Ruler of Ashanti and Ashantiland and the Empire of Ashanti, king Osei Tutu II, the 16th Asantehene, amiably received Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) , at his Palace in Kumasi , Ghana . Also in attendance, the Ashanti Regional Minister Hon. John Alexander Ackon and his Deputy, Andy Osei Okrah.
The king of Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana Otumfo Nana Osei Tutu II, applauded Ooni Ogunwusi for his peace and unity quest in the interest of Africa and promised on behalf of the other Ghanian kings to work with him to move the Continent forward.
” Your Imperial Majesty, welcome to your land, this is your home just the way Ile-Ife is our home too. This my throne was first occupied by Osei Tutu the 1st about 400 years ago and I have been very close to the very revered Ooni’s stool in Ife since I mounted this throne.”
“You are indeed a great inspiration to the Africans especially traditional Institutions. it’s a historic moment of joy for me and all Ashantis globally to have you and your delegation visiting Kumasi.”
“This historic visit confirms the bond of the intensity created by our ancestors. We are very proud of your achievements within the little time on the throne especially your peace and unity in Africa initiatives.”
“You are undoubtedly the new symbol of African progress and I cannot afford not to quickly join you in this project as I will work with you for the bond between Yoruba and Ashanti to move Africa forward” , said king Ossei Tutu II.
Ooni Ogunwusi articulated that his visit was of brotherliness with an expression of love to the people of Ashanti Kingdom too important African tribe to be ignored in his Peace and Unity In Africa Initiative.
“There were no boundaries in Africa until 1894 Berlin Conference, we should forget those boundaries and focus on the strength of bond of our natural togetherness created by our earliest ancestors. Am so proud to be associated with the Royal stool of the Ashanti Kingdom, the throne of Ooni that am privileged to occupy today was established by Oduduwa the progenitor of our race some thousands of years ago. I know you were very close to my predecessor and some other Nigerian kings, this relationship must not die, we must uphold our bond, our heritage, culture and traditions as we remain inseparable one big family”.
Accompanying Ooni Ogunwusi was his entourage including SSA to the Nigerian President on foreign affairs Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and some prominent Yoruba traditional rulers who had previously visited the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Adama Latse II, of Accra and King Oblempong Nii Kojo of Jamestown also in Accra both of whom at different times in their palaces described the presence of Ooni Ogunwusi as that of a father in search for a missing children who have either been taken away or left home to settle down in their present places.
Mantse Ga of Accra expressed gratitude for Ooni Ogunwusi’s proactive visit and went on to proclaim that : “We indeed came from Ile-Ife and Yoruba nation to settle down here about 400 years ago, that’s why your visit is very important to us. We are surprised that you are so humble to come looking for us when we should have visited you earlier as our father. This is a clear indication that you are a good father and you really mean well for the progress of Africans.”
Also whilst visiting king Oblempong of Alata Kingdom at his Jameston Palace , Ooni Ogunwusi received a rousing welcome and king Oblempong described Ooni Ogunwusi as not just a visitor but a father who left his comfort zone to look for his children from whom he had lost contact for centuries. The king further expressed to Ooni that the name “Alata” added to Jamestown, emanated from the vessel SS Alata that conveyed their forefathers as slaves from different parts of Africa especially Yorubaland of Lagos over 200 years ago. He further went onto say,
“We are so grateful, since I was born 94 years ago, this is the first time anybody has come to look for us. Your Majesty, Ga is not the only tribe from Yoruba nation, we too are from there because majority of the slaves dropped here by the British 200 years ago were from Lagos and you are our father”.
While at the Palace of Ga Mantse, Ooni Ogunwusi defined the Ga people as descendants of Oduduwa who have always been proud of Ile-Ife as their home and assured them of his fatherly love and care always. Ooni Ogunwusi laid assurances and stated that “Our ancestors must be very happy today as members of the same family separated over two centuries ago by the then slave merchants have now found themselves. I will do everything within my capability to sustain the reunion as never again should we be separated by mere geographical barrier”.
Other members of the delegation were Aseyin of Iseyin Oba Abduganiy Oloogunebi, Jegun of Okitipupa Oba Adetoye Obatuga, Alayemore of Ido-Osun Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Elerinmo of Erinmo-Ijesa Oba Michael Ajayi Odunayo, Akogun of Ife Chief Muritala Adedoyin and Arode of Ife Chief Johnson Awe.
As well as Mrs Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, wife of the owner of the famous game company BeT9ja Mrs Olasimbo Ojuroye, Barrister Lanre Alli, Professor Jeleel Ojuade, sister of President of Ghana Alhaja Sherifat Mahama-Dundu, and spouse Alhaji Dundu, President of Yoruba Community Alhaji Musa Baba, SA to the Ooni on special duties Mr Akin Daodu, his business and investments counterpart Mr Jide Fadairo and a host of others.
