The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ooni

  • Ooni to lead monarchs to culture pageant

    His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has charged youths in the country to brace up and take full responsibilities in governance, stressing that Nigeria belongs to them.

    Speaking in his palace ahead the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Cultural Pageant finals, the monarch stated: “The reason for empowering youths is that, clearly, the future belongs to them. I see myself a lot in them and I live on this throne for them all across the whole length and breath of Nigeria.

    “My major wish is that, some day, the youth of this country will rise up to occasion of how they will claim their right and take full ownership of what belongs to them – the country Nigeria.”

    Read also: Ooni, Falana, others for anti-corruption confab

    Ooni Ogunwusi will lead fellow monarchs, cultural enthusiasts and notable personalities in the country to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where the grand finale of the pageant is billed to hold on Sunday, December 2, and it will be hosted by Her Excellency, Olufunso Amosun, wife of Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

    The pageant is termed by culture scholars as the greatest cultural reawakening of the legacy of popular Yoruba heroine, Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

  • Ooni lifts Yoruba culture

    Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has lined up leading artistes for a cultural revival of Yoruba heritage in a 12-day artistic show to showcase the race’s rich, tradition.

    The monarch made this known yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke through Oba Adebisi Layade, the Alarao Odaye of Ara Ife in Osun State, ahead of the “Queen Moremi Ajasoro Special Theatre Project” commemorating Queen Moremi, the iconic daughter of one of the bravest Yoruba hunter warriors, named Lukugba.

    Oral tradition describes Queen Moremi as one of the greatest queens of Ile Ife who risked her life for her people.

    Oba Ogunwusi named the artistes lined up for the show as Bimbo Manuel, Bamike Adewumi aka Bambam of the Big Brother Nigeria fame, Femi Branch, Deyemi Okanlawon, Aye Ayoola and Kehinde Bankole.

    He said the event would propagate and rejuvenate the cherished values, culture and tradition of an African woman, who through her unusual courage put herself forward to save her people.

    “Through her quest for knowledge and sacrifice, she paid the price of injustice as a one-woman army for the love of her people,” the traditional ruler said.

    He said Queen Moremi Ajasoro 90-minute Musical Drama had been lined up to project the unique culture of the Yoruba.

    Oba Ogunwusi said the event would hold from December 21 to January 2 in Lagos, adding that the House of Oduduwa Foundation has inaugurated Bolanle Austin-Peters Production to produce the theatre performance.

    He said the project, through which the different facets of Yoruba culture had been portrayed to the world, would show the dignity and rich content of Yoruba heritage.

    The monarch said the world was beginning to appreciate the uniqueness of Yoruba culture in various forms.

  • Amosun, Ooni, Akarigbo, others celebrate Tribune at 69

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi and the Aare Onakakanfo, Gani Adams, led the cream of the Nigerian society on Friday at the foundation laying ceremony of the Tribune House located along Lagos – Ibadan Expressway in Isheri, Ogun State. Amosun, represented by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, eulogized the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Mama HID Awolowo, the founders of the paper.

    “Instead of the politicians of our time to exceed what Chief Obafemi Awolowo did, rather they are still using his name in their daily politicking. All through the time Chief Awolowo was secretary of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, he was exemplary and this led to his emergence as the natural leader of Yoruba land with the establishment of Action Group. Up till now, nobody has been able to fill the vacuum Baba left as the undisputed Asiwaju of the Yoruba people.”

    The Ooni of Ife used the opportunity to pray for the Awolowo family, and urged the family to remain united as they have always been. In her welcome address, the host and Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu explained that Chief Awolowo lived his life for the greater goal of societal development, an ideal which the Tribune has remained committed to.

    The Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatimde Ajayi, in his goodwill message stressed that Tribune had remained the voice of the voiceless in Nigeria. The Oba said he was happy that an office of the oldest newspaper in the country was being built at Isheri in Ogun State, very close to Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria. He added that the paper is still surviving after almost 70 years because of the vision of those that midwife its birth.

    Managing Director, African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Mr. Edward Dickson said that the celebration was a double joy for the Tribune House as the marked the 69th anniversary of its establishment. “We are particularly excited that this is the day the Almighty God has made and we are indeed glad in it. It is indeed a day of double joy for us at the Tribune House because today marks the 69th anniversary of our coming into being, serving the egalitarian needs of our society,” the MD stated.

     

  • Ooni to celebrate Moremi in Lagos

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has initiated a musical drama to propagate African women’s values of courage and strength, as demonstrated by Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

    This is in an effort to empower women against oppression.

    The 90-minute drama will be showcased from next month in Lagos, according to Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, the Cultural Ambassador to Queen Moremi.

    “This unique project is going to be 90 minutes of dance, drama and music, telling the story of an African queen from Ile-Ife, Southwest of Nigeria.

