Ooni of Ife and Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, Ọjájá II, has assured the people of Okun region in Kogi State of the right of place within the Oduduwa dynasty.globally encouraging them to always maintain their ancestral roots in Ile-Ife which remains cradle and traditional headquarters for the people of the Oduduwa race worldwide.
Ooni Ogunwusi, the Permanent Chairman, Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs made the remarks on Saturday during his historic visit to the kingdom of Mopa in Kogi State where he held meetings with the Okun traditional rulers who later accompanied him to attend the 1st Year Coronation Anniversary ceremony of the Elulu of Mopa kingdom and Chairman of the Mopamuro Local Government Traditional Council, HRM, Oba Muyiwa Ibeun. He stated at the event that the boundaries separating the Okun people from their kinsmen in the southwest are merely artificial.
Ooni, Permanent Chairman of The Southern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers(SNCTR) charged the Okun people in the North Central geopolitical zone to always maintain their deep connection to Ile-Ife which is the ancestral home of the Kootu-Oojiire people of the Southwest and beyond, reminding them that their name connotes strength in the universal dialect of the Kootu-Oojiire dynasty.
“Okun’ means strength in English language and wherever the people of Okun are found globally, they exhibit strength in everything they do. Those who still reside in Ile-Ife demonstrate their strength through farming and hunting, proving that they are truly part and parcel of our race just like your other kinsmen like Egba, Oyo, Ekiti, Akoko, Remo and other several peoples who had left Ile-Ife to settle at the their respective present domains across Africa.
“I appeal to you all to continue to see yourselves as part of the Yoruba dynasty, irrespective of the fact that geographical maps classify you as part of the northern Nigeria.” Ooni said.
While acknowledging the agelong affinity between Okun people and Ile-Ife, the Africa’s foremost monarch reminded them that their ancestors relocated from Ile-Ife to their present location in Kogi State, he showered praises on the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Area Traditional Council, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, for his efforts in uniting the people of the region acknowledging his (Obaro) frequent visits to the Ile-Oodua palace in Ile-Ife, where he had persistently urged him to visit the Okun people—a request that finally materialised.
Ooni Ogunwusi also lauded the relentless concerns of Oba Owoniyi on the development of the region, particularly the establishment of a tertiary institution in Okunland, were recurring topics in their discussions whenever he visited.
This historic visit by the Ooni of Ife who also doubles as Co-Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) to Mopa kingdom in the North Central geophysical zone of Nigeria, underscores the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. By acknowledging their shared ancestry and traditions, the visit aims at fostering greater unity and cooperation among the people of Okun, Kwara, and the broader dynasty of Oduduwa.
This visit marks a significant moment in the history of Mopa and the Okun region, reinforcing their connection to the Yoruba dynasty. The Ooni’s presence is expected to facilitate cultural exchange and understanding, ultimately contributing to the development and progress of the region.
OKUN PEOPLE REMAIN LOYAL TO YOU – Obaro
The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Area Council of Traditional rulers in his speech at the event appreciated the visit of the Ooni to the Okun land. He described it as fatherly visit that will remain indelible in the minds of an average Okun indigene, reaffirming the absolute loyalty of the Okun traditional rulers of Kofi state to the leadership of the visiting Ooni of Ife.
“Our father, welcome to you home away from home in Ife, our ancestors to your authority to come here many centuries ago and today that you’ve come to visit us, we will never forget today in our history. this is history being made and we are glad that we only have to share it at a personal level, I was born and brought up in Ile-Ife and my mother is there till date.
I want to assure you that nothing in this world can take the loyalty of the the traditional rulers of Okun land away from the Ooni of Ife cos we all in this part of Nigeria directly migrated from Ife and we are no bastards.” Obaro of Kabba said
Also earlier in his welcome speech, The Elulu of Mopa kingdom and Chairman, MopaMuro Local Government Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Oba Muyiwa Ibeun commended Ooni Ogunwusi for his exemplary charisma with which he has been leading all the traditional rulers of the Southern Nigeria and The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria which he jointly chairs alongside the Sultan of Sokoto.
Eleuu of Mopa admitted that the Ooni has become a rare example of leadership that Southwest traditional rulers are now emulating.
“Your majesty Sir, you are so enviable in your character of leadership, that’s several traditional rulers in the Southwest today now emulate you, we copy most of the things you do even without knowing the spiritual reason behind it. Obas now dress like you, they parade their aides like you, some are even walking like you, that is leadership.We are indeed blessed by Olodumare to have you as our number one leader in the Southwest, North Central and the entire Southern part of Nigeria. There’s nothing anyone can do about this”. Eluulu of Mopa said.
The highlight of the event was the presentation by the Okun Traditional Rulers Council of a leadership award to the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, as the Natural father of the entire Oduduwa race worldwide.
A Pan-African business magnate and great philanthropist, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, is the 51st Ooni of Ife(3rd dynasty). He is the founder, Ojaja University, Ilorin, he owns the magnificent Smart City called Ojaja Park in Akure, Ondo state, the Ife Grand Resort & Industrial Complex, Ile-Ife, Inagbe Grand Resorts in Lagos, and several other investments across the Southwest. He is the Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsuka(UNN) since 2016 and apart from being the Natural Head of the entire Oduduwa race worldwide, he is also the Permanent Chairman, Osun state Council of Obas and Chiefs, Permanent Chairman, Southern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers(SNCTR) and Co-Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN).
He is a globally recognised advocate of peace and unity in Africa who has hosted in his palace at Ile-Ife and has been hosted by several Africa and world leaders such as President John Mahama of Ghana, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Williams Ruto of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Professor Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank, President Duma Boko of Botswana. Other are King Charles III of England, King Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II of Kumasi, Ghana and the Traditional Ruler of the GA people of Accra, Ghana, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in recognition of his selfless service for Pan-Africanism.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.
