The Yorubas have been tipped to enjoy great benefits following the visit of the most powerful monarch of the West, Ooni of Ife to the Alaafin of Oyo.
Ooni of ife and Alaafin of Oyo
The Newly installed Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, made history following with his unscheduled visit to Oyo, last Sunday, to end the long standing rift with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on the occasion of his 45th coronation anniversary.
The exit of the immediate past Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade in July last year, to many, foreclosed the slightest possibility of Oyo Empire reuniting with the source of the Yoruba race.
However, Ooni Ogunwusi, one of the youngest to be crowned monarch of the most important town in Yorubaland, on assuming is putting an end to the fued that had limited interactions between the throne of Oduduwa and its children across the globe.
Before the historic Oyo visit, Ooni Ogunwusi had shocked the world when he graced “Akoraye Day” held on last Saturday of 2015 to raise money for the development of Modakeke, a next door neighbour to Ife.
The physical appearance of an Ooni within the confine of Modakeke town not only spoke volume of how much Oba Ogunwusi cherishes peace, but it also underlined how much the big progenitor of Yoruba race now cares about his children, regardless of what might have transpired in the past.
Giving his opinion on the historic visit to Oyo after many years of frosty relationships between the two towns, Oba Ogunwusi, said he does not care what it will cost him to unite Yoruba race.
Speaking through his Media Aide, Moses Olafare, in a statement issued on the historic visit to Oyo town Ooni Ogunwusi stated his readiness to work with Alaafin to unite the race. The statement noted that Ooni, while speaking at the thanksgiving service to commemorate the anniversary explained that though he was not invited for the event, his major agenda since becoming Ooni is to unite Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world.
The statement reads: “I am here today though not invited, but as the Arole Oduduwa, the onus is on me to felicitate with all sons and daughters, wherever they are and to show my solidarity. “I am ready to damn any consequences or insinuations from anywhere; my mission here is to preach peace among nations of Yoruba both home and abroad and I am ready to work with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi to project the unity and love which we believe is existing in days of our forefathers.”
Ooni of Ife who was accompanied to Oyo by about 100 monarchs across Yoruba land, expressed the belief that with the support of all royal fathers in Yoruba land, there will be unity in Nigeria and by extension there will be unity and peace all over the world, adding “Oduduwa is father of all nations and his spirit abides with all of us as the symbol of our progenitor.”