President Akufo Ado of the Republic of Ghana has described the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) as the royal symbol of Pan Africanism as the monarch said All Africans members of the same family only divided by artificial boundaries.
The Ghanaian president represented by Vice President Muhamudu Bawumia atated this on Saturday during a Conferment of Chieftaincy Tittles on some descendants Oduduwa organized by the Yoruba Traditional Council Ghana.
“The GA people and other tribes migrated here centuries ago from Ile-Ife. That is why we have Onipopo and Oninana as Ghanians till today.
Accra, Osu, Labadi, Teshi, Nungua, and Tema are all settlements started by the GA forefathers who came from Ile-Ife in Nigeria. That’s why the Ooni of Ife is highly esteemed here in Ghana.
“So, Nigerians and Ghanaians are one people and today’s occasion is an avenue to showcase our cultural bond to the world.”
“Your Imperial Majesty the Ooni, my President, His Excellency Nana Akufo Ado who is your friend is away in the UK for another Pan African summit with several African presidents including president Buhari of Nigeria. He has asked me to assure you of his support in your efforts at fostering unity among the African people worldwide.”
“If you look at the relationships amongst various African tribes, you will know that if our monarchs and chiefs get along, our people too will surely get along. This means that the African monarchs must be united if the continent must move forward. That’s why you stand out and we must commend your Majesty for this.” He said.
Vice president Bawumia urged the Ooni not to relent in his peace and unification efforts despite challenges of distractions posed by those who have nothing to offer and which will not stand a test of time.
“There must be close interactions interrelationships among our traditional chiefs which you have been leading. Don’t worry Your Majesty, we know there are distractions here and there, remain focused, those ones have nothing to offer, you just keep being humble as you are and we will eventually achieve our dreams of a united Africa.”
“There is no difference between us beyond our borders and today’s cultural event is really timely making us see how similar our respective cultures are as Yoruba is mixing with GA traditions here today.”
“When things like this happen, the relationship between our two countries Ghana and Nigeria will surely get stronger.”
Ghanaian VP added.
Ooni Ogunwusi in his speech at the event thanked the Government and people of Ghana for always showing him love and respect manifesting through the warm reception accorded his two visits to the country. Saying he always feels at home in Ghana.
“Ile-Ife is your source, you have always made me feel at home, I said this in 2016 when I was here on the invitation of the then President John Mahama that Nigeria and Ghana would remain inseparable despite few challenges.”
“GAs are here, Nanas are here Popos are here even the Asantehene who is the king of our great Asante kingdom told me at his Kumasi kingdom that his forefathers migrated from Ile-Ife and different parts of Yorubaland in Nigeria some 500 years ago. So, we are one big family.”
“I salute Ghana under the able leadership of Nana Akufo Ado for bringing Africans together, especially your African in Diaspora’s project, this is very commendable. We all saw how you last year September hosted multitude of our fellow Africans in diaspora especially from America and the Caribbeans.”
“Kudos to Ghana on this, we are of the same family and these Africans in diaspora, thousands of whom I have met personally both in my palace at Ile-Ife and in their respective countries are our brothers and sisters.”
“Let’s continue to treat ourselves as one. There was nothing like Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria until 1884 when the Europeans sat together in what they called The Berlin Conference to scramble for Africa. They gave us what we see today as geographical boundaries.” Ooni said.
Ooni Ogunwusi accompanied by a 65 entourage including notable Yoruba traditional rulers was led by the Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Amb. Femi Abikoye to Forecourt, State House, Accra venue of the event also attended alongside the Ooni by Deji of Akure, Oba Adelusi Aladetoyinbo, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole, Olofa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adekunle Oloogunebi, Olowa of Igbaraoke, Oba Fransis Agbede, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Olusola Alao, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abodunrin
With the world music legend, King Sunny Ade on the bandstand, the Ooni, his entourage and other guests including Governor Abdurahaman Abdurazak of Kwara state, Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo were later hosted to a dinner party by an Abuja based Ghanaian business mogul, Alhaji Alhmed Vanderpuije and pretty Yoruba wife Alhaja Risikatu Vanderpuije who got chieftaincy tittles Balogun Yoruba and Iyalode Yoruba of Ghana respectively coinciding with her birthday the cake of which was cut as coordinated by the Ooni.
Others who were conferred with chieftaincy tittle includes a Kwara big politician, Alhaji Musitapha Makanjuola(MM), Oluomo Yoruba of Ghana, Accra based born insurance magnate Chief David Alex-Duduyemi, Babaselu Yoruba of Ghana and a host of others.
It will be recalled that the African foremost monarch had hosted 100 bright and futuristic Nigerian youths making waves in several sectors across all geo-political zones in Nigeria; governance, entrepreneurship, technology, creative culture, innovation, academics, sports and entertainment. Twenty of these youths were among the Ooni’s entourage to the Ghana visit.