    “It will take us back to the memory lane on how Queen Moremi risked her life and made the ultimate sacrifice to end trafficking and enslavement of her people, especially women and children,” Ademiluyi said in Lagos.

    The cultural ambassador spoke yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on behalf of the Ooni of Ife.

    She said the 13-day stage performance, to begin from December 21, will stir courage and leadership abilities in the African woman.

    “The Ooni of Ife celebrates the courage of Queen Moremi Ajasoro with a maiden 90- minute musical drama from December 21 to January 2 in Lagos,” Ademiluyi said.

    According to her, the House of Oduduwa Foundation of the palace has appointed Bolanle Austin-Peters Productions to come up with the legendary theatre performance.

    “It will propagate and rejuvenate the cherished values, culture and tradition of an African woman as demonstrated by Queen Moremi, who by unusual courage put herself forward in order to save her people,” the princess said.

    She enjoined African women to exhibit courage and other leadership abilities for a progressive society.

    Ademiluyi said proceeds from the musical drama would be used to assist and rehabilitate young women, who fell victims of modern day slavery.

    “His imperial majesty, in line with his rehabilitation programmes, says the programme will key into his ongoing empowerment of victims of modern day slavery and trafficking under the House of Oduduwa Foundation,” she said.

  • Ooni of Ife gets new queen

    The Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Thursday night, received his new wife at the palace.

    Olori Moronke Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi,an evangelist, was ushered into the palace by elderly women 24 hours after the Ooni turned 44 years.

    Oba Ogunwusi took to the social media to personally confirm the development.

    “I waited patiently upon the Almighty the King of kings, he eventually did it in the midst of many trials,” he said on Twitter.

    He added:”Shilekunola, Moronke, Naomi; the greatest Arsenal you can apply on this highly revered throne with many rules and regulations in the midst of undiluted tradition, heritage and culture is the “Fear of God In You.”

    “It is the beginning of your wisdom on this throne of Oduduwa. You are welcome home my beautiful and adorable queen.”

    The Director, Media and Public Affairs at the palace, Mr. Moses Olafare,said separately that the marriage rights were done privately in Akure, Ondo State before she moved to Ile-Ife for the remaining part of the marriage.

  • ‘Why Ooni did not vote’

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, did not vote because he sees all the governorship candidates in Osun State as his subjects, his aides have said.

    The Lowa Adimula of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeleye, who said he is the Ooni’s second in command “to the left”, explained that the Ooni cannot be seen to be taking sides with any of the candidates.

    There is a polling unit by the Ooni’s palace, but he did not come out to vote.

    Read Also: Ooni happy over Araba Agbaye’s appointment

    “It’s not good for the Ooni to vote for any candidate. If he must vote, it will be for all the candidates because he’s the father of all, but that’s not possible, so kingmakers advised him not to vote.

    “He cannot take sides. All the candidates are Ooni’s subjects and so it’s better for a father to be neutral when his children are in a contest,” Adeleye told our reporter.

    Ooni’s traditional Aide De Camp said the royal father only blessed all the candidates, wished them well and prayed for a peaceful election.

     

  • Ooni happy over Araba Agbaye’s appointment

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has welcomed the new Araba Agbaye,  , Chief Owolabi Awodotun (Orishada11).

    He was speaking when  the Awo Olodumerindinlogun paid him a courtesy visit to present  the new Araba Agbaye- elect to the Ooni. The Ooni also used the opportunity to unveil the Olojo festival holding at the end of this month to journalists.

    After the demise of the former holder of the position, the late Adisa Aworeni Awoyemi, the Agiri descendants of Oketase compound, Moore Quarters, Ile-Ife, Osun State, chose Chief Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni, the Afedigba Awo Olodumerindinlogun,  as the Araba elect.

    The Ooni used the opportunity to thank the entire Agiri descendants of Oke-Itase compound especially elders and youths of the compound for choosing the new Araba. He advised the Araba to be patient, tolerant, accommodating, peace-loving, and generous.

    Chief Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni is a professional and well trained Ifa priest who learned the art of Ifa from his late father, Chief Adisa Aworeni Awoyemi.  Ifa training later took him to Oluwo Fawole of Agesinyowa compound of Ile-Ife in the late 1990s.

    His passion for Ifa has since established his name both in the country and outside the shore. He has travelled to different parts of the world extending frontiers of Ifa knowledge. This has taken him to Venezuela, Mexico, Italy, USA, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Cuba and host of others where he also has Omo-Awo.

    He has received numerous awards and honours in promoting and propagating Ifa, Yoruba history and Culture.

