TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ooni

  • Traditional institution plays key, pivotal role in nation building -Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, says traditional institution plays key and pivotal role in nation building all over the world.

    Ogunwusi stated this as Chairman of the “Traditional Rulers Day” activity to mark the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Rivers in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    He said the institution was indispensable that it could not be ignored or society could not do without it was part of nature.

    “When you step into any community to do anything, they are the first people you meet to consult with as leaders; and within the twinkle of eye, they coordinate the whole people.

    ” Thing is, they know their people, they coordinate basic developmental activities in their domains and direct affairs in the communities, ” he said.

    According to Ogunwusi, the institution works closely with politicians and government because it is very important in decision making.

    “If we all know that we have our role to play and as leaders, we must lead by example and not be found wanting in any way in the society.

    ” We must lead by example in our conducts, in the way we talk and act for our subjects to follow. If we do this, the society will be a better place,” he said.

    The Ooni said that traditional rulers had more important roles in the betterment of the society than government.

    “So, we should see government as our partners in progress. We have our role, they have their role. We are not competitors.

    “The institution should work as a formidable force in pursuit of peace, harmony and nation building in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Snubbing saga: I greeted Ooni in Lagos cultural way, says Akiolu

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has cleared the air on the video making the rounds in the social media that is being misconstrued as his snubbing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at a public function in Lagos.

    Rather, Oba Akiolu said his gesture to the Ooni was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting a monarch in Lagos.

    The position of Oba Akiolu was stated by one of the white cap chiefs of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, who is the Opeluwa Onido of Lagos.

    Ajose said the Lagos monarch did not ignore Ooni of Ife at the public function as being misconceived by people. He said Oba Akiolu’s response to Oba Ogunwusi was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a monarch in Lagos.

    He added that the Lagos King is basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos, which is peculiar to the State.

    Other tribes also have their peculiar ways of greeting, he said.

    Ajose stated: “The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos.

    “If Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni.

    “There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered monarchs in Yorubaland.”

    According to Ajose, the relationship between both Yoruba kings is peaceful and mutual.

    He said: “Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye.”

    Chief Ajose said Oba Akiolu had waited till this time to react to the issue because he had to meet with other chiefs in the palace to rub minds before addressing the public on the matter. He said: “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos.

    “As we met it, that is the way we are doing it.

    “Kabiyesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind. “What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action.

    “We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information.

    “They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out, most especially by traditional rulers.

    “Yoruba has a very rich culture.

    “There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife “

  • Oba of Lagos v Ooni of Ife – Adegboruwa

    I’ve watched an online video wherein the Oba of Lagos SEEMED to decline the overtures of the Ooni of Ife, in a public gathering.
    I do not intend to dwell on the status of both Obas and I think elders should appreciate and reciprocate courtesies from their juniors. Respect is reciprocal.
    That said, I believe that the Ooni needs to ponder on a number of things. In this time of recession, the usually large entourage of the respected king should be trimmed down appropriately. In this particular video, it is clear that the Oni came to the event late, if not very late, as the Obi of Onitsha and the Oba of Lagos were already seated. To that extent it behaves the Ooni to temper his protocol. I saw his retinue of aids falling over themselves to clean his chair and to cover him from public glare whilst sitting down.
    I’ve watched the Queen of England on a number of occasions and even the immediate past Oni, and I cannot reconcile the flamboyant lifestyle of the present Oni with royalty. It even gets bigger when the Ooni travels abroad.
    I know the Ooni personally. I’ve had cause to interact with him on some business and legal transactions, before his enthronement. He is a very hardworking and humble individual. And I know he has many estates scattered all over Lagos. So I do hope and believe that state resources are not involved in sustaining his opulent lifestyle.
    My concern is that the Ooni should learn some lesson from the current travails of the Emir of Kano. Obas should not live larger than life and their public outings should always reflect the mood of the nation and their immediate constituencies. That is not the case with the Ooni presently.
    I do not by any means support the action of the Oba of Lagos on this occasion but I believe that the Ooni should endeavour to arrive early at public gatherings and if and when he arrives late, he should temper his protocols to avoid disruptions and distractions, especially if his elders are already seated.
    The Ooni still has al long way to go, so he should take things easy. I wish him well in all his endeavors.
    Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, Esq

  • Nigerians blast Oba of Lagos for disregarding Ooni [Watch video]

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, recently, humiliated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi at a public function.

