The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Traditional leaders

  • Buhari meets Ooni, Yoruba monarchs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and representatives of traditional rulers from the South West at the State House, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Ooni said the meeting had nothing to do with politics.

    He said the meeting was to tell the President the importance of including more youths and women in government and to thank him for what he has been doing for the South West.

    Ooni also said the meeting was to ask for more developmental projects for the zone and appreciate Buhari for the cordial relationship between him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is from the South West.

    Speaking further on their mission to the State House, with the general elections fast approaching, Ooni said: “We are not here for politics.

    “We are father to all, very close to our people; the only politics we understand is politics of development.

    “We are here to talk about development for our people in all the states of the south western Nigeria.

    “We are here to point out the good things Mr. President has been doing especially the cordial relationship with the Vice President who is from the south western part of the country.

    “Historically we know the issues of presidents and Vice Presidents in Nigeria, we have not experienced such.

    “We are here to further request from Mr. President good things that we want in our various states. When you are doing good, we will first of all appreciate the good things before asking for more. What is critical for us here is to champion development for our people.

    “We spoke about the inclusion of youths in the current government and also women inclusion.

    “In terms of demography of voting pattern, we know that everything rests on the shoulders of Nigerian youths, we want to see them in this cabinet.

    “So we are here not to be misconstrued for politics, we are here to be identified with development and progress of our nation more especially south west.”

    He advised youths to ensure they vote according to their consciences and not allow themselves to be used by the political class to cause trouble during the elections.

    He also said the country was bigger than any President, stressing that a President has a maximum of eight years to stay in office while the country will always remain.

    According to him: “Even we traditional rulers that are very fortunate to still be alive, we have experienced many presidents.

    “Many governors, a president cannot use more than eight years that is in the constitution of Nigeria.

    “So, Nigeria is greater than the president. Your maximum tenure is eight years.

    On the demands they made before the President, the Ooni said: “We have already passed our demands across, each state has peculiar needs.

    “What is critical is that south west accommodates everyone in the country.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Godwin Abbe at 70

    “That is the only zone that you can call a typical Nigeria because is a blend of everybody, all the tribes of this nation you will find them in the south western Nigeria.

    “So as result, we play pivotal role in anything that has to do with decision making in Nigeria.

    “As a zone we are even the second largest in terms of voting demography and numbers.

    “So critically south Western Nigeria plays a very vital role and we as traditional rulers we are the ones to douse the tension.

    “We don’t pray for any tension but we are ready, we have all decided to work together to douse any tension. Whoever that comes is the grace of God,” he said

    According to him, President Buhari recognized the pivotal role of the South West and its relevance in the nation’s polity.

  • Photos: Buhari receives S/West Traditional Rulers in Abuja

    Traditional rulers from South West Nigeria, on Friday, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house, Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria.
    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, SGF Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.
    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja
    R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.
    . R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.

     

     

  • Quit notice: Northern leaders back unity

    Quit notice: Northern leaders back unity

    Northern traditional leaders in the Southeast and Southsouth regions of the nation gathered in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to distance  themselves from the quit notice given to the Igbo in the North months ago.

    But more than washing their hands off the offensive directive, the leaders also pointed out that they were for a united Nigeria.

    They cited intermarriages among the ethnic groups as a major reason why no one should seek to divide the country.

    The leaders said there was no need for hate speech and that Nigerians should live peacefully with one another.

    The northern traditional rulers said that they have lived most of their lives in the Southeast and Southsouth.

    Some of them also said that their mothers were either from the Southeast or Southsouth, adding that they could not stand and watch some persons who represent the interest of few deny them the love and happiness they have enjoyed with their maternal relations.

    Danladi, while addressing newsmen, said that the peace and unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, stressing that the traditional rulers and their subjects would not be part of any call against the unity of the country.

    Danladi said, “We are saying that we are not in support of what is happening in this country today. Our stand is that we want peace in Nigeria. Irrespective of your tribe, ethnicity and religion, we are one.

    “For instance, most of these Sarikis in south east were born here. Some of us, our mothers are from here, their wives are from here. Likewise some of our brothers from south east who are in the north, most of them were born there and also married to people from there. Some have stayed there for close to 60 years. Where will they go? Like me now, if you ask me to go, where do I go to? All my life I’ve lived it here. We want this country to be united as it was before us.

    “Number one thing, I must not fail to say is that, the quit notice our brothers gave to non-northerners in the North is wrong. We are totally condemning it and ask them to reconsider that they have people down here in the Southeast too. The hate speeches coming from both sides, we condemn it and ask our traditional rulers here in Southeast and South-south to always liaise with the government of their states. We are appealing to the 11 state governments of the Southeast and Southsouth to also work with their Sariki because they are the leaders and representatives of our people here.

    “For instance, you all know the role I’ve been playing on issues concerning herdsmen. There was a time such issues were high here in Abia, but as you can see, it’s calm now. That’s how these Sariki can also help in states where they dwell.

    “We came out here, you should know we must have done some works. We are not children. We have spoken to them and we are still begging them. We know we have elders and Emirs that can talk to them. In the North, one Emir can do what 100 persons cannot do. Unity of this country first. I repeat, we are not in support of the quit notice that was issued to non-northerners.”

    He said that they were happy that President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country healthier than he left.

  • Ooni of Ife calls for effort to combat youth employment

    Ooni of Ife calls for effort to combat youth employment

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has appealed to the Federal and state governments across the country to come up with robust programmes to tackle youth unemployment.

    Speaking in Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri) town in Warri South Local Government area of Delta state, the Ife monarch said emphasis needs to be placed on the youths because of their critical position as future leaders.

    The monarch spoke during the coronation ceremony of Ogiame Ikenwoli Olu of Warri.

    He said, “I want to appeal to leaders that we should develop a well robust program for our youths because they are the future leaders.”

    The respected monarch’s plea came days after a similar call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who described the rising unemployment among the teeming youth population as a time bomb.

    Meanwhile, the monarch prophesied a bright future for the country, stressing that a wind of change “is gradually blowing”.

    He emphasized the close historical affinity between Ile-Ife and the Itsekiri people of Delta state, stressing that “the strong relation dates back centuries.”

    While describing his and Ogiame Ikenwoli’s coronation as a new dawn in the cordial relationship between the two kingdoms, he promised to work with his counterpart to grow their common interests.

    He said, “I just have to be physically present here today. What is important to me is peace and cooperation between the two kingdoms and the entire country.

    “I congratulate the entire Itsekiri land and the people of Itsekiri. Let us continue to foster peace harmony together and to take our nation to another level. A wind of change is blowing gradually in our nation and God will continue to bless our nation,” he added.

    Speaking in the same vein, Chief Sam Igbe, who is the Iyasere and representative of Benin Kingdom at the event, described Ogiame Ikenwoli’s coronation as a “wonderful and unique event.

    “On behalf of the Oba of Benin, I wish HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli a happy and useful reign. We come to you (Warri Kingdom) as your relations.”