“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” – Ooni Urges Unity in Yorubaland
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has called on Yoruba traditional rulers and leaders to embrace unity, respect, and collective progress, stressing that supremacy battles only weaken the Yoruba nation.
Speaking on the essence of leadership and cooperation, the Ooni emphasised that only God holds ultimate authority, while monarchs are custodians entrusted with the welfare of their people.
“Respect each other’s role and contribution. Forget supremacy. We only have one boss and that’s our God. He’s the Supreme Being, the King of Kings. So who are we in this world? We are just subjects until we know that,” he said.
The Ooni explained that his vision for Yorubaland is anchored on unity, which, he said, would bring about strength, development, and transformation for both the present and future generations.
“United we stand, divided we fall. The day we unite in Yorubaland, then we will know how powerful we are. My dream for Yorubaland is that the next generation should speak well of all of us,” he added.
Oba Ogunwusi was quick to dismiss claims of being the “head” of the Yoruba nation, noting that several monarchs had long been on their thrones before him and deserve respect and recognition.
“I will never say I’m the head of Yorubaland. No. Some people have been kings for much longer than me. I have to give them that respect. I carry them along. I talk to them. They’ve been there for a long time, and there are so many things they know that I don’t know,” he stated.
The monarch listed eminent Yoruba rulers such as the Awujale of Ijebuland, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Alake of Egbaland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, acknowledging their wisdom and contributions to the preservation of culture and tradition.
He further noted that working in isolation would only stall progress, while unity among monarchs and leaders would lay the foundation for development that future generations can build upon.
“The next generation must see that unity. The next generation must feel the development that will take place in Yorubaland. And the next generation must feel the transformation,” the Ooni concluded.
The monarch’s message comes at a time when calls for greater cooperation among Yoruba leaders continue to resonate across political, cultural, and traditional spaces.
