Tag Archives: OONI

Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage Has Huge Export Potential – Ooni

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The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has described Nigeria’s cultural heritage as a huge export potential, capable of igniting economic rejuvenation.

Ooni Ogunwusi said this at Ile-Ife during the joint celebration of Alafere, Oya and Ijugbe festivals which attracted a huge crowd of participants from within and outside Ile-Ife, especially the Bariba and Nupe people in Niger and Kwara states of Nigeria.

The African foremost monarch who is the spiritual leader of Yoruba race stated that the celebration is to give glory to God Almighty who he described in Yoruba language “Oba ti a ko ri, ti a n ri ise owo e”, meaning “The unseen God but whose impact is being felt always”.

The Ooni wondered why cultural festivals and heritage are not getting necessary attention from citizens of the country, saying this has been affecting the growth of the local festivals and culture in the country.

He also expressed displeasure that foreigners were beginning to appreciate the African culture, mysteries and festivals than indigenes of the continents.

“Our heritage is so strong. All the things that we are celebrating may be strange to a lot of people living in Nigeria and Yorubaland but in the Western World, I just returned from the UK where I met with the British Royal Family and visited the British Museum, they don’t joke with our culture. All these things are so important to them.

“They traced the origin of mankind to Africa and all these facts are displayed in their libraries and museums. They believe in the potency and power of all these festivals. It is about time for us (Africans) to nurture what we have.

“We should celebrate what nature has given to us. Our culture is a very huge export potential and tourism is one of the biggest trades in the world. It is bigger than a lot of investments that you can think of because it has a lot of people’s movement.

“With tourism, people are able to establish a common heritage and ancestral background”, Ooni said.

He called on government at all levels to improve the level of infrastructure, noting that the government needs to support the drive to project the Yoruba culture to the world.

“It is about time for us to focus on tourism by improving our infrastructure and for us to package these entire heritages. Most of the heritage and festivals are very timely and yield benefits.

“The government should pay serious attention to our heritage. We are blessed here because our tourist centres and attractions are natural.

“We don’t need to create any form of artificial tourism. They are very natural tourism potentials and that is why we need to display them.

“We hope that at one point, the government will appreciate us.” He added.

 

Source: Channels TV

Buhari removes Ooni’s brother, ex-supreme court judge from ambassadorial list

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President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a revised list of 46 non-career ambassadors for confirmation to the senate.

This was contained in a letter read by Bukola Saraki, senate president, on the floor of the senate on Thursday.

Missing from the new list are Adegboyega Ogunwusi (Osun), brother of Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife; George Oguntade, a former supreme court judge; Olorunnibe Mamora, a former Lagos-east senator; and Musa Ibeto from Niger.

“We submit the revised list of 46 non-career ambassadors for confirmation as ambassadors by the distinguished senate,” the letter by Buhari read.

“It is my hope that this will receive the usual attention of the senate.”

When Buhari first presented the list in November, the senate turned it down, with Monsurat Sunmonu, chairman senate committee on foreign affairs, saying: ?”I suggest we return the list of non-career ambassadors to the executive so that they can re-present it. There are about 200 petitions against the nominees, and we don’t even know where to start.”

Buhari’s non-career ambassadorial list had caused friction in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governors elected on the platform of the party had met with the president on different occasions to raise concerns over the list.

The president had assured them that he would look into their concerns. But until the rejection of the list by the senate, no action was taken.

Also, two nominees, Pauline Tallen, former deputy governor of Plateau state, and Usman Bugaje, from Katsina state, turned down their appointment.

THE REVISED LIST

Uzoma Eminike (Adamawa)

Aminu Lawal (Adamawa)

Godwin Umoh (Akwa Ibom)

Christopher Okeke (Anambra)

Yusuf Maitama (Bauchi)

Baba Maigudu (Bauchi)

Stanley Douye (Bayelsa)

Stephen Uba (Benue)

Baba Ahmed Gida (Borno)

Utobong Asuquo (Cross River)

Frank Ofegina (Delta)

Joda Udoh (Ebonyi)

Yagwe Ede (Edo)

Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti)

Chris Eze (Enugu)

Sulieman Hassan (Gombe)

Sylvanus Usofo (Imo)

Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa)

Ahmed Bamilli (Kaduna)

Yahaya (Kaduna)

D. Abdulkadir (Kano)

Haruna Arungungu (Kano)

Musa Udo (Katsina)

Mohammed Rimi (Katsina)

Tijani Bande (Kebbi)

