By Gbenga Olarinoye

The visit of the newly crowned Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to Oyo early in the year to felicitate with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on the occasion of his 45th coronation anniversary has definitely opened a new vitsa on the much sought after unity of the Yoruba race. Barely two weeks after the historic visit of the revered monarch to the ancient town of Oyo,  Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, also paid a surprise visit to his Osun state counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, at the Okefia Government House, Osogbo.

HISTORIC VISIT: Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, when he visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Tuesday, January 26, 2015

Fayose, who came with a 50-man contingent that comprises commissioners, members of the state House of Assembly, and some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a brief chat with newsmen, said the visit was basically to foster unity among Yoruba states. Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, had at a meeting hosted by his wife, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola that had in attendance Ekiti State first lady, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, last November, on female circumcision in Osogbo, hinted of a close affinity between him and his Ekiti counterpart.

Aregbesola, who also at the meeting, disclosed that regardless of the differences in political party the two of them remain very good friends. He, however, declined giving details of the kind of relationship the two of them have. Speaking further during the courtesy call, Governor Fayose said “the visit to Osun will be the first official visit to any APC state. Our ideology may be different but we all are of Yoruba extraction”.

Explaining the reason for the visit, Fayose said it was primarily because of his belief in the Yoruba race, saying the race comes first before the seat of  the governor. “We must preserve the race because of our children. I am here to encourage the unity of Yoruba people. The visit of Ooni to Alaafin is instructive. We must make sure nothing happens to our leader. We must find solutions to the economic problems we are facing.

“I will never decamp to another political party. I have right to my views and I will continue to push my views forward. Strength of democracy is in opposition. It is to put our leaders on their toes,” Fayose averred. He added that the Yoruba race is greater than any political office hence his belief in the development of the race. The governor said that the Ooni’s visit to the Alaafin of Oyo is instructive hence the need for all Yoruba sons and daughters to see to the unity and progress of the race.

His words:  “This is my first official visit to any APC state in Nigeria. I am not in Osogbo to ask Aregbesola to help me beg as being speculated in some quarters. We are all Yoruba, politics is like water, it can flow anywhere. “I believe in the Yoruba race, the race comes first before the office of the governor. The race is eternal while that of governor is momentary. We must watch today to be guided tomorrow. I am here for the unity of Yoruba as it affects the Oodua, the progenitor”

Responding, Governor Aregbesola, who received Fayose in the company of former Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Fayose’s visit demonstrated maturity. “We must look for alternative to oil. We must translate the unity of culture to strong economic bonds that will take our people from mistery of poverty to the level where they can stand on their own. “Our leaders must not be abandoned and discriminated against or molested. We must be careful because every struggle requires strategy so that its import will not be defeated.

“I want my good friend and brother to know that PDP has exhausted it’s stay in Nigeria, it can no longer be revived, let us look at a political party that will give hope to our people. Opposition must be for a purpose, I stand by you on the unity of Yoruba land and that our leaders should not put down in the country. “The war is over, we are in a season of mobilising our people for agriculture and to produce such that we will economically have the strength to give leadership to the nation and Africa. Our energy must be directed at bringing human and physical development, we have enough in this region to give leadershship,” Aregbesola stressed.