    In the 25 seconds video which has gone viral, the Ooni of Ife is seen arriving the venue of the event which had the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu II, sitting beside an unidentified oba.

    The Ooni walked over to greet the obas, but as soon as he offered the Oba of Lagos his hands, Oba Akiolu looked away and dismissed him with a wave of the hand.

    The embarrassed monarch quietly returned to his seat.

    The incident, however, sparked outrage on the social media as many commentators condemned Oba Akiolu, describing his action as unbecoming of a Yoruba monarch.

     

     

  • Six weeks after deadly clash, Sanusi visits Ile-Ife, hails Ooni’s intervention

    Six weeks after deadly clash, Sanusi visits Ile-Ife, hails Ooni’s intervention

    The Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Wednesday, visited the Ooni of Ife’s palace and the scene of the clash between some Yoruba and Hausa residents which happened about six weeks ago.

    The emir spoke in Ile-Ife during his visit to the Ooni at his palace and his visit to Sabo area where the crisis erupted over a month ago. Sanusi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by the Ooni’s media team, said the Ooni’s fatherly and timely intervention during the clash helped doused tension and reduced casualties to a minimal level.

    He added that he (Sanusi) and the Sultan of Sokoto refrained from making any statement then because of the way Oba Ogunwusi responded to the crisis in his domain.

    In his words: “My visit here today is a happy and sad one. It is a happy one because it is an opportunity for me to come and formally congratulate you on your enthronement and it is a sad one because it is in connection with the sad incident that occurred at Ile-Ife recently.

    “I know many people from the North have been complaining that I have been quiet on this matter. Let me say that the moment this sad incident happened, His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, reached out to me and sultan; both of us have reached out to the Ooni a number of times and we are satisfied with the fatherly way he has, so far, responded to the crisis.

    “We see the role he played as a confirmation that he is truly the father of all in Yoruba land, irrespective of tribes and religion, and we felt that so long the Ooni was doing everything humanly possible to stabilise the situation, there was no need for anyone of us to make any statement that could worsen the situation.

    “Let me also add that I was to be here with the sultan but he travelled and he has asked me to represent him and all the northern traditional rulers.

    “You (the Ooni) showed, indeed, that everyone in Ife is your subject, which is the way it should be. The family we come from and the institution we represent are institutions that take responsibility for protecting the lives, property and dignity of our people living within their jurisdiction, irrespective of where they are from. We thank you for playing that role.”

    He also commended the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, for setting up a commission of enquiry to look into the cause of the crisis and to recommend how to avoid a recurrence.

    He said “Our relationship in the country is such that safety in one place is safety everywhere.”

    The Ooni also commended the emir for his maturity and for being a detribalised monarch and a courageous leader, who spoke in defence of the masses.

    Ogunwusi said, “When you are talking of intellectuals in Africa, Emir Sanusi is actually a force to reckon with. I have always had tremendous respect for him. Thank you, your highness, for this historic visit. You are a detribalised Nigerian, who has always shown love to members of other tribes. My love for you dates back to when you were the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria – as your courage of calling a spade, a spade actually drew my attention to you.

    “You and I met in the UK and we had an intensive conversation as regards the crisis and the need to strengthen the unity among all Nigerians. That meeting played a significant role in finally dousing the tension. You are, indeed, part of us in Ile Oodua and we are also part of the Kano Emirate. Our prayer, therefore, is that our relationship will continue to wax stronger.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a violence clash broke out on March 8 between Yoruba and Hausa community resident in Sabo area of Ile-Ife where several were killed and injured.

  • Foreigners appreciate our culture more than we do in Nigeria – Ooni

    Foreigners appreciate our culture more than we do in Nigeria – Ooni

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

    Ooni Ogunwusi said this at the joint celebration of Alafere, Oya and Ijugbe festivals, on Sunday, in Ile-Ife.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the festival 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.

    Ogunwusi said that people had stopped celebrating cultural festivals and heritage, adding that these had been affecting the growth of local festivals and culture in the country.