Y. Aliu (Kogi)

Nurudeen Mohammed (Kwara)

Mohammed Isa (Kwara)

Adesola Omotade (Lagos)

Modupe Remi (Lagos)

Musa Mohammed (Nasarawa)

Elijah Ibeto (Ogun)

Susan Aderonke Folarin (Ogun)

Jacob Daudu (Ondo)

Afolayon Adeyemi (Osun)

A. Olaniyi (Oyo)

James Dmika (Plateau)

Haruna Abdullahi (Plateau)

Orji Ngofa (Rivers)

Sahibi Isa Dada (Sokoto)

Kabir Umar (Sokoto)

Jika Ado (Taraba)

Goni Zana (Yobe)

Garba T. (Zamfara)

Bala Mohammad (Zamfara)

Ibrahim Dada (FCT)

Ooni Of Ife celebrates Christmas, calls Jesus an embodiment of forgiveness

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had while celebrating Christmas said Jesus Christ is an embodiment of forgiveness.

He further described Jesus Christ as the Lord of peace and love with an unparalleled forgiving spirit who should always be remembered and honoured with the existence of love and peace by Christians.

According to him, that was the only way harmonious co-existence can be achieved not only within the ranks of his followers but also among the members of the larger global society for whom Jesus lived and died over 2000 years ago.

The traditional ruler made this known on Christmas Day.

In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, the Ooni wished all Christians in Nigeria and across the globe a merry Christmas.

He charged religious leaders to always lead by example by not just preaching but always act like Jesus if their followers should take them seriously.

The statement reads: “People of the world must see themselves as one before the God almighty and must treat one another with forgiveness, peace and love as symbolized by Jesus Christ if the world must be a conducive place for everyone to survive.

“There is no greater gift and honour you can give to Jesus Christ other than exhibition of forgiving spirit, display of love and ensurance of absolute peace because these are what the lord Jesus symbolizes.

“We all must see ourselves as equal before the almighty God who purposefully created us with different cultural backgrounds.

“The surest way of achieving the much needed global harmony is when we always imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and extend hand of love and peace to one another, with this Jesus Christ will be happy in heaven.

“God will always smile to us and of course the world will become a better place for all of us to dwell happily,” the statement added.

Ooni unveils Africa’s 3rd tallest statue, Moremi Ajasoro.

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has unveiled Africa’s third tallest statue in Ile-Ife.

The 42-feet statue is situated at the exact spot where Moremi lived in Ile-Ife thousands of years ago.

The statue has 30 risers and was 100 percent locally constructed by Nigerian engineers and youths sourced with solely Nigerian materials.

Moremi Ajasoro statue of Liberty in Ile- Ife, Nigeria at 42 feet is now the third  tallest in Africa.

It follows the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal, which is the tallest statue in Africa, and the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, the second tallest statue which is 66 feet.

Ramesses II in Egypt at 30 feet, is the fourth  tallest. Nelson Mandela Union Building in South Africa has a 28 feet statue and is the fifth tallest in the continent and Jesus Satue in Owerri Nigeria the fifth as well.

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IN PICTURES: Ooni Of Ife Unveils “Moremi Ajasoro”, Tallest Statue In Nigeria

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Ooni of Ife yesterday unveiled “Moremi Ajasoro”, the tallest statue in Nigeria .It is 42 feet tall with 30 risers. It is the tallest statue in Nigeria and the 3rd tallest in Africa.

It is constructed right on the spot Moremi lived several centuries of years ago. It is 100 percent locally constructed by Nigerian engineers and youths sourced with sole Nigerian materials.

At 161 feet, African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal, is the tallest statue in Africa, then the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt which is 66 feet.

Moremi Ajasoro statue of Liberty in Ile- Ife , Nigeria at 42 feet is now the third tallest in Africa.

Ramesses II in Egypt at 30 feet, is the fourth tallest. Nelson Mandela Union Building in South Africa has a 28 feet statue and is the fifth tallest in the continent and Jesus Statue in Owerri Nigeria the fifth as well.

See photos below:

 

 

 

Ooni of Ife laments youth unemployment.

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Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, has expressed his commitment to collaborate with the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) in its youth empowerment programme.

The monarch who lamented the unprecedented number of youths that are idle across the country while receiving the management of the bank in his palace noted that government and private sectors must be willing to assist youths to go back to farm.

The Ooni also urged the BOA management to make their presence more visible in the country by providing loan to farmers.

