Alaafin Rejoices With Ooni On 10th Coronation Anniversary

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has felicitated with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on the 10th year anniversary on the throne.

Alaafin, in a statement on Sunday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Oyo, on behalf of other Yoruba traditional rulers, joined indigenes of Oyo kingdom, the Government and the people of Osun State in celebrating the Ooni of Ife..

Oba Owoade commended the Ooni for his sense of commitment, and resilience in ruling over his people.

The Alaafin expressed the belief that the wisdom, warmth, and friendliness of the Ooni would also translate into peace and civility in his domain.

He prayed that the almighty God will continue to bless the Ooni of Ife and grant him more years of fruitful reign. “If gratitude is the great opener of the heart, then Ooni of Ife’s heart should be busted wide open to the sweetness of this moment. If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.

“What is more, gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world,” the statement stated.

Oba Owoade further used the occasion to call for unity among the traditional rulers, noting that this remains the only way for royal fathers to be united, sincere and dedicated.

“As monarchs, all of us have just three responsibilities. We are saddled with maintenance of peace, culture and tradition. Kings are not religious leaders. Our responsibility, as handed over to us in our certificates, is to be custodians of the legacies of our ancestors, so that they do not go extinct.

“Unity can only be predicated on mutual trust and understanding, reciprocal friendly/brotherly/sisterly relations, as well as shared interests, values and aspirations”, the Alaafin said.

He added that unity would best be promoted through tolerance and accommodation of each other’s differences, opinions, ethnic, religious and communal or even regional identities.

”Unity in diversity is a core principle of federalism. All federations are required to adhere to, and actively nurture and entrench, expectations associated with this core principle.

“Nigeria, as a federation with a complex mosaic of diversity need to continue to find, and deploy, ways and means of forging, entrenching and sustaining unity in diversity and national integration,” he said.

The Alaafin concluded, “Once again, I am wishing the Ooni of Ife more prosperous years ahead.”