Ooni Hails Fani-Kayode After Senate Screening For Ambassadorial Role

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has hailed Chief Femi Fani-Kayode following his screening on Thursday by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for ambassadorial position.

Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and indigene of Osun State, was last week nominated alongside many others for the Ambassadorial role by President Bola Tinubu.

LEADERSHIP reports that Fani-Kayode and a few other nominees appeared before the Senate Panel on Thursday for legislative scrutiny.

However, reacting to the development after the legislative exercise, the Ile-Ife monarch, in a message delivered on his behalf by Sooko (Dr.) Kemade Elugbaju, the Sooko Omoniyi and the Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Ooni of Ife, said the good people of Ifeland and the generality of Osun State indigenes were delighted by the honour done to one of their sons.

“Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum and the Otunba Joga Orile, a brilliant lawyer and former Federal Minister from the Gbúede lineage where his father, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (the late firebrand Balogun of Ife, the former Deputy Premier of the Western Region and a former Regional Minister known as “Fani-Power”), his grandfather Justice Adedapo Kayode (a brilliant lawyer and reformer and the third Nigerian to be appointed as a Judge) and his great grandfather Rev. Emmanuel Kayode (the powerful clergyman who was amongst those that introduced Christianity to Ile-Ife and who, not only introduced so many progressive social reforms in the community, but also built and pastored the first Church there) were all born into.

“His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja the Second and the Co-chairman of the National Traditional Council of Nigeria is proud of you. The people of Ifeland and Osun State say: ‘Well done, and more grace’.

“I join all your well wishers globally to congratulate you, FFK, on your successful screening by the Senate, acknowledging the honour bestowed upon you and the people of Ifeland.

“Kabiyesi, the Ooni, expresses pride and joy, while wishing you continued success and grace in your new role as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“He posits that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has distinguished himself, as the lover of his people majorly from Osun State, many of whom he appointed to effectively position all the parastatals under the Aviation Ministry while serving as the Minister of Aviation. Kabiyesi is confident that FFK will do much more.

“In conclusion, the Ooni is highly grateful to His Excellency, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR for this great honour done to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. May the Lord bless the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria!,” Sooko Elugbaju stated.