Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday advised the kingmakers and the high chiefs of Ile-Ife to ensure that a rightful, competent and capable prince is selected and installed as the new Ooni.
Addressing? members of the ruling houses, the kingmakers and the high chiefs while commiserating with them on Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s transition in Ile Ife, Obasanjo called for transparency, fairness, honesty and openness in the choice of the late Ooni’s successor in order to engender peace, harmony and tranquility in Ile-Ife and its environs.
The former President, who also cautioned against violence and chaos in the selection
process, maintained that any disunity witnessed in Ile-Ife would send a bad signal into the lives of the people not only in Ife but in the entire Yoruba race.
He described the stool of the Ooni as dignifying?, significant and central to the Yoruba race and must therefore be occupied by a ?man of honour and dignity.
According to him, whoever must be enthroned should possess sterling qualities of a royal pedigree and antecedents.
He said: “With the demise of the Ooni, the entire Yorubaland has been thrown into mourning?. So, after Oba Sijuwade, the spirit of unity, peaceful co-existence and stability laid by him must be sustained.
“This is the season of financial and material inducements from aspiring royal candidates. I want to advise the kingmakers to abstain from any act capable of undermining the royal integrity and soaring image of Ile Ife which symbolises the source and cradle of Yoruba race.
“No doubt, the whole world is looking forward to a clean outcome of the selection process as well as the installation of the new monarch.
“I am saying that anybody that would fill the vacant stool should start from where the Oba Sijuwade stopped.
“So, this is the period for the kingmakers to demonstrate high level of discipline, credibility and honesty in choosing a revered person based on merit, competence and proficiency to succeed Oba Sijuwade.
“Oba Sijuwade was a symbol of unity, peace, harmony, who used his position to foster peaceful co-existence between Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo throughout his lifetime, and his notable contributions to the development and sustenance of the cultural heritage of Yoruba race within and outside Nigeria would forever be remembered and celebrated.”
He commiserated with the wives and children of the late Oba as well as the chiefs, friends, associates, government and people of Osun State for “the irreparable loss that the departed soul has caused,” urging them to be consoled with the fact that
Sijuwade lived a fulfilled life.
He prayed God to comfort the bereaved family and give the ancient town a
worthy person to take over the throne.
Responding on behalf of other chiefs, the Obalufe of Iremo Quarters, Oba Solomon Omisakin, expressed gratitude to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for the visit and promised to ensure fairness and transparency in the selection and enthronement of the new monarch.
Oba Omisakin pledged that Ile Ife as the source of Yoruba race would not in any circumstance engage in any negative activity that could tarnish their soaring image and reputation, before, during and after selection process and installation.
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