“If BOA can be used as a proper conduit in terms of giving soft loans on a long time basis, it will encourage the youths to go back to farm”. He said

Earlier in his remark, the executive director of the bank, Mr Babatunde Igun said that the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) was ready to provide financial and other support services for farmers and youths in the country to boost food production through mechanised farming system.

Igun, said the bank was also ready to collaborate with Ooni on his youths engagement in mechanised farming, adding that BOA would also assist 150 youths who were been trained by Ooni on agriculture mechanisation with loan facilities.

“The most important thing for anyone going into agriculture is skill acquisition. And that is where Ooni has played a dominant role by bringing 150 youths together in the last four months to train them in agriculture mechanisation.

And that is why we are interested in giving them loan after their training.

“In BOA, once we see an organisation, state or individual that is passionate about youths, women and agriculture, we try to come to them and find a way we can collaborate”. He said

Igun added that more than 400 farmers had been empowered in Ile-Ife with N500 million loan facilities in the last few years.

He said with the dwindling effects of crude oil price on the nation’s economy, there was urgent need to assist farmers and youths towards economic diversification through mechanised farming.

“We are ready to assist farmers as well as youths for them to go back to farm and our plan is not for them to go back to hoes and cutlasses farming but rather mechanised farming system.

“And I believe with the assistance BOA is ready to give, in the next few years, our agriculture system will begin to take a new shape”. Igun posited.

Anti-grazing law may degenerate into major crisis – Ooni of Ife

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said the anti-grazing law on Fulani herdsmen was a welcome development across Nigeria, but called for care in handling the issue.

The Ooni made this known at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe on Thursday.

He recalled that the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, had recently signed the prohibition of cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti Bill, 2016 to Law, which prevented free grazing of cattle in the state and carrying of firearms by herdsmen, as well restriction of grazing period to between 7am and 6pm

The new law prescribed six months jail term without option of fine to any herdsman, who is found guilty.
The development had raised concern in the state as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, had stated that the anti-malu vigilante by the state government was not ant only provoking,  but capable of creating uncontrollable scenarios whose ramification may go well beyond the state.

The Ooni, however, said his plea for caution became necessary in order not to allow the issue degenerate into a major crisis.

He said, “We need to be careful handling the threat posed by some herdsmen across the country, especially in the Yoruba region of the country.

“Because Nigeria is a federation and Ekiti State is in a federation, there is need for care in the handling of the issue because it could degenerate.”

Buhari Appoints Ooni As UNN Chancellor

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President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja ll, as the Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

A statement by the Director of Media, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, said the president made the appointment on Thursday.

“This appointment would develop further and enable the monarch to build more bridges of friendship most especially across the Niger,” he said.

Mr. Olafare commended President Buhari for recognising the Ooni’s efforts in promoting peace, unity among Nigerians.

He noted that Ogunwusi was ready to bring to bear his influence and connections to promote unity and harmonious working relationships in the university.

He further admonished Nigerians to promote issues that could foster unity to ensure speedy development rather than playing up their differences.

” It is incontrovertible today that Ooni Ogunwusi is a bridge builder and being the youngest chancellor appointed for the only university bearing ‘Nigeria’ is worth the celebration,” he said.

“His appointment as chancellor, University Of Nigeria, Nsukka is considered as a positive sign that can further enhance peaceful coexistence of our dear nation.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

‘Youth Empowerment Is My Priority’ – Ooni Of Ife

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Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said that empowerment of the youth was his utmost concern. Ogunwusi stated that with the dwindling oil economy, it was necessary to get back to the farms and other non oil sector.

Speaking with the State House correspondents after a private meeting with president Mohammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, the first class traditional ruler said that already, he had held meetings with the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe to work out the modalities of empowering the youth through agriculture. H.R.H. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife President Buhari Recalling that the agriculture was the mainstay of the nation’s economy before now, Ooni revealed that he had assembled 200,000 youths who were ready to engage in agro-activities, saying that 5 acres of land had been mapped out for each youth.

“The meeting with the President was about peace and progress of the nation which he stands for and I stand for. What is also key is youth empowerment. That is the main purpose of this meeting. “There is a lot. I am currently working with the Minister of Agriculture.

We have been able to assemble over 200,000 youths within a space of 30 days. It is unbelievable. We are encouraging them to go back to the farm. Adeboye too in Aso Rock Also the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Tuesday paid a visit to president Mohammadu Buhari. Both came shortly after the exit of Liberian president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from the presidential villa. Adeboye who was ushered into the president’s office barely spent 20 minutes. President Buhari receives in audience Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Statehouse on 16th Feb 2016 The meeting was said to be a private one. On his way out, he refused to speak with Journalists when approached for comments, but returned “God bless you”, as he entered his waiting car.

