By Gbenga Olarinoye

Osogbo—Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka were among prominent personalities that witnessed the first year coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 in Ile-Ife yesterday.

Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the 51st Ooni of Ife in Nigeria, waits for transport on a street near the White House June 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski

Oba Ogunwusi, on December 7, last year, received his staff of office from Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.

Speaking at the one year anniversary, which included presentation and launching of a book titled: “Venerated” – detailing his background and emergence, the two prominent Nigerians threw their weight behind the on going moves by the monarch to unite traditional rulers and prominent leaders in Yorubaland and the country as a whole.

Specifically, Obasanjo said he has been monitoring the activities of the Ooni since his ascension to the throne and was impressed by the traditional ruler’s activities.

He however charged Ooni to take the unification agenda as a key factor for the development of the Yoruba nation.

“I have paid keen interest in the unification move of the Ooni since his ascension to the throne. It is commendable. We need someone like the Ooni to ensure that the Yoruba nation remained undivided,” he said.

Prof. Soyinka, who also identified the need for people of Yoruba race to unite, maintained that one of the controversial matters among the Yoruba leaders remained the origin of Ile-Ife.

He, however, assured the Ooni of his support, saying; “I can see that you are sent on a mission of the unity of the Yoruba people wherever they are in the world. We promise to work with you to bring that dream to reality.”

Prof. Soyinka used the occasion to clear the air on the controversy raised recently by a prominent Yoruba traditional ruler, the Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan over Moremi, a prominent Yoruba heroine.

He argued that anyone who considered Moremi as a traitor was not saying the “reality.”

He said: “There is controversy about the origin of someone whom we know as the origin of Yoruba race, kingdom, black race and humanity.

The controversy may continue for long but the reality is that Kabiyesi, the Ooni of Ife, Ile-Ife is the cradle of humanity.

His words: “We know what we know; we know what we accept and believe what we believe and that remains the fact. I have just gone out to see the statue of Moremi and the controversy on Moremi, I have heard.

“I learnt that some people said that Moremi, the heroine, was a traitor. That does not touch any part of reality of what Moremi is or was. And I don’t want you (Ooni) to spend any time or energy at all
responding, counter or find alternative theories. It is not necessary.”

According to him, the influence of Ile-Ife transcends Nigeria and Africa.

“If you walk on the street of Cuba or Brazil, somebody will tap you on your shoulder because they know you are black, they say ‘who are you?’ And you say ‘I am Osun, Ogun, Sango’. At the end, they will ask you how is the Ooni? It means the Yoruba race, culture is beyond this
environment,” he added.

While emphasising the importance of peace and unity, Ooni Ogunwusi vowed not to stop his moves to make the Yoruba nation one.

He explained that his one-year of ascension to the throne was focused on tourism, agriculture and youth emancipation.

He said, “There must be peace in Yoruba nation and entire country. It is when there is peace among Yoruba leaders that we will progress and develop. Our peaceful co-existence is non-negotiable that is why we are preaching peace and I will continue to preach it.

Other dignitaries at the occasion include, Professor Olu Obafemi, Elegusi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedeon, Sat Guru Maharaji, General Jeremiah Oseni (retd), Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Ologunebi, Osun state deputy governor, Mrs. Grace Tomori among others.