Ile-Ife, Osun State was in a festive mood yesterday when Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was officially installed as the 51st Ooni of Ife in an epic event which rallied eminent Yoruba sons and daughters, across the nation and from the diaspora.
Dignitaries from all walks of life, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who led a high-powered federal delegation to represent President Muhammadu Buhari, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, governors of the South-West states including, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the host, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola were in attendance.
They all thronged the Enuwa Palace, venue of the inauguration to show solidarity and felicitate with Ooni Ogunwusi.
However, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona were absent at the ceremony, although other obas, particularly in Osun State, were led to the event by Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.
Leading Nollywood actors, Taiwo Hassan, a.k.a. Ogogo; Dele Odule and Jimoh Aliu and others, also came in solidarity. There was also a delegation from the court of the Oba of Benin of Edo State, believed to have ancestral links with Ile-Ife.
Social and commercial activities were almost shutdown in parts of the historic town as residents and indigenes converged on Enuwa and adjourning streets, in jubilation and celebration of the joyous occasion.
Most banks and shops were also closed, while government offices did not open. Large crowds of well-wishers and guests took over the neighbourhood of the venue of the occasion, entertained by local musicians and drummers.
Local hunters sporadically released volleys of gunshots into the air to announce the dawn of the reign of the new monarch.
Security agents, including regular, mobile and police horsemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), soldiers, members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) had a hectic time controlling the crowd and traffic.
The crowd went into frenzy when the Ooni arrived the venue at about 12:47pm. They cheered him endlessly.
In his remarks, Osinbajo who arrived the venue of the event at exactly 11: 40 am, paid glowing tributes to the new Ooni and tasked him on hard work, character, integrity and respect for the virtues of the Yoruba race.
“The position is not for ostentation but for service to humanity. As we hand over the staff of office to you, today, we are reminded that you have the primary responsibility of being the physical undertone of the virtue of Omoluabi,” Osinbajo said.
The vice president, who quoted from Ecclesiastes 10:16-17, urged Ooni Ogunwusi to apply God’s wisdom on the throne in order to succeed.
The Sultan, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers, also urged Oba Ogunwusi to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing peace efforts in the country, noting that his enthronement came at a time the country needs credible agents of peace, harmony and progress in the country.
Aregbesola, before he presented the staff of office to the new Ooni, urged him to imbibe the principles of fear of God, justice, fairness and righteousness to be able to succeed on the throne.
The governor also urged him to use the throne to usher in a new era of peace, harmony, progress and prosperity not only in Ife but also Osun State and the country, noting: “You came to the throne at a time the Yoruba race needs progress, unity and harmony more than ever before.”
Aregbesola presented the staff of office to the Ooni at exactly 1:51pm amid thunderous ovation and jubilation by the crowd.
Ogunwusi, in return, dedicated his staff of office to the Nigerian youths. “I dedicate this staff of office to the youth of Ife, Osun and Nigeria and urge them to make good use of their morning, afternoon and evening. I also urge them to cooperate with the Nigerian leaders so that we can move this country forward together.”
Decked in white dansiki and a white cap to match, Ogunwusi, who spoke extempore, spoke glowingly that rapid progress, in Ife and the Yoruba race as well as youth development would be his priorities.
“As a royal father, I will do my best to propagate the socio-economic and traditional values of Ife and the Yoruba race. Let’s therefore work towards the development and progress of Ife, Osun, and Nigeria. My basic philosophy is that there is no supremacy. We are all one and equal….”
So, we should work together to enthrone justice, fairness and equity for peace and progress,” he added
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