    The monarch also said that foreigners were beginning to appreciate the African culture and festivals than indigenes of the continent.

    “Our heritage is so strong; all the things that we are celebrating may be strange to many people living in Nigeria and Yoruba land.

    “I just returned from the UK where I met with the British Royal Family and visited the British museum, they (Western World) don’t joke with our culture.

    “All these things are so important to them. They displayed African cultural heritage in their libraries and museums.’’

    He said that they believed in the potency and power of all these festivals saying, “ It is about time for us (Africans) to nurture and promote what we have.

    “We should celebrate what nature has given to us 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 involves a lot of movements by people from diverse backgrounds and cultural orientations.

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

    The Ooni, however, called on government at all levels to improve the level of infrastructure, noting that government needed to support any project that would drive the Yoruba culture to the world.

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

    “Government should pay serious attention to our heritage because our tourist centres and attractions are natural and that is why we need to display them.

    “We don’t need to create any form of artificial tourism. We hope that our government will appreciate us.’’

    Also, the Obalejugbe of Ife, High Chief Abiodun Akinrefon, said that worshipping Ijugbe (god of rain) in Ile-Ife would boost the economy of the community.

    He commended the Ooni for resuscitating the abandoned deities in Ile-Ife, saying that Ijugbe was the custodian of rainfall for mankind.

    Similarly, High Chief Oyarekun Oyaro, the Balogun of Famia, who doubled as Oya priest, attributed the rainfall pattern in the land to the spiritual efficacy of Oya festival in Ile-Ife.

    Oyaro said that the town invoked the god of rain to mark the beginning of planting and a plenteous harvest.

    He, however, admonished the citizenry to value their tradition and culture, adding that they all had important roles to play in the life of mankind.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Oya- Igunnuko/Alafere/Ijugbe festival is a transition festival to herald the raining season as well as the natural phenomena associated with the season – rain, wind, and thunderstorm.

    The festival is to show the workings of “Olodumare’’, the creator of the world in Yoruba mythology, and how to make the season be of high benefit to mankind.

    It is a season to bless the soil for fertility and for the season not to become a calamity for the people.

     

  • Ooni begs state governments to clear backlog of workers’ unpaid salaries

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has appealed to state governments owing workers’ salaries running to several months to clear the debts in order to have a productive workforce.

    The Ooni made the appeal when some management staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) paid him a courtesy visit in Ile Ife, Osun.

    The monarch urged the affected state governments to think out of the box and pay their workers the outstanding salaries they owe them.

    He said that state governments should not depend solely on monthly allocations from the federation accounts to run the affairs of their states.

    “State governments should also think of what they can do on their own to generate additional revenues to complement whatever comes monthly to them from the federation account.

    “All the states have one or two potential that they are blessed with it, they should utilize the opportunities to raise their income,” he said.

    The monarch also advised the state governments to launch themselves into the agriculture sector.

    They would be able to offset their workers’ salaries from revenue generated from their farm produce, he said.

    “Every state has fertile lands that can be cultivated for farming, they should invest in areas of farming where they have comparative advantage to raise their internally generated revenues (IGR).

    “ The only viable sectors left for us in these country are the agriculture and culture/tourism.

    “These are the sectors that cannot run dry nor go into extinction because they are natural resources, ” he said.

    He, therefore, urged state governments to invest more in agriculture to support the Federal Government’s change agenda.

    According to him, agriculture will create employment opportunities for citizens, alleviate poverty, boost revenue and increase foreign exchange earnings.

    He said that once all state governments could launch themselves into agriculture, they would harvest a lot farm produce to feed the citizenry.

    “There will also be excess of produce which they can export to the foreign countries.

    “By so doing, such state governments will realise huge revenue from such exportation to offset their workers’ salaries on monthly basis.

    Ogunwusi also advised state governments to utilise the investment opportunities in the country and those there states were blessed with to boost their IGR.

    “This will, automatically, make them less dependent on the Federal Government; rather they would be taking advantage of their individual natural resources to raise their IGR,” he said.

    The monarch appealed to the governments to pay their workers salaries to cushion the effect of the harsh economic condition.

     

    NAN