OONI OF IFE HOSTS EMIR OF KANO, CALLS FOR YOUTHS DEVELOPMENT

Kayode Olawuni

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Olofin Adimula Ooni(Dr.) Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II today Wednesday 2nd of December, 2020 hosted the Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero at the House of Oduduwa, his palace where a number of matters of national importance, particularly those bothering on youths development were discussed.

The Oonirisa used the occasion to advocate for the urgent need for youths development in the country. The Ooni particularly emphasized the need for traditional institutions to champion the vanguard for youths inclusion and capacity building in their respective jurisdictions.

"Let us surrender ourselves to the youths because they own this country, they are the future that we have to build today. Let us train and re-train them and we shall be better for it. We don't have to wait for the government, let us do our best individually and it shall be well with us", Ooni admonished.

The paramount traditional ruler, Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN), Ooni Ogunwusi reminisced on the long-standing mutual relationship between the Kingdom of Ife and the Kano Emirate which, according to him, has not only been beneficial to Nigeria as a country but also to the entire African continent, while also expressing satisfaction over the peaceful leadership transition recently withnessed in the Emirate.

"I am happy that the new Sarkin Kano who by far is not a stranger in this palace has agreed that we uphold the heritage of our fathers;  My predecessor Ooni Okunade Sijuade, the late Emir Ado Bayero and late Obi of Onitsha were good friends and their friendship is part of what we are enjoying in Nigeria.

"Thank God for the peacefulness that greeted your emergence as the new Emir of  Kano. We were so scared for the transition that occurred in Kano because we knew there would be trouble in Nigeria if there is trouble in Kano, but we thank God it all went peacefully.

 

"I love your simplicity and humility, and I am so glad about the maturity displayed by you and your immediate predecessor Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. God is the only giver and taker of power", the Ooni remarked.

The Emir of Kano, in his speech applauded Ooni's great leadership style spanning across the entire Yoruba race and the country as a whole, noting that a new platform for deepening the relationship between the Yoruba people and their northern counterparts will be created in a bid to foster national unity.