Ooni visits Ashante Kingdom as Ghana tribes affirm Yoruba Origin
By Bimpe Oluwole
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojoja 11 has paid historic visits to the King of Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana, Otumfo Nana Ossei Tutu II
During the visit, two prominent Ghana nationalities, the Ga who are t he owners of Accra and Alanta people of Jamestown affirmed that the migrated from Ile-Ife some centuries ago.
Irohinoodua gathered that the visit was part of his peace and unity project which he has embarked on in t.v.the interest of Africa.Ooni promised on behalf of the other Ghanian kings to work with him to move Africa forward.
Ossei Tutu II who is the16th Asantehene, the paramount ruler of the Ashanti tribe said this when he hosted the 51st Ooni of Ife who is the Spiritual head of Yoruba race worldwide and his beautiful queen Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi (Yeyelua) escorted to the palace by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. John Alexander Ackon and his Deputy, Andy Osei Okrah at his palace in Kumasi, Ghana.
A statement signed by Ooni’s media aide Moses Olafare and made available to Irohinoodua stated that the Ghana’s number one King described the Ooni’s visit as a bond of intensity created by the ancestors that will surely strengthen the relationships not only between Ashanti and Yoruba but also between the two brother countries of Ghana and Nigeria.
” 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 Ossei 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”. Ossei Tutu pledged.
Ooni Ogunwusi in his speech said 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. He reminded king Ossei Tutu II of when Africa’s various Kingdoms used to exist without the geographical boundaries created sequel to the Berlin Conference in 1894 and solicited his collaboration for a need to go back to the basis if Africa must progress.
“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”.Ooni Ogunwusi preached.
The Ooni with an entourage including SSA to the Nigerian president on foreign affairs Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and some prominent Yoruba traditional rulers had earlier at the weekend visited the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Adama Latse II of Accra and King 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 his missing children who were either taken away or left home to settle down in their various present places.
At the palace of Ga Mantse, Ooni described the Ga people as descendants of Oduduwa who have always been proud of Ile-Ife as their home. He assured them of his fatherly love and care always.
Responding, the Mantse Ga of Accra reaffirmed their migration from Ile-Ife. He said he was very grateful for the Ooni’s visit and expressed surprise as Ooni didn’t wait for their necessary homage before visiting them.
“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.
In his own speech welcoming Ooni his Jamestown Palace, king Oblempong of Alata Kingdom described Ooni Ogunwusi as not just a visitor but a father who left his comfort zone to look after his children with whom he had lost contact for centuries.
He informed 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.
“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 Ghanian 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”.
Ooni promised to always look after them, assuring that never again would he allow geographical barrier to separate Alanta people from their Yoruba origin in Ile-Ife.
“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”. Ooni assured.
Other members of the delegation are 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. Others are 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 investment s counterpart Mr Jide Fadairo and a host of others
