Alaafin congratulates Ooni on 10th anniversary

(L-R) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade…Photo Credit: Alaafin of Oyo Media

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Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on his 10th coronation anniversary, calling for unity among Yoruba traditional rulers.

This comes months after tensions arose between both palaces over the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland chieftaincy title.

The episode saw a series of strongly worded statements exchanged before both monarchs later sheathed their swords following interventions from concerned quarters.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said he joined indigenes of Oyo Kingdom, as well as the governments and people of Oyo and Osun states, in celebrating the Ooni.

Oba Owoade commended the Ooni for his “sense of commitment and resilience in ruling over his people”, expressing confidence that his “wisdom, warmth and friendliness” would continue to promote peace and civility in Ile-Ife.

He prayed for a fruitful reign for Oba Ogunwusi, saying, “If gratitude is the great opener of the heart, then the Ooni of Ife’s heart should be busted wide open to the sweetness of this moment.

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul. What is more, gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”

Using the occasion to urge harmony among Yoruba traditional rulers, the Alaafin said unity remained critical to strengthening the institution of monarchy.

“As monarchs, all of us have just three responsibilities. We are saddled with the maintenance of peace, culture and tradition. Kings are not religious leaders.

“Our responsibility, as handed over to us in our certificates, is to be custodians of the legacies of our ancestors, so that they do not go extinct,” he said.

He added that unity must be built on trust and mutual respect, noting, “Unity can only be predicated on mutual trust and understanding, reciprocal friendly, brotherly and sisterly relations, as well as shared interests, values and aspirations.”

The Alaafin stressed the need to embrace Nigeria’s diversity, saying, “Unity in diversity is a core principle of federalism. All federations are required to adhere to, and actively nurture and entrench, expectations associated with this core principle. Nigeria, as a federation with a complex mosaic of diversity, needs to continue to find and deploy ways and means of forging, entrenching and sustaining unity in diversity and national integration.”

Oba Owoade concluded by extending renewed goodwill to the Ooni, saying, “Once again, I am wishing the Ooni of Ife more prosperous years ahead.”

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