Source – Vanguardngr.com

Ark Of Noah, Tower Of Babel Are In Ile-Ife, Says Unconfirmed Twitter Handle Of OOni

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has disclosed that the Ark of Noah and Tower of Babel are in Ile-Ife.

This was disclosed in an unconfirmed twitter handle of the Ooni. The handle, @OoniAdimulaIfe, though not verified, is known for tweeting activities of the king.

Drama As Ooni Escapes Assault At Obas Council Meeting

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Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) was almost assaulted on Thursday by suspected agents of some traditional rulers, but for the vigilance and agility of his own aides who whisked him out of a meeting of the Osun State traditional Rulers, in Osogbo, the state capital. The drama was witnessed at the monthly meeting of Osun State Council of Obas, which ended abruptly with some aides of the Ooni having their attires torn into shreds while protecting their principal.

Thursday’s crisis started when some aides of Ooni Ogunwusi reportedly brought into the auditorium where the meeting was to hold a new white chair and stood by it awaiting the arrival of their principal. Upon arrival at the venue, few minutes after 9:00 am, when Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and other monachs had taken their seat, it was also gathered that Oba Aromolaran went to the raised platform where Ooni’s seat was placed and ordered the aide watching over it to leave. To the surprise of the monarchs already seated, the Ooni’s aides reportedly dismissed Oba Aromolaran’s order.

“There was a kind of struggle and we just saw that white cloth of the Emese (Ooni’s aide) was torn and the meeting just ended before it commenced at all”, a source told The Daily Times. By the times the Ooni was to come into the meeting, the aide watching over his chair was being compelled to obey the Owa of Obokun’s orders, and he was reportedly rushed out and guided by his messengers to prevent him from being attacked by opposition monarchs. When contacted, Moses Olafare, the media aide to Ooni of Ife, said that the Ooni’s permanent chairmanship of the council was not contestable since there is a law that backs it. “Ooni will not want to be drawn into what happened, Oba Ogunwusi remained the permanent chairman of Osun Obas’ council, according to the law.”

As part of fallout of the council’s meeting, members of the council were seen leaving the Government House, Okefia, in motorcade after reportedly meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, where the matter was resolved. In what was believed as the final resolution of the matter, the Ooni, in company of most members of the Obas’ Council, later went to the Owa’s place in Ilesha, where they held a closed door meeting with him. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Oba Aromolaran, said Ooni’s visit was a surprise and least expected one, saying “now that you have come to show hand of friendship, I will now join your unity train to unify the Yoruba race.”

Responding, Ooni of Ife posited that the stool of Owa is among the prominent ones in Yorubaland, adding that “it is in my own interest and that of the larger Yoruba people to relate very well with Owa. I just spent about three months on the throne now, while you, Owa has spent about 45 years.” “It is my responsibility to visit you first because you have been on the throne for long. It has been said by the God almighty that I should come and liberate Yorubaland and to ensure peace and unity. I am not engaging in any supremacy of leadership tussle with anybody.”

Credit: DailyTimes

Ooni Visits Alaafin, As Monarchs End 79-Year-old Supremacy Battle

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II yesterday laid an unprecedented achievement in the history of Yoruba race as he paid an unscheduled visit to Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi at his palace to join him in celebrating his 45th coronation anniversary on the throne.

 

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Speaking at the thanksgiving service to commemorate the anniversary, Oba Ogunwusi though uninvited emphasized that his agenda, is to unify all Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world.

 

 

Oba Ogunwusi, in his quest to unite Yoruba nations said, “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 for them.

 

 

“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 existed in days of our forefathers.”

 

 

Ooni of Ife?, Oba Ogunwusi, on Sunday, became the first Ooni to visit Oyo town since 1937. He visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, to grace his 45th coronation anniversary thanksgiving, held at the Methodist Church, Apaara, Oyo State.

 
Ooni of Ife?, Oba Ogunwusi, on Sunday, became the first Ooni to visit Oyo town since 1937. He visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, to grace his 45th coronation anniversary thanksgiving, held at the Methodist Church, Apaara, Oyo State.

 
The Ooni, who was accompanied to the 45th thanksgiving service of Alaafin by over 100 monarchs across Yoruba land, said with the support of all obas in Yoruba land, there will be unity in Nigeria and by extension the world.
“Oduduwa is father of all nations and his spirit abides by all us as the symbol of the progenitor,” he noted.

