By Yinka Kolawole
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, yesterday congratulated the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on his 50th coronation anniversary.
In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, Ooni described Alaafin as a unique descendant of Oduduwa and great Nigerian who lives a life of service to humanity.
Ooni Ogunwusi, described Oba Adeyemi as a revered Nigerian monarch, who has always dignified the cultural values of the Yoruba people with great passion, thanking God for blessing him with a gift of long reign on the throne of his forefathers, as he added that the monarch has seen it all for the country.
According to the Ife monarch, “Long life is a gift and those favoured by God in His infinite mercy to receive this gift should be celebrated and admired by all, such a person is Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who is among Nigerian elder statesmen and great Ooduan who saw this country through post-colonial, military and democratic eras during his 50 years of reign as the Alaafin of Oyo.
“I am proud of the frontline Yoruba monarch who has contributed to the growth and stabilisation of the ancient town of Oyo as well as Yorubaland and Nigeria in general. He is a very responsible elder, whose main concern is the promotion of the Yoruba’s prestigious culture, people and tradition in general.”
Ooni, who explained that efforts of foremost nationalists like Oba Adeyemi cannot be overemphasised, wishing him more healthy and long life filled with prosperity on the throne of Oyo kingdom.
The Ife king, who is the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, urged the Alaafin to continue his usual efforts towards ensuring a better society, noting that the country and the citizenry have a lot to benefit from Oba Adeyemi’s wealth of experience as an elder and a long reigning Nigerian monarch.
