When Ooni, Obas dazzled Ghanaian president in Accra

I T was a glorious entry for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to Ghana when he recently led a group of traditional rulers drawn from different Yoruba-speaking states of Nigeria as guests of the Yoruba community in that West African country.

In his usual white robe, Oba Ogunwusi was surrounded by his palace aides who spiced his trip up with some exhibition which drew attention of the people at the airport

From the airport to the venue of the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some descendants  Oduduwa, an event organised by the Yoruba Traditional Council Ghana, the Ooni’s convoy was a cynosure.

Particularly impressed was the Vice-president of Ghana, Muhammadu Bawumia, who described the Ooni as the royal symbol of Pan Africanism having listened to the monarch saying that all Africans are members of the same family but only divided by artificial boundaries.

“The Ga people and other tribes migrated here centuries ago from Ile-Ife. That is why we have Onipopo and Oninana as Ghanians till today. Accra, Osu, Labadi, Teshi, Nungua, and Tema are all settlements started by the Ga forefathers who came from Ile-Ife in Nigeria. That’s why the Ooni of Ife is highly esteemed here in Ghana.

“So, Nigerians and Ghanaians are one people and today’s occasion is an avenue to showcase our cultural bond to the world.

“Your Imperial Majesty the Ooni, my President, His Excellency Nana Akufo Ado. He has asked me to assure you of his support in your efforts at fostering unity among the African people worldwide.

“If you look at the relationships amongst various African tribes, you will know that if our monarchs and chiefs get along, our people  too will surely get along. This means that the African monarchs must be united if the continent must move forward. That’s why you stand out and we must commend your Majesty for this.” he said.

Vice president Bawumia urged the Ooni not to relent in his peace and unification efforts despite challenges of distractions posed by those who have nothing to offer and which will not stand a test of time.

“There must be close interactions interrelationships among our traditional chiefs which you have been leading.  Don’t worry Your Majesty, we know there are distractions here and there, remain focused, those ones have nothing to offer, you just keep being humble as you are and we will eventually achieve our dreams of a united Africa,” he added.

Speaking further, he said: “There is no difference between us beyond our borders and today’s cultural event is really timely, making us see how similar our respective cultures are as Yoruba is mixing with Ga traditions here today.

“When things like this happen, the relationship between our two countries Ghana and Nigeria will surely get stronger.”

Oba Ogunwusi thanked the government and people of Ghana for always showing him love and respect manifesting through the warm reception accorded his two visits to the country, saying he always feels at home in Ghana.

“Ile-Ife is your source, you have always made me feel at home I said this in 2016 when I was here on the invitation of the then President John Mahama that Nigeria and Ghana would remain inseparable despite a few challenges.”

“Gas are here, Nanas are here, Popos are here even the Asantehene who is the king of our great Asante kingdom told me at his Kumasi kingdom that his forefathers migrated from Ile-Ife and different parts of Yorubaland in Nigeria some 500 years ago. So, we are one big family.

“I salute Ghana under the able leadership of Nana Akufo Ado for bringing Africans together, especially your Africans in Diaspora project, this is very commendable. We all saw how, last year September you hosted multitude of our fellow Africans in diaspora especially from America and the Caribbean.

“Kudos to Ghana on this, we are of the same family and these Africans  in diaspora, thousands of whom I have met personally both in my  palace at Ile-Ife and in their respective countries are our brothers and sisters.

“Let’s continue to treat ourselves as one. There was nothing like Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria until 1884 when the Europeans sat together in what they called The Berlin Conference to scramble for Africa. They gave us what we see today as geographical boundaries.” Ooni said.

Ooni Ogunwusi, accompanied by a 65-man  entourage including notable Yoruba traditional rulers was led by the Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Ambassador Femi Abikoye to Forecourt, State House, Accra venue of the event it was also attended by Deji of Akure, Oba Adelusi Aladetoyinbo; Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole; Olofa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adekunle Oloogunebi; Olowa of Igbara Oke, Oba Fransis Agbede; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Olusola Alao; Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abodunrin

With the world music legend, King Sunny Ade, on the bandstand, the Ooni, his entourage and other guests including Governor Abdurahaman Abdurazak of Kwara State, Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, were later hosted to a dinner party by an Abuja based Ghanaian business mogul, Alhaji Alhmed Vanderpuije, and his Yoruba wife Alhaja Risikatu Vanderpuije, who got chieftaincy tittles Balogun Yoruba and Iyalode Yoruba of Ghana respectively, coinciding with her birthday.

Others who were conferred with chieftaincy tittle, included a Kwara politician, AlhajiMusitapha Makanjuola  (MM), Oluomo Yoruba of Ghana, Accra based born insurance magnate Chief David Alex-Duduyemi, Bobaselu Yoruba of Ghana and a host of others.

Twenty four hours before he left Nigeria the Ooni had hosted 100 bright and futuristic Nigerian youths making waves in several sectors across all geo-political zones in Nigeria in governance, entrepreneurship, technology, creative culture, innovation, academics, sports and entertainment. 20 of those youths were in the Ooni’s entourage to Ghana.

The Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin, reflected on the trip and said the Yoruba nation had no choice than to take its leadership position on the continent of Africa. He said the reception which the government of Ghana extended to the Ooni was a pointer to the respect the people of Ghana had for Yoruba as the cradle of civilisation.

“You had to be on that trip to know what I am saying better. I was very proud to be a Yoruba because our presence there commanded respect. Starting from our flowing attires which naturally attracted attention of the people from the airport to hotel and venue of the event, we were like a beautiful bride.

“I have to give it to the Ooni that he also made us proud, especially by his presentation which ignited ovation. We have to sustain this tempo as we are reconnecting with our sons and daughters in the diaspora, and they are also appreciating the efforts.”