 

Earlier in his speech, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, who expressed joy with the presence of the Ooni and all other Yoruba Obas, maintained that if every monarch in the Yoruba unite, there will be tremendous progress in Nigeria.

 

He said: “This special visit was done last in March 1937, that was the first time the kings in Yorubaland met in Oyo town and today history was made with the visit of Arole Oodua, Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and I feel delighted to host you and to reassure you that I will be ready to work with you.

 

“I had a cordial relationship with Ooni Adesoji Aderemi and I did not want to relent my bound with any Ooni of Ife that assumed the post but everybody has his own little differences.”

 

The Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Rt, Rev, Titus Ilori Omoniyi, emphasized that the unity among Yoruba nation will bring progress and development and this will leads to unprecedented progress to all nations.

 

Among the royal fathers that accompanied the Ooni were; Orangun of Ila, Ajero of Ijero, Timi of Ede, Olu of Yewa, Alara of Aramoko, Oore of Otun, Alayemore of Efon Alaye, among others.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

New Yoruba Nation Coming Soon, Says Ooni

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NEWLY-crowned Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has promised that a new Yoruba nation where youth empowerment is the focus will emerge during his tenure. Ogunwusi’s coronation is coming five months after the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who passed on at 85. The new Ooni is the 51st Ooni to ascend the throne, and his coronation came exactly 35 years and one day after the immediate-past Ooni, Oba Sijuade was presented the staff of office.

Installation ceremony of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi 51th Ooni of Ife

Remarkably, the ancient city of Ile Ife stood still yesterday, as he was presented with the staff of office and instrument of appointment. Roads leading to the palace was on lock down by security operatives, leaving a red carpet path for the monarch and invited dignitaries.

Guests and invitees from all walks of life thronged the palace to catch a glimpse of the coronation ceremony of the Ooni of Ife.

In fact, it took the intervention of security presence of the Army, Police, Civil Defence and other paramilitary organizations to control the crowd at the venue.

The ceremony, held at Afewonro Park, Enuwa, had in attendance dignitaries. It was full of glamour as groups attired in colourful dresses adorned the perimeters of the venue. Traditional rulers from different climes, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar II, and Olu of Warri were not left out as drums and trumpets announced their arrival.

Rotimi Fabiyi: The New Ooni Of Ife, The Tinubu Connection, And The Obasanjo Disconnection

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  On 28th July, 2015, the multibillionaire king of Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II was officially announced on several news media as being confirmed dead in a hospital in London, United Kingdom after a brief illness. The race to replace him with another prince among the hundreds of Ife princes available (both the late king’s sons and the sons of his extended paternal family members) began in earnest.

   The selection of a new king for Ile Ife was termed a “race” because of how important the ancient town of Ile Ife is in the culture and history of the Yoruba nation. According to the book authored by the multi-talented 19th century historian Reverend Samuel Ayinla Johnson, edited by his younger brother Dr. Obadiah Ajagbe Johnson (who was the 2nd Nigerian to qualify as a medical doctor after Dr Adeniyi Jones broke the record of being the 1st), and titled A History Of The Yorubas From The Earliest Times To The Beginning Of The British Protectorate (a book recognized worldwide and described by wikipedia.org as “… a book of great merit … and a pioneering historical study…”), Ile Ife has been a very sacred town for the Yorubas for hundreds of years before the European colonials started arriving in Yorubaland because there is no king of other Yoruba towns that will ascend the throne of his ancestors without performing (as part of his many traditional rites) a secret spiritual rite that must be administered by representatives of the king of Ile Ife. Briton Professor Robert Sydney Smith likewise wrote in his own groundbreaking book titled Kingdoms Of The Yoruba that “… in ancient and even comparably recent pre-colonial times, the king of Ile Ife was regarded as more than just a king. He was in addition the chief priest of the whole Yoruba nation; what the Archbishop of Canterbury is to Great Britain and the Anglican Church was what the Ooni of Ife was to the Yoruba people …”

