Ooni of Ife endorses The Guardian’s Nigeria Royal Summit

The royal endorsement was the outcome of the visitation to the palace recently by the representatives of the organisers comprising Assistant Editor, Kabir Alabi Garba; Team Lead, weekend publications, Abayomi Oguntunase; photo journalist, Najeem Raheem; Lucky Ojumah and Barrister Bola Savage (Ontogeny) and others.

While expressing support for the summit, Ooni Ogunwusi said, “I am extremely happy to associate with the beautiful initiative that the entire crew of The Guardian has put in place in conjunction with various other partners.”

As he reiterated the endorsement the project had already secured from the umbrella body of all traditional rulers in the country, the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, he said, “we have to come up with our natural responsibilities, because we are natural rulers, and major stakeholders in this country. We have to come together to keep discussing our peaceful co-existence and how to take Nigeria forward. It is very important that we do not leave the onerous task of moving the country forward to politicians alone. We should support them (politicians) as the natural rulers in our various kingdoms, because we know the natural ways through which we govern our various kingdoms. We have the ear of our people. We are very close to them.

We are the closest to the grassroots. As a result, it’s about time for our politicians to know that they just have to work with us. I applaud the entire crew putting this initiative together. We will be there in full while we are going to mobilise people from all corners of this country for it. I am in full support and we are in it together, may God continue to bless Nigeria.”

Both Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Saad Abubakar co-chair the organisation.With ‘Rediscovering Nigeria’s harmony via cultural partnerships’ as theme, the summit is projected as a gathering of the Nigerian ‘entity’ consisting of royal fathers (custodians of cultures and traditions), the presidency, principal officers of the National Assembly, representatives of the judiciary, state governors, captains of industry, high networth personalities, select Nigerian youths and other millions around the world via different media platforms for the advancement of Nigeria through the unification of kingdoms.

The summit is also projected to rebuild the Nigerian dream, reset the country on a path of reconciliation, and mend broken fences amongst ethnic and religious blocks. It is the wish of organisers that this will birth renewed hope for every stakeholder in the Nigerian project, hence rejuvenating a new interest and jumpstart sustainable visible development.

“It is our vision that Nigeria Royal Summit will reunite Nigerians under a serene atmosphere of comradeship, peace and tranquility as represented by our various shared cultural values and create new developmental tracks that will effectively bring to Nigeria that desired change. “The summit will examine the in-depth benefits of our cultural partnership and its relationship to Nigeria’s economic progression, and open strategic discussions on germane issues affecting our growth as a nation thereby presenting a holistic platform in tackling the menace and subsequent repair of the distorted beliefs and misinformation via religious, tribal and other social means in the Nigerian system and the promotion of our national heritage, people, resources and products,” said the organisers.

Highlights of the summit include, special appearances from the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II; the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpokpolo, Oba Ewuare II; the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu V; the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli I; The Dein of Agbor, His Royal Majesty, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I; and a host of other Nigerian royal fathers for the re-evaluation and elevation of the Nigeria project.Also, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to present a keynote address on, ‘The positive partnership between government and traditional institutions; Analysing the present status and plans of this administration with respect to the people, culture and resources of Nigeria’.

Presentations will also be made by the Ooni of Ife on ‘The importance and benefits of Nigeria’s unity; connecting culture and modernisation’, the Obi of Onitsha on ‘Education for empowerment; a must investment by all for the actualisation of the Nigerian dream’; while the Emir of Kano will speak on ‘The Nigerian economy and religion; the wars within and the paths of exploration for their revamp’ and ‘Our national resources, a blessing to Nigeria; analysing the challenges and a developmental proposal for their sustainability and positive effect on the Nigerian people’ will be