Poised to ensure unity among monarchs in Yoruba land, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Friday visited to the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
The visit would be the first any Ooni would officially make to Ijebuland since 1941 during a conference of Yoruba traditional rulers held in Ijebu-Ode.
Ooni, who stormed the Palace of the Awujale with some Ife kings, high chiefs and palace officials around 1:15p.m, called for unity and cooperation amongst traditional rulers and people of Yoruba land.
Oba Ogunwusi, however, called for a replication of the kind of unity and cooperation that existed amongst traditional rulers in Yorubaland up till 1941 when the Obas in the area last held a joint meeting.
According to him, it was only through unity and cooperation that the traditional rulers in Yorubaland could achieve the best for their people.
The monarch, then, disclosed that he was in Ijebuland to learn from the Awujale whom God has preserved for 56 years on the throne.
He, however, expressed his readiness to move closer to the Ijebu monarch so as to foster better cooperation and unity amongst Yoruba traditional rulers.
“The position God has put me today is not because of my power or might; It has pleased God to make me the Ooni in my youth. Therefore, I have resolved to come closer to the Awujale because since 1941 when Yoruba traditional rulers last met, we have not had any other joint meeting. This should not be so.
“It is our culture to respect the elders and there is nothing better than that before God. God loves the Yoruba people so much that He gave us everything. But if we are not united, we won’t know our worth. God has blessed all of us in Yorubaland but it is through cooperation we can achieve the best.” He explained.
Oba Ogunwusi prayed for lasting peace throughout Yorubaland.
Responding, the Awujale who was in company with retinue of monarchs from the various parts of Ijebuland, lauded the Ooni for his relentless pursuit of peace and unity amongst Yoruba traditional rulers since his ascension of the throne of his forebears.
Oba Adetona, however, warned that the Ooni should be wary of sycophants and other various groups hiding under the guise of championing the cause of the Yoruba.
He also advised the Ooni to be cautious in his dealings with politicians, adding that he should impartial and always act as a father to all his people regardless of their political leanings.
The Awujale stressed that only the existence of unity and cooperation amongst Yoruba traditional rulers would bring the desired development to the people across communities in the area.
His words “…If we are united, we can achieve a lot for our people. But if we allow politicians to infiltrate and divide us, they will spoil everything. We should not as traditional rulers sell ourselves out because of pecuniary gains. That had happened in the past and caused disunity in Yorubaland. We should not be partial; the interest of our people should matter most to us…”Awujale urged the Ooni to continue to forge and foster unity and cooperation amongst all Yoruba monarchs.
Source: Daily Independent News