   Traditionalism and indigenous spiritualism aside, the social status of the Ooni of Ife is very high and the position he occupies is well respected in Nigeria and beyond. The penultimate Ooni of Ife Oba Adesoji Aderemi (who ruled as Ife king from 1930 to 1980) broke national and international records by being the 1st Nigerian to become a governor (after he replaced the tactful Briton Sir John Dalzell Rankine as governor of Western Region, Nigeria) and also the 1st black man to become a governor in the whole British Commonwealth. He was also a Nigerian federal minister even while still the Ife king; he was involved (with the illustrious political genius Obafemi Awolowo) in encouraging Anthony Enahoro to move the motion for self government for Nigeria in 1956; he was involved in the several constitutional conferences held in London, United Kingdom in the 1950s to determine the future of Nigeria, and he played an important role in the numerous attempts to settle the rapidly exacerbated Action Group Political Crisis of the early 1960s in Nigeria (see the article “Where Were You … When Oba Adesoji Aderemi Became The First Governor In Black Commonwealth Africa” by Banke Adelaja, Historical Flashback Nigerian newspaper, April 1 – May 5, 2015, pages 15 – 19 for more details). The progressive Nigerian politician Chief Obafemi Awolowo never in his lifetime hid the fact that the moral supports and beneficial advices he received from Oba Adesoji Aderemi were partly responsible for his (Awolowo’s) own imperishable political achievements so when Ooni Adesoji Aderemi died at 91 years of age in 1980, Obafemi Awolowo tried his best to make sure his own former employee and close junior friend multibillionaire Prince Okunade Sijuwade became the next king.

   35 years later in 2015, Ooni Okunade Sijuwade died and the present day power brokers in Yorubaland immediately started a race to get their own favourite Ife prince to ascend the Ile Ife throne. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (who erroneously and self-deceptively sees himself as the most prominent Yoruba alive today even though he has no tangible political structure that is well grounded in Yorubaland or in Nigeria at large) initially struggled to find a way of influencing the selection of the new king but it was the favourite of the real Yoruba leader Bola Tinubu (who is the Asiwaju of Yorubaland and the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, whose political structures include 4 state governors out of the 6 states in Yorubaland, and whose brainchild of a political party All Progressives Congress broke records by defeating an incumbent Nigerian president and therefore achieved what no other political party in Nigerian history has ever achieved) that emerged as the present Ooni of Ife. When the 85-year-old multibillionaire Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade (who was the employer of a certain Gabriel Igbinedion that later became a multibillionaire) died on Tuesday, 28th July, 2015, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (who has been described by wikipedia.org as “… an astute politician …”) initially wanted his long-term friend and close confidant multibillionaire Ife Prince Dipo Eludoyin, MFR (the chairman of Paragon Group that owns the popular Ikeja Mall in Lagos State, Nigeria and several other business interests in China) to be the next Ooni of Ife but Prince Eludoyin politely refused to be the next king of Ife, preferring the life of a quiet and unpublicised international multibillionaire he lives to that of a king of Ile Ife with its expected concomitant publicity and quasi-regimentation. When the pressure from his friends (particularly Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) encouraging him to become king was approaching crescendo, Prince Eludoyin quietly jetted to China (where has a multi-billion naira business empire), vowing to come back to Nigeria only after a new Ooni is installed. It was while Tinubu was looking for another Ife prince to replace the late Ooni Sijuwade that a certain Yoruba king Oba Saheed Elegushi (the Elegushi of Ikate Land, Lagos State, Nigeria) introduced a certain multibillionaire Ife prince known as Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

   Before becoming a king in 2010, Oba Saheed Elegushi (who has been a cordial business partner of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi for many years) was a personal assistant to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during Tinubu’s 8 years as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007 and he (Oba Saheed Elegushi) was a Senior Special Assistant On Special Duties to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola from 2007 to 2010. This Tinubu Connection would later make the secretary to the Government of Osun State Alhaji Moshood Adeoti announce on 26th October, 2015 on behalf of Tinubu’s political protégé Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Nigeria that the next Ooni of Ife is the multibillionaire Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. 2 days later on 28th October, 2015, Ooni of Ife Adeyeye Ogunwusi rode in a convoy of more than 100 cars from Lagos State (where he was hitherto based) to Ile Ife (where he is being made King), part of the convoy including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who had once again been bested and humiliated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (because the victorious and celebrated Ooni Ogunwusi was Tinubu’s choice, not Obasanjo’s choice) but who was trying his best to play to the gallery by  not to showing his disconsolation and dismay which was why he seemed to be “happier than the celebrant’’ during the home-coming car procession of the new Ooni of Ife. On 30th October, 2015, the new Ooni of Ife proceeded to the sacred traditional ritual grove at Ile Ife to commence the compulsory 21-day rites that every new Ooni must do and which some sources said involved eating 401 different light repasts (each representing the 401 traditional gods allegedly worshipped in Ile Ife) made of special secret ingredients from 401 different food saucers while other sources  insist that the number of the secret meals that the new king will consume during the 21-day period will be only 364 in number, not 401 (because the traditional gods of Ife are allegedly 364 in number, not 401) but all these could be safely dismissed as guesses because none of the rumour-mongers will be with him during the rites to know how many special meals he would eat to appease how many traditional gods or if he would even eat any special meal at all.

