Yoruba language is dying – Olubadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 ,has lamented that the Yoruba language is gradually dying due to the attitude of some parents who are rejecting their mother tongue and preventing their  children  from speaking it.
The Olubadan,who spoke at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan residence while receiving some United States based students under the aegis of 2016 Yoruba Group Study Abroad (YGPA) of the University of Ibadan,expressed that  the rate at which Yoruba language is dying by the day is alarming and thereby called on parents to cultivate the habits of teaching and speaking the language to their children at all times.
“I am  always worried at the rate at which our language is dying by the day due to the insensitivity of some  parents who now rejected their mother tongue and also prevented their children from speaking it.”
He however said, “Because of the condition we met our language and observed that both the parents and government are not doing anything to salvage our dear language from going into extinction, I made it a standing order that official language in the palace is Yoruba and absolutely, Yoruba.”
He also called on all the South Western state governments to as a matter of urgency make the teaching and learning of Yoruba language a must in all public and private primary and secondary schools in the region to safeguard the future of the language.
Meanwhile,the  Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN), Oyo State chapter, has commended the State Command of the Nigeria Police for rescuing some members of the association from the hands of suspected kidnappers.
The state chairman of the association, Mr. Samuel Afolabi, specifically  commended the state Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Leye Oyebade “for leading by examples to his officers and men” in  curbing the activities of criminals and crimes in the state.
Narrating the ordeals of his members who were rescued from suspected kidnappers by security operatives, Afolabi  said  the victims were  executing a project at Elebu area in Ido Local Government Area when the suspects, who loaded themselves in some buses, suddenly stormed the site and made unsuccessful attempts to bundle the workers inside their buses.