    Araba Agbaye is the highest Ifa priest in the world. It is the Pope of all Ifa practitioners both in and Diaspora. Since inception of Ifa practices, the Araba at Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilizations and culture is recognized as the Araba Agbaye. It is from Araba Agbaye that other Yoruba Araba derived their titles from including those in diaspora. The Araba Agbaye is a direct descendant of Orunmila. That is, Araba Agbaye title whose meaning can be explained as a big silk cotton Tree. Due to its big/huge size it could be refers to as father of trees which is very pertinent to the importance of the title. Thus, with this literally meaning, Araba Agbaye is the father of all Awo Olodumerindinlogun, Araba, Oluwo and Ifa practitioners.

  • Aregbesola’s fairness makes kingship succession peaceful, says Ooni

    •APC kick-starts campaign in Ile-Ife

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said Osun State Governor Rauf Arebesola enthroned peaceful transition to the kingship stools in the state.

    Also, the governor said his eight-year administration laid the foundation for aggressive development.

    The Ooni spoke when Aregbesola took his valedictory visit and led the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign to the monarch’s palace for royal blessings.

    The Ooni noted that there had not been acrimony or chieftaincy tussle in the past eight years, unlike the tussles that usually characterised the demise of obas and the succession to thrones.

    ?He attributed this to the governor’s neutrality in the succession to the thrones.

    Oba Ogunwusi lauded Aregbesola’s administration for its commitment to taking the state to enviable heights.

    He said: “The present administration has no doubt bequeathed a worthy legacy to traditional institution as manifested in the process that led to my enthronement as Ooni.

    “I can say this repeatedly that Governor Aregbesola did not interfere in the process that led to my selection and enthronement as Ooni. The state played a neutral role to ensure that the people’s choice prevailed.”

    Aregbesola ?said Osun needs the continuity of his administration’s Six-Point Integral Action Plan.

    The governor said the party’s governorship candidate Gboyega Oyetola’s era will continue the steady pace of development his administration started.

    He said: “We are not in doubt about Oyetola’s competence and ability. He is calm and much more reserved. He knows the job and he will serve our people. He will advance the development programme of our party.

    “Our party resolved to present Oyetola as my worthy successor to ?advance the growth and development of the state for the betterment of all.

    “Oyetola is much more reserved than Aregbesola as we joyfully and confidently present him as our candidate.”

    Oyetola hailed Aregbesola for laying a solid foundation which his successor will build on without stress.

    The APC candidate unveiled his election manifesto with promised to accelerate development across the state, if elected in the September 22 poll.

    He pledged that his administration will focus on the integral action plan of the Aregbesola administration.

  • Akure regent urges Ooni, Alaafin to caution Deji over Osolo stool

    The Regent of Isolo community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Princess Adebusola Oluwatuyi, has urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to caution the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, against his involvement in Osolo’s stool.

    Adebusola, who addressed reporters yesterday in Akure, the state capital, said no Deji had ever appointed anybody to the stool of Osolo in the history of the community.

    According to her, Akure’s monarch has no right to suspend the Elemo of Isolo, High Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo, since the monarch did not appointed him.

    Princess Oluwatuyi insisted that she was still the Regent of Isolo, adding that her return to the throne was not sacrilegious.

    The regent said the Lisa of Isolo, High Chief Joshua Omotayo, who claimed she could not return to the throne, was not familiar with the culture and traditions of the community.

    She urged the traditional head the Deji appointed for the community, Edward Adewole, to vacate the Osolo palace.

    Princess Oluwatuyi dared him to wear the ancient royal crown of Osolo and see the repercussions.

    She said: “In the history of Akure and Isolo, no Deji has ever appointed somebody to the Osolo stool. What Oba Aladetoyinbo has done by appointing a chief for Isolo is historical aberration.

    “The Deji also said he has removed one of the Isolo high kingmakers, High Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo, the Elemo of Isolo community. Let me say here that the Deji has no right to suspend or remove Elemo or any other chief of Isolo because he was not the one who appointed them.

    “The Deji wants to use the man he imposed on the people of Isolo, Edward Adewole, to relegate the stool of Osolo. Oba Aladetoyinbo should wait for the Supreme Court judgment on the obaship status of Osolo.

    “I am still the Regent of Isolo; Adewole is not acceptable to us since Isolo kingmakers had no hand in his selection. Therefore, he has no right to host Owayoko Yam Festival.

    “Let the whole world know that I am planning to enter the Osolo palace on September 15 and 16 when the festival will hold. I will wear the ancient royal crown and enter the palace. If Adewole likes, let him wait for me. He knows the implications, and I hope nobody will blame me for what happens to him later.

    “I would like to call on Oba Ogunwusi and Oba Adeyemi, as well as other Yoruba traditional rulers to prevail on the Deji not to desecrate the culture and tradition of Isolo people. He should desist from interfering in how we chose our traditional head.

