A high-ranking traditional chief in Ile-Ife, the Lowa Adimula, Ademola Adeyeye, has asserted that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, occupies a unique and supreme position among Yoruba monarchs.
Speaking at the Ooni’s palace during the celebration of the monarch’s 70th birthday, Adeyeye described the Ooni as both the spiritual and traditional head of the Yoruba people, stressing that his stature is without equal.
“The Ooni is the father of all Yoruba kings, both in spiritual and traditional terms. His position is incomparable,” he stated.
While addressing the press, the Lowa Adimula also expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising insecurity, attributing it to the sidelining of traditional institutions in the country’s security architecture.
“Our government bears responsibility for the current insecurity. Excluding traditional rulers from security matters at the grassroots is a major error,” he said. “The federal government must restore constitutional roles to traditional leaders, as was once the norm.”
He called on the National Assembly to enact laws that would officially integrate traditional rulers into Nigeria’s governance and security framework.
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