   Now that the new Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has been proved to be a Tinubu’s choice, one would be mistaking to see him as a pushover, an underling, a minion, or a toady because he himself is an achiever in many directions even though he is just 41 years old.  Born at exactly 1pm on Thursday, 17th October, 1974, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi obtained a higher national diploma, HND in Accountancy from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.  His further professional efforts made him become a full member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, an associate accounting technician, a certified member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria, an active member of Global Real Estate Institute, GRI, a full director on the Board Of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited (formerly GT Homes which was a subsidiary of GT Bank Plc), a director of Fina Trust Microfinance Bank Limited, and the sole founder and Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group which is the holding company for many of his multifarious business interests which include real estate, civil construction, manufacturing, facilities management, leisure and tourism, etc within and outside of Nigeria.

   Apart from being an unpretentious philanthropist (he donated rice and tilling equipments to Oyo and Ogun States chapters of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria; funded the purchase and installation of power transformers and electricity poles in many rural communities across Nigeria; granted scholarships to scores of indigent students; and single-handedly paid for the reconstruction of a 6.5 km road with 1.1 km green extension in a community in Nigeria without any financial intervention from the government), Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has had very close working relationships spanning several years  in the direction of multiple business partnerships with several top-notch kings in Yorubaland some of whom include late Ooni Okunade Sijuade of Ile Ife, Osun State; Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Land, Lagos State; Oba Adedapo  Tejuosho of Abeokuta, Ogun State; Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu of Oworonshoki, Lagos State; Oba Akinloye of Ajiran Land, Lagos State; Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi of Ofa, Kwara State, etc.  A husband to 1 wife (Mrs, now Olori Adedokun Adebisi Ogunwusi) and a father to 1 daughter (Adeola Aanuoluwapo Ogunwusi), he has 450 direct employees and over 3,000 indirect employees in his numerous companies even though he celebrated his 41st birthday on 17th October, 2015 (9 days before his name was announced as the next Ooni of Ife).

   Notwithstanding the petition written by a certain non-governmental organisation named Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ (chaired by a certain Mr Adeniyi Suleiman) and forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC requesting it (EFCC) to immediately arrest, detain and prosecute the new Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi for an alleged forgery, fraudulent conversion, and obtaining of 400 million naira, history will be made when history repeats itself when the Ooni of Ife Adeyeye Ogunwusi is coronated plausibly in late November 2015 by the bespectacled Governor Rauf Aregbesola who is an Ijesha indigene and who is a political protégé of a bespectacled Lagos-based political giant Bola Tinubu (the same way the late Ooni Okunade Sijuade was coronated 35 years earlier in 1980 by a bespectacled Governor Bola Ige who is an Ijesha indigene and who was a political protégé of a bespectacled  Lagos-based political giant Obafemi Awolowo) and it is expected that Ooni Ogunwusi will have a very long and peaceful reign filled with several unique achievements like the reign of late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi (who became an Ife king at 41 years of age like the present  Ooni Ogunwusi) though nobody wants history to repeat itself with the way the hitherto-healthy, flamboyant money-spraying Lagos multimillionaire socialite Ladipo Bobo Doherty (who was a close friend of Ooni Sijuwade and who married Tejumade, the daughter of Lagos multimillionaire Rex Ibikunle Alakija) suddenly collapsed and died within few seconds after spraying some hard currency during the party organised in honour of Ooni Okunade Sijuade during his coronation ceremony in December 1980 (see the article ‘’Bobo Doherty Is Dead’’, Sunday Tribune Nigerian newspaper, December 7 ,1980, page 1 for more details), fuelling a series of rumours in the direction of the Abobaku Myth(i e the mythical belief that at least one human being must die a strange, sudden death as a spiritual sacrifice during the coronation of a Yoruba king).

   The emergence of multibillionaire Ife Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ife clearly happened through Tinubu Connection (as detailed above) and it clearly sequelled into a serious Obasanjo emotional disconnection.  Nothing needs to be further said.

