Afenifere salutes Ooni at 50, urges FG to fix South-West roads

The National Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday, congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on attaining 50 years on earth, just as he urged the Federal Government to fix federal roads in South-West region.

He made this known when the chieftains of the organization led by one of its leaders, Femi Okunrounmu paid a visit to the palace of Ooni at Ile-Ife in Osun State.

Fasoranti, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the organization, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, described the foremost monarch as the “physical and visible symbol of the progenitor of Yoruba people.”

The nonagenarian traced the origin of not just the Yorubas but also that of Afenifere which took off in 1951.

“As the royal father of our race, you know that the House of Oduduwa is central to the aspirations and wellbeing of Yoruba people. That was why, when leaders of the Yoruba people were taking the definitive decisions to rid our land of British rule, they came to Ile-Ife to receive blessings and validation.”

Reiterating that the visit of “our leaders to this very palace in 1951, is the origin of Afenifere that we still have till today,” Fasoranti declared that the “blessings our leaders received here are still potent and valid till today.”

He went further to say that it “is right and proper that we come to celebrate with our royal father, the Ooni of Ife, to renew the bond of old and to confirm that Afenifere remains faithful to its original tenets”.

To demonstrate how the pan-Yoruba organization is re-dedicating itself to its core mandate, it abrogated the offices of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader earlier this year and set up the Afenifere Elders Caucus.

While commending the federal government on the renewed effort at completing the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Afenifere leader called on the government to give urgent attention to some other major roads in the South-West.

“The roads include Ife-Akure, Akure-Owo, Ado-Ekiti-Ilesa, Ibadan-Ogbomoso-Ilorin, Ibadan-Abeokuta among others.”

Responding, Oba Eniitan, expressed profound appreciation to the Afenifere delegation.

He said that he was particularly delighted and felt ‘highly honoured that the leadership of the foremost Yoruba organization thought it fit to come and visit him on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

“I feel highly honoured. Today will remain as one of my most memorable days.”

He stated that at 50, he thanked the Almighty God and expressed his renewed determination to serve Yorubaland more.

The Arole Oodua urged Afenifere leaders not to leave the President alone.

“I understand that you visited him recently. Do not be far from him as you need to be giving him necessary advice and support from time to time.”

Those in the delegation included former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, Iyiola Omisore, Ayo Ladigbolu, General Olu Bajowa (retd), Oba Solomon Owoniyi, Obaro of Kabba, Kogi State, Oba Adeniyi Ogunbiyi, Akire of Epe, Oba Adebayo Adewole, Owa Ajero of Ijero and others.