Ooni hosts Ogoga Ikere, urges community to support him

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on the people of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State to rally behind their traditional ruler, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Alagbado Adu.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the charge while playing host to the Ogoga, who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in  Ile-Ife, Osun State, recently.

The Ooni, according to a statement by Mr. Tope Ariyo, on behalf of the Ogoga of Ikere kingdom, asserted  that the Ogoga of Ikere is his descendant like other traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

“Ogoga is from Ile-Ife. His forebears migrated from Ife like other Obas. He is my descendant. His kinsmen are those in Akure, Owo, Akoko-Edo, among others. He is a descendant of Oranmiyan, the son of Oduduwa who, after establishing the Benin Empire, went back to Ile-Ife to be crowned as Ooni,” Oba Ogunwusi said.

Ogunwusi, who noted that Ikere held a significant place in the history and development of the Yoruba race, also charged Yoruba traditional rulers  to work in unity in order to ensure the restoration of the lost glory of the race.

According to the statement, the Ooni had noted that “by closing ranks, there would not be  misunderstanding among Yoruba leaders. I cherish the hand of fellowship you have extended to me. This is good for the Yoruba race. It is by closing ranks that we can get rid of all infiltrators so that we can genuinely put our history, traditions and culture on the right pedestal.

Earlier, Oba Adu had expressed his admiration for the leadership style of Oba Ogunwusi, noting that “the activity and pragmatism the Ooni  has brought to the Yoruba race within the one year of his reign is worthy of emulation.”

Oba Adu, who said his predecessors, from the 18th Century had always been good friends of the Ooni, expressed his readiness to walk the same path by ensuring that his relationship with the current Ooni is cordial.

“My predecessors, notably from Oba Obosoro Alowolodu from the 18th Century to the 26th Ogoga of Ikere, late Oba Samuel Adegboye, had always been good friend of the Ooni. I want to sustain this and also do better. Do not hesitate to call on me wherever you think I can be of help in the development of our land,”  Ogoga said.

Oba Adu, who was welcomed by the Ikere Indigenous Association,  chairman, Dr. Olu Akomolafe, presented gift to the Ooni on behalf of the association.

Akomolafe charged indigenes of Ikere-Ekiti to work harmoniously with their  traditional ruler as, according to him, “the first year of his reign has brought unprecedented development to Ikere community.”