ILE-IFE: The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owolade, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on the 10th anniversary of his coronation, describing unity among traditional rulers as critical to the development of Yorubaland.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said he joined other Yoruba monarchs, indigenes of Oyo Kingdom, and the government and people of Osun State in celebrating the Ooni’s milestone.
The Alaafin commended Oba Ogunwusi for his leadership qualities, resilience and commitment to the wellbeing of his people, noting that the monarch’s exposure, knowledge and charisma prior to his ascension had significantly enhanced the influence and prestige of the Ife Kingdom.
He expressed confidence that the Ooni’s wisdom, warmth and friendly disposition would continue to foster peace, stability and civility across the domain, while praying for God’s continued blessings and a long, fruitful reign for the monarch.
Reflecting on gratitude and leadership, the Alaafin said moments such as the Ooni’s anniversary serve as reminders of the importance of appreciation and service.
If gratitude is the great opener of the heart, then the Ooni of Ife’s heart should be wide open to the sweetness of this moment.
Gratitude nurtures the soul and allows us to encounter everyday epiphanies that transform how we experience life, he said.
Oba Owolade also used the occasion to urge monarchs across Yorubaland and Nigeria to embrace unity, sincerity and dedication, stressing that relevance and impact could only be sustained through collective purpose.
According to him, traditional rulers are primarily custodians of peace, culture and tradition, not religious leaders.
Our responsibility, as handed over in our certificates, is to preserve the legacies of our ancestors so that they do not go extinct, he said.
He explained that genuine unity must be built on mutual trust, understanding, tolerance and accommodation of differences, including ethnic, religious, cultural and regional identities.
The Alaafin further described unity in diversity as a fundamental principle of federalism, urging Nigeria to continually devise ways to strengthen national integration despite its complex diversity.
Nigeria, as a federation with a complex mosaic of diversity, must continue to entrench unity in diversity and foster national cohesion, he said.
He concluded by wishing the Ooni of Ife many more prosperous years on the throne.
