Ooni… Tying Loose Ends

Ife Monarch’s Historic Move Towards Uniting The Yoruba Nation
PERHAPS, his coming was divinely ordained to set in motion the move to unite a people who had hitherto been set apart by politics and ego. And, there is no doubt that so far, he has begun to pursue this mandate, to provide a common front for the descendants of Oduduwa.

His itinerary since he was enthroned as the Ooni of Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation, has pointed towards the direction of ensuring lasting peace and unity.

Though not many had envisaged quick fence mending, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is ready to discharge the burden of removing all the man-made encumbrances that had limited interactions between the throne of Oduduwa and his children.

He proclaimed during his inauguration, “we shall use this stool to unify the entire Yoruba race; there shall be no division, no supremacy or animosity amongst us, we are all from the one and the same source-God Almighty.”

Oba Ogunwusi, did not mince words during the visit of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), last month, that time has come for Yoruba people to unite and deploy their God-given potentials for the benefit of mankind “Yorubaland is abundantly blessed particularly with human resources. The problem is that abundance of wisdom may sometimes precipitate power tussle, and even that can be healthy.

“But we must realise that power belongs to God and it is He that gives it. There will be no need for superiority contentions once we realise and accept that though, all fingers are not equal; they are all important and dependent on one another.”

True to his words, he is making real his promises. In the last two months, he has made three historic visits to highly rated monarchs-Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona the Awujale of Ijebuland, which had earned him accolades.

But before the visit to Oyo and Ijebu, the new Ooni, shocked the world, with a visit to his next-door neighbours, Modakeke, with whom the Ifes have been in perennial war from the time immemorial. The visit was during the occasion of the Akoraye Day, held last December, mainly to raise money for the development of Modakeke. Though under reported, it laid credence to the monarch’s determination to “project the unity and love which we believe existed in the days of our forefathers.”

The Oyo visit, aside coming 79 years after the last Alaafin visited the Ooni, also jolted many, considering the frosty relationship between the two thrones in the recent past. The new Ooni became the first to visit Oyo town since 1937. It also signals an end to the supremacy battle between the two thrones.

Though uninvited, his physical appearance in Oyo on Sunday, January 17, 2016, to felicitate with Oba Adeyemi on the occasion of his 45th coronation anniversary, held at the Methodist Church, Apaara, Oyo State, caught his host unaware.

Oba Ogunwusi, during the visit said he does not care what it will cost him to unite the Yoruba race, stating his readiness to work with Alaafin to unite the race.

He noted that though he was not invited for the event, his major agenda since becoming the Ooni is to unite Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world.

“I am here today though not invited, but as the Arole Oduduwa, the onus is on me to felicitate with all sons and daughters, wherever they are and to show my solidarity. I am ready to damn any consequences or insinuations from anywhere; my mission here is to preach peace among nations of Yoruba both home and abroad and I am ready to work with Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi to project the unity and love which we believe existed in days of our forefathers.”

In his response, the delighted Alaafin said: “This special visit was done last in March 1937, that was the first time the kings in Yorubaland met in Oyo town and today history was made with the visit of Arole Oodua Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and I feel delighted to host you and to reassure you that I will be ready to work with you. I have a tight relationship with Ooni Adesoji Aderemi and I did not want to relent my bound with any Ooni of Ife that assumed the post, but everybody has his own little difference.”

Just as monarchs and the entire Yoruba nation were still in that euphoria, the Arole Oodua made another historic visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland on Friday, January 29, breaking a record of over 70-years, by an august visit to Ijebuland. The last time an Ooni visited an Awujale was in 1941, during the reign of the late traditional ruler of Ife, Adesoji Aderemi. The august visit, laid to rest a-75-year rivalry, which allegedly exists between the two kingdoms.

While addressing his host, Oba Ogunwusi emphasised that the Yoruba had the richest culture and tradition among the different ethnic groups in the country, saying his people were underestimating the importance of their culture.

He stressed that it was about time the royal fathers in the South West unite; saying the unity of the region would bring about rapid development. “If we do not unite, we won’t go far. If we unite we will go far. Fingers are not equal, but if a finger is lost, there is a challenge with that hand. Unity is important.”

Speaking during the visit, the oldest sitting monarch in the zone (56 years on the throne), Oba Adetona advised Ooni Ogunwusi to be wary of sycophants, praise singers and politicians who he said were fond of misleading leaders, saying many of the praise singers were pretenders with ulterior motives.

These moves have ignited series of reactions, while some schools of thought applauded, others flayed them. The critics are of the opinion that as Arole Oodua, other monarchs ought to be paying homage to him in his palace and not otherwise as he is doing.

According to Prof. Siyan Oyeweso of College of Humanities and Culture, Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, Osogbo, the move by the Ooni is the beginning of great things to happen in the Yoruba race.

He stated that Oba Ogunwusi is trying to replicate the achievements of Oba Aderemi, who reigned between 1930 and 1980, whose reign recorded phenomenal progress and unity among the people. He noted that there were meetings of Obas, which had ceased to hold due to rivalry among the monarchs.

“What the Ooni is doing, is that unity lies in strength. Traditional institution in Yoruba land is rooted in history. The rivalry, so far so good, must stop and that is what the Oba is saying with the visit to Oyo, Ijebu and Modakeke.

“It is an attempt to go back to source, an attempt to go back to history, as an instrument for the promotion of Yoruba unity, as an instrument for the advancement of Yoruba race that for once Yoruba Obas would not be quarrelling amongst themselves. The visit of Ogunsua to Modakeke and his presence is an eloquent demonstration that the monarch meant very well. Young in age, but he has learnt that it is very important to build bridges across the length and breath of Yoruba, he has started very well, our prayer is that he continues the tradition. Awujale has given him a sound advice to beware of sycophants and others. So far, it is a good start.”

The Professor of history added that: “Awujale is the oldest on the throne, followed by Alaafin, the new broom is coming to learn from the wisdom of the elders. He can’t become Oba in a day; he can only acquire royalty over time. The institution of Ipebi is very significant in Yorubaland. That is where the intricacies of traditional governance are learnt, Yoruba etiquettes, the school of culture and history. It is no doubt going to yield dividend now and later.”

To the traditional ruler of Lisa town, Chief Najeem Oladele Odugbemi, the Ooni is playing fatherly role with the visits. “He is the father of all Yorubas, the progenitor of Oodua, Arole Oodua, a king before kings, who made Yorubaland to be what it is today. If not for Oodua, there’ll not be Yorubaland. Whoever is claiming superiority to Ooni is just joking. As a good father, if you found out that something is going wrong among your children you have to visit everyone of them and solicit the cooperation of every member of the family.

“So, the royal visits, is a great move in the right direction. Nobody can fault that, only a shallow-minded Yoruba man could criticise that; it is not politics because his mission is to unite the tribe.”

He noted that when Oodua came, he did exactly that to the people in Ile-Ife, appealing for prayers from all for the new monarch, in order for him to achieve his mission. “We are still expecting him in Egba, he will still visit other paramount rulers in Ondo, and other Yorubalands. “I as a traditional ruler support him and will still support what he is doing.”