    “It is not a taboo for me to remain the regent. I have consulted widely on this issue. The chief who said it was a taboo does not know the culture and tradition of the community. He is a stranger and he has always been a traitor.

    “If the Deji’s appointee is still claiming that he is the traditional head of Isolo, let him come and wear the ancient royal crown and see what is going to happen.”

    The regent noted that those who should have performed the traditional rites of ascendance for him were not involved in the process of his appointment by the Deji.

    She added: “He is not our traditional head.”

  • Sultan, Sanusi, Ooni, others: embrace peace

    Traditional rulers yesterday urged politicians to promote peace, unity and harmony in the country.

    Speaking in separate messages to mark the Muslim celebration of Eid el Kabir,

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of zauzau Dr. Shehu Idris, Emir of Ilorin and Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar in separate messages to mark the Muslim celebration of Eid el Kabir, sounded a not of cautuion.

    They also enjoined Nigerians to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to vote their choice candidates in next year’s elections.

    The Sultan said: “Nigeria is above all of us; peace and unity of the country should always remain our priority, all our political parties should always consider Nigeria first,’’ he said.

    He also advised the youths not to allow any politicians to use them for selfish purposes.

    The Sultan called on all eligible Nigerians to ensure they have the permanent voter cards to enable them vote for candidates of their choice.

    The President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) said: ý”I urge you to obtain your PVCs. Without which you cannot not vote for your favourite party and candidates in the forthcoming elections in 2019.

    “We should see our PVCs as religious weapons not the kind of weapons given to our youths by unscrupulous politicians to cause mayhem in our societies.

    “If you love Buhari, the only way you can ensure his success is obtaining your PVCs and same thing with Governor (Aminu) Tambuwal and other aspirants,” he said

    Emir of Kano Sanusi II called on Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another so as to foster peace, love and unity in the country.

    He spoke after he led the Eid prayer at the Kofar Mata Central Eid ground in Kano metropolis.

    He stressed the need for all Nigerians irrespective of their political and religious inclination to promote peaceful co-existence to ensure economic growth and development in the country.

    The monarch also called on wealthy individuals to support the less-privileged in the society to alleviate their sufferings.

    He said there was need for the people of the state to continue to pray for peace and progress of the state in particular and the country at large as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.

    While praying for bumper harvest in the state and the country, the monarch charged unemployed youths to engage in useful and meaningful ventures to enable them become self-reliant and contribute to the development of the country.

    He charged the people of the state to ensure that they obtain voter cards to enable them exercise their civic responsibility during the forthcoming general elections.

    The Emir of Zazzu who spoke at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, said:

    “I want to call on parents to redouble efforts towards providing Islamic and western education to their children and also ensure their proper upbringing to build a brighter future.

    “We must collectively monitor their activities in order to guide them against all sorts of social vices so that they can grow as better citizens and good future leaders.

    “I want to use this medium to appreciate the present administrations in Kaduna State and Nigeria over the successes recorded in the past few years.”

    He called on the people to support government policies and programmes, especially those meant to change their lives for the better.

    Ooni Ogunwusi advised Nigerian politicians and party supporters to refrain from promoting  violence.

    He gave the advice at the Eid Praying Ground at Ilode, Ile-Ife.

    The monarch said that there was no gain in violence, adding that the nobody’s blood ought to be shed on account of elections.

    He appealed to the youths to be conscious of their future and shun politicians who use them for violence at the detriment of their future.

    He sued for peace and admonished all Nigerians  to jointly work for the development and progress of the country.

    The Emir of Ilorin called on Nigerians to uphold the significance of Eid-el Kabir, such as total trust and obedience to God, to accelerate the pace of economic recovery.

    The monarch charged Muslims to sustain the relative peace and harmony the state is known for at all times and be security conscious at all times.

    The Etsu  Nupe urged district heads and stakeholders to mobilise their subjects to get their PVCs

    The Chairman, Niger State Council of Chiefs, said “The PVC is a very potent weapon to either vote in or vote out any candidate seeking to occupy any elective office.

    “Without it, one would not be able to exercise due constitutional responsibility of casting vote in the nation’s electoral process’’, he said.

    The monarch urged those who had not registered to take advantage of the extension to go and register before the Aug. 31 deadline.

    The Etsu also advised his subjects to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and live in peace, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

    He urged the people and other Nigerians to pray and support government at all levels.

    Abubakar appealed to Nigerians to shun all acts capable of breaching peace and unity, adding that such acts would setback the progress of the country.

    “Peace is the veritable tool for national development and without it no nation can achieve progress.

    “We should therefore as patriotic citizens continue to uphold the noble virtues of peace, unity and love for one another, irrespective of religion, ethnic or political affiliations’’, he said