Sanusi to Ooni: Let’s be agents of peace, unity in Nigeria
…Rulers meet to end Yoruba, Hausa feud
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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: THE Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has enjoined the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to join hands with him, and others too, in ensuring they become agents of peace and unity for the country.
Sanusi made the plea on Wednesday when he visited Oba Ogunwusi in his palace at Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He stated that the visit was to formally congratulate Ooni on his ascension to the throne and to appreciate him for his fatherly role after the recent Hausa/Fulani crisis in Ile-Ife.
The Emir commended Ooni and the people of Ife for the warm reception accorded him and prayed for the robust continued relationship between Kano Emirate and Ife Kingdom.
“I was here as a prince a couple of years ago in company of my late father, Emir Ado Bayero, during the 30th coronation anniversary of the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II,” Sanusi, a one-time Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who was accompanied by senior members of the Kano Emirate Council, said.
He added: “As a prince, I had always felt welcome in this palace and today, on arriving here, I have received the same welcome as a member of this royal family.”
“It is indeed remarkable and we thank Allah for the way he does his things because the relationship between our two predecessors which was critical to building bridges across the Niger and unifying the people of this country has continued with us and I hope we will keep being agents of peace and unity for our great country,” the Emir further said.
“My visit here today is a happy and sad one. It is a happy one because it is an opportunity for me to come and formally congratulate you on your enthronement and it is a sad one because it is in connection with the sad incidence that occurred at Ile-Ife recently,” the monarch stressed.
“I know many people from the North have been complaining that I have been quiet on this matter, let me say that the moment this sad incident happened, His Majesty the Ooni of Ife reached out to me and Sultan, both of us have reached out to Ooni on a number of times and we are satisfied with the fatherly way he has so far responded to the crisis which we see as a confirmation that he is truly the father of all in Yorubaland irrespective of tribes and religion,” Sanusi emphasised.
“And we felt that so long the Ooni was doing everything humanly possible to stabilize the situation, there was no need for anyone of us to make any statement that could worsen the situation,” he said, adding: “Let me also add that I was to be here with the Sultan but he has to travel and he has asked me to represent him and all the Northern traditional rulers.”
“I on behalf of Sultan and the other Emirs commiserate with you over the sad incident and follow up by making for the great leadership you showed during the crisis and the quick manner in which you doused the tension and the way the culprits were apprehended for justice,” the traditional ruler stated.
He also said: “You showed indeed that everyone in Ife is your subject which is the way it should be. The family we come from and the institution we represent are institutions that take responsibility for protecting the lives, property and dignity of our people living within their jurisdiction irrespective of where they are from. We thank you for playing that role.”
“Our relationship in the country is such that safety in one place is safety everywhere,” the traditional ruler stated.
The Emir praised Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for setting up a high powered commission of enquiry to look into the matter and immediate causes of the incident and to recommend appropriately so as to avoid future re-occurrence and to ensure that justice is done.
Oba Ogunwusi, however, expressed appreciation to Sanusi, who he described as a perfect gentleman and a courageous intellectual for the visit.
The Ooni said that he was satisfied with the reaction of the entire Northern leaders over the Ife crisis.
“When you are talking of intellectuals in Africa Emir Sanusi is actually a force to reckon with,” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi stressed: “I have always had tremendous respect for him. Thank you your highness for this historic visit. You are a detribalized Nigerian who has always shown love to members of other tribes.”
“My love for you dates back to when you were Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria as your courage of calling a spade a spade actually drew my attention to you,” the monarch said, adding: “You and I met in the UK and we had intensive conversation as regards the crisis and the need to strengthen the unity of all Nigerians.”
“That meeting played a significant role in finally dousing the tension. You are indeed part of us in Ile-Oodua and we are also part of the Kano Emirate. Our prayer, therefore, is that our relationship will continue to wax stronger,” Ogunwusi said.
He declared: “The State Government of Osun has played their role very responsibly well by swiftly rising to the occasion, and severally visiting the affected areas with solidarity and donation of cash and other relief materials.”
“Same goes with us here at the palace, Ife prominent indigenes and all the Yoruba leaders of thought,” he stressed, adding: “We have been doing this just to give them the assurance that we are one big family and I have since been working perfectly with the Sultan and the Emirs for the sustenance of the peace that we have restored after the crisis.”
GatewayMail learnt that after the visit, Oba Ogunwusi and his chiefs led Sanusi and his team to visit the Hausa community in Sabo area where brief meeting was held with Seriki Hausa and his people.
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