                         Engr Rotimi Fabiyi, MNIM, MNSChE, MNSE, COREN Reg,

                        P.O Box 1709, Ikorodu Town, Lagos State, Nigeria

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                        fabiyirotimi@yahoo.com

                        twitter@fabiyi_rotimi

                        whatsapp@08184741410, 08129698326

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

               

How I Emerged Ooni, Ooni-Elect Reveals

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Following his emergence as the Ooni-elect, only coronation-rites away from occupying the pre-eminent monarchical stool among an estimated 60 million Yoruba worldwide, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, yesterday said his ascension to the throne was a divine call, as “only God chooses kings.”

The Ooni-elect who spoke in an exclusive interview yesterday, expressed his appreciation to God, who made his emergence so peaceful.

He spoke against the backdrop of several efforts to thwart the process that led to his emergence which had led to uncertainty in the ancient town since the passage of the last Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, on July 28 this year at Saint Mary Hospital London at the age of 85.

Kingmakers who had thought the new Ooni would be announced 42 days after the death of Sijuade were wrong as several interest groups raised allegations against either the families due to produce a new Ooni or Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi himself when, they somehow found out he was the candidate to beat.

Before his selection was announced, Prince Ogunwusi spoke of his shock at the allegations, saying he was never involved in any sharp practices, stressing that he believes “it is God that actually appoints kings.

“My brother, can people be this bad?! How can they be maligning my character with all these spurious allegations, which I am not aware of or connected with? Well, I believe that in a matter of days, everything would be over and that the will of God will be done,” he had said emphatically.

Two months before, when some friends expressed concern over his bid for the throne, he simply thanked them but said: “This is beyond me; it is a divine call and I cannot do otherwise. This is the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life.”

Through it all, the Ooni-elect even as a candidate never failed to express his confidence in God, in the integrity of the kingmakers and the government of Osun State.

Credit: GuardianNg

Dele Momodu Must Be The Next Ooni Of Ife… Nigerian Pastor Warns

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A Nigerian pastor based in Ghana simply known as Pastor Paul but originally from Imo State, Nigeria has said Dele Momodu, the founder of Ovation Magazine, must be the next Ooni of Ife.

Saying he got the prophecy from God, the pastor warned that if Momodu was not installed as the next Ooni, there would be bloodshed in the country.

Though there have been mixed reactions to this on social media, the good news is however that Dele Momodu himself does not believe the pastor and has openly called it a MYSTERY.

Ooni Kingmakers Allegedly Hike Interest Form To N250,000

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Kingmakers of the Ooni of Ife have allegedly hiked the cost of the Interest Form from N100,000 to N250,000.

A source close to the kingmakers attributed the hike in the fee to the “unprecedented” declaration of intention to succeed the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

Although, the hike in the fee was designed to discourage many people from participating in the contest, he said that aspirants will have enough time to obtain mandatory intention forms when the race begins.

Traditionally, it is forbidden for would-be occupants to the stool to indicate their interest during the period of mourning, but the battle for who succeeds the late Sijuwade commenced in earnest, even before the Royal Traditional Council formally announced the “ascension to the loft” of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11 penultimate Wednesday.

Read More: nigerianpilot

Senate Sends 4-Man Burial Team In Honour Of Ooni

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Senate paid special respect to the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, as lawmakers took turns to pour encomiums on the royal father, whose death was reported about a fortnight ago.

Senators also observed a one minute silence in honour of the late Oba. Senator representing Osun East, Senator Babajide Omoworare, brought the attention of the death of the Oba to the Senate via a motion pursuant to order 42 and 52 of the Senate standing order on matters of urgent national importance.

The lawmaker took time to reel out the resume of the life and times of the late Oba. He said: “Oba Sijuwade was a great family man and highly revered in Diaspora, especially in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. He received many national and international awards and decorations in honour and recognition of his various achievements.”

Read More: nationalmirroronline

Ooni Of Ife To Be Buried On Friday August 14th

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Son of the Ooni of Ife, Prince Adetokunboh Sijuwade says his father, the Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade who died July 28th will be buried in Ile Ife on Friday August 14th. Prince Adetokunboh who made the announcement at a joint press conference with the Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola and a palace chief, said his father’s body will be flown from the UK on Thursday August 13th and then buried on Friday 14th.

OAU Orders Students To Remain On Campus As Ife Palace Prepare To Announce Ooni’s Death

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The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, in Osun state this morning sent out a circular asking all students to remain indoors tomorrow as the palace prepares its traditional rites to formally announce the death of the Ooni of Ife Oba Sijuwade. The Ife Council of Chiefs had yesterday warned all residents in Ile Ife to remain indoors tomorrow between 9am and 5pm.