelusi to even FFK jumped in to the point that Chief Babalola when we finally met, asked – But who are you?
My brother, I am very far from being a slave, I have respect from those who matter ask Gov Dapo Abiodun who had four members of his inner caucus endorse me during the Ambulance fracas.
My article wasn’t about the Yoruba as a people but about a classification of Yoruba elites that I have heard in circles you will NEVER have access to and which I decided to interpret and push out as commentary in explaining the social behaviour of not only the Yoruba elites but elites from all over the country
Let me assure you, that your opinion doesn’t matter in these things except in the way that you grandstand which is very ok
What matters is that those the write-up was meant for have received it and are responding and that is what really matters my two brothers
You do not need to defend the Yoruba tribe, they were not under any attack.
You may come and beat me if you insist
Thanks
Duke of Shomolu
My response to the vitriolic attack by two self-acclaimed defenders of the Yoruba race on the back of my Langbodo essay as published by The Cable
My very last words on this
Last modified: March 18, 2026
