Ooni Of Ife Installs President Mahama As ‘Atayeto Oodua’ Of Ile-Ife

President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, was on Monday installed as the Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Dignitaries at the event included the governor of Osun State, represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, Business Mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Owa Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Hastrup, Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, Deji of Akure, Ajero of Ijero, monarchs from Ghana, captains of industries, among others.

Speaking shortly after his installation, President Mahama described Nigeria and Ghana as twins, adding jokingly that it is only as competitors in the game of football that the twins are separated.
He added that God had brought the two countries together for a divine purpose and pledged to strengthen unity and harmony between Ghana and Nigeria.

He maintained that the people of Ile-Ife and Ghana are one family, while noting that the people of Accra trace their ancestral origins to Ile-Ife.

“As long as I remain President of Ghana, I’ll ensure that I bring the two countries together and bridge the gap between the departed countries and the ECOWAS,” he said.

Ooni Ogunwusi, while speaking, described President Mahama as a symbol of African unity, cultural continuity and economic reform, noting that the African continent shares common roots beyond modern political boundaries.

According to the monarch, Mahama’s relationship with Ile-Ife and the palace predates his current recognition, recalling that the Ghanaian leader had maintained close ties with the palace.

“This palace is not new to you. You have been here before, and throughout my journey to becoming the Ooni of Ife, you have been part of that journey. You have grown with us in our midst,” the Ooni said.

Ooni Ogunwusi emphasised that there are no real boundaries between Nigeria and Ghana, and indeed across Africa, stressing the deep cultural and historical connections that bind Africans together.

He cited linguistic similarities between the Yoruba people and the people of Ghana as evidence of shared ancestry.