Ooni of Ife, ambassador of national devt

SRI Chinmoy (1931-2007), Indian-born spiritual teacher, founded the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a global relay spreading the ideal of peace in every corner of the universe. He also gave numerous peace concerts and wrote on the subject of peace. In one of his peace concerts, he asserted that “world-peace can be achieved when the power of love replaces the love of power.” It is axiomatic to state that before the ascension of Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the tension within and beyond the traditional institutions in the land of Oduduwa was enormous, to the extent that a committee was set up by same institution headed by Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland. The committee was known as the Committee on Conflict Resolution among Yoruba Traditional Rulers which invariably became another title of the Olugbo to confirm the value attached to the committee. Evidently, the conflict among traditional rulers became a subject of discussions at any fora while the conflict resolution committee of the traditional rulers was committed to finding a meeting point to present the history of the Yoruba to assuage the Ooni and the Alaafin.

The spiritual and cultural fathers were polarised between those that acknowledge Ile-Ife as cradle of the House of Oduduwa, cutting across all towns and villages in Yorubaland and the diaspora and the supremacy of the Ooni of Ife and those who believe in the advocacy of the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi that the supremacy  lies with the Alaafin of Oyo, who no doubt accepted that Ile-Ife is the source of the Yoruba, but that he is superior to the Ooni in ruling over a large empire and was a warrior that played significant roles in protecting the entire Yoruba race from disintegration during the internecine wars in Yorubaland. The truth of the matter regarding this polarisation was that some were against the person of the late Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, who as Ooni of Ife was larger than life and a man of means. In fact, it was speculated that there was lobbying by some traditional rulers and prominent Yorubas that government should not appoint anyone of means with wide network of social and economic influence as Ooni of Ife, in order to diminish the status of the Ooni and weaken his influence and traditional roles among Yoruba Obas.

In 2015 when Ooni Ogunwusi ascended the throne, attention was focused on the youthful but influential Ooni in the spirit of the supremacy of the Ooni in Yorubaland, with hopes that he would build an empire that would lead in rallying the race. Unexpectedly, the suspicion and hostility against the Ooni was enormous, as displayed during this first attendance at the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers meeting. The constitution of the Council of Traditional Rulers expressly recognised Ooni as the president of the council. Following the transition of Oba Sijuade, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland as the vice-president took over the mantle of leadership and had presided over the Council’s meetings. With Ooni Ogunwusi in attendance, the protocol is that the presiding vice-president would declare open the meeting and introduce the new president, then vacate the seat to welcome him as the substantive president and presiding authority.

The meeting held according to the dictates of Oba Aromolaran. However, when the meeting ended and the council members returned to their various domains, Ooni Ogunwusi headed straight to Ilesa on a salutation visit to Oba Aromolaran. While in the Palace of Oba Aromolaran, he displayed an uncommon sense of humility by praising Oba Aromolaran to the high heavens and promising to join hands with him to foster unity, peace and promote cohesion among the Osun State traditional rulers, Yorubaland and Nigeria in general. Obviously, Oba Aromolaran was stupefied and words could not describe his mood and perception of the new Ooni. There was an immediate change in the traditional paradigm as the elated Oba Aromolaran expressed his happiness and tendered an unreserved apology to the foremost traditional ruler, promising to continuously support him for the progress of the throne of their forefathers and the state in general.

After the incident, the Ooni as a peace advocate instituted a new spirit of peace and reconciliation into the fabric of existence of the traditional rulers in Yorubaland as a role model. He immediately became a revered global citizen whose transformational roles emerged from the fire of a lifetime of sacred activism. Peace, to the new Ooni, like democracy, like liberty, justice and other social and political rights, is not ‘given’; it is earned through courage, resolution and sacrifice. Thus, a new vista that changed the face and brought paradigm shift to the primordial sentiments and relationship among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland was gradually being instituted as Ooni Ogunwusi armed with hope, faith and courage began another phase that calmed frayed nerves and bickering in the interest the already simmered attitudes of these traditional leaders.

Ooni Ogunwusi fits into the description of Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money, as a king that draws on his well of wisdom and history of the ages in speaking to our times. Ooni embodies a wise spirit, proactive life and one who penetrates to the soul level where the Source of Love lives. A new way of life was thus provided with a pathway that the traditional rulers can follow to heal the land and the essence of the traditional institution in Yorubaland. As Yorubas were still ruminating on the Oba Aromolaran episode, another hot news was that Ooni Ogunwusi was at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi to pay homage.

The visit was seen by Oba Adeyemi and the generality of the Yoruba people as a mark of honour and clarion call for Yoruba traditional rulers to work in unity and further promote the course of the Yorubas at all times. Shortly after, he was at the palace of the Awujale of Ijebu Ode who in the course of the hostility among the traditional leaders had declared that Ijebu Ode people were from Wadai in Sudan. He has since rested this unpopular position of history. In essence, Ooni has started building a culture of peace and harmony across the country irrespective of ethnic, religious and creed.

In human history, innumerable peacemakers have dedicated their entire lives to fighting against the ills of the society. Ooni provides a holistic approach to peace building, covering its oft-ignored cultural, spiritual, and scientific dimensions while providing guidance suitable even for those who have never considered themselves peacemakers. All along, he has been promoting love, peace and unity to the admiration of all. He is a philanthropist who is ever impressed that individuals, the traditional institutions and the larger society live in love and abundant peace. He has created avenues for the youths to be empowered and earn legitimate means of livelihood and academic development.

In Ile-Ife, due to the attendant effect of the Ife/Modakeke fratricidal crisis in the 1990s and policies of successive leaders at all levels, the rate of youth unemployment has been enormous thereby making a number of them restive and potent threat to peace. Ooni Ogunwusi has introduced a number of empowerment schemes to take idle youths off the street and providing requisite vocational skills for economic progress. Over 2000 youths have benefited from various laudable schemes in trade, agriculture, mining, and other entrepreneur activities.

Ooni Ogunwusi following in the footsteps of Gandhi and King, O’Dea keeps the dream of peace alive by teaching how to dissolve old wounds and reconcile our differences. He strikes deep chords of optimism even as he shows us how to face the heart of darkness in conflict situations. His soulful but practical voice speaks universally to peace advocates, culture activists and clergy–and to everyday citizens particularly within the confines of House of Oduduwa. It is four years after and just counting with a conviction that the race of hope and courage has started to witness development in an atmosphere of peace for all with the presence and impressions of Ooni Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

• Omidiora, a public commentator, lives in Lagos.