The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), on Tuesday tasked leaders of the Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, to work assiduously for the progress and unity of the race, irrespective of individual’s political difference.
He gave the charge during a courtesy visit of the group to his palace at Oduduwa House, in Ile-Ife.
Oba Ogunwusi who lamented over what he termed needless disunity among Yoruba, urged the group to give priority to the collective interest of Yoruba in their activities.
According to him, “despite how powerful and influential we are in Yoruba land, we have allowed politicians to cause disunity among us.I am happy to meet you today and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to leave politics and love each other for the sake of progress of Yoruba land.
“I want you to go and meet those that offended you and settle the dispute. I am very sure that Yoruba land will progress if we can love one another,” Oba Ogunwusi remarked.
Earlier in his address, the leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, assured the monarch of the group’s readiness to support any course that can further promote unity in Yorubaland.
He said “in the last few weeks, you have stepped out of your throne to pay epoch making visits to your brother Obas and in the process put an end to historical animosities, age-long rivalries, petty disputes and perennial conflicts.
“You have practically torn the walls and rekindle a ray of hope for the long-sought unity of our people. You have challenged us as a people to summon the Aro and Odofin in our bellies as Yoruba people in order to rebuild our civilization as a people.
“Rest assured of the cooperation of Afenifere in your royal request to forge a new spirit of understanding especially at this period when the Yoruba nation appears seriously endangered.
“Kabiesi, we want to prepare you for some of the challenges you may confront in the good task you have set for yourself as the enemies of our nation who have been happy in our disunity would not fold their hands and see us come together. They will want to put all manners of strictures on our way and spanners in the work”, Fasoranti asserted. (Nigerian Tribune)