The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Thursday night, stormed the ancient town of Otun-Ekiti, Ekiti State, to felicitate with the Oore of Otun-Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo over his first coronation anniversary.
Addressing newsmen at the Otun-Ekiti palace alongside other personalities including the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Hon. Bisi Egbeyemi on Friday, Ooni Ogunwusi described natives of Otun-Ekiti as direct descendants of Oduduwa, with enviable cultural inheritance like their counterparts in the House of Oduduwa.
“I am so happy to be here to join our kinsmen here, I am proud to state that Moba people of Otun-Ekiti are direct descendants of Oduduwa and we hold them in a very high esteem. I congratulate them all and this superb king of theirs.” Ooni tells newsmen.
Speaking on behalf of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, the Coordinating Committee Chairman, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, described the Oore as a ‘detribalized Nigerian leader who mixes freely with people notwithstanding their tribe, religion or status in life’.
Represented by a delegation of five senior members of the Nupe Traditional Council, the monarch in an address said, “I call on those who are clamoring for secession to think twice because the country is better as one. The government particularly the National Assembly should expedite action in capturing the roles of Traditional Rulers in the country’s constitution.”
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State was represented at the event the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs.) Ayoade Folashade Arike, while the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was equally represented at the colourful celebration.
Earlier on Thursday, Ooni Ogunwusi led a traditional procession to the ancient Awo Market in the town to reinvoke the spirit of Aje.
Flanked by the Iyalaje Oodua, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade and other traditional rulers as well as priests, the Oonirisa offered prayers to reinvoke the spirit of Aje (Spirit of wealth) into the mysterious market which activates commercial activities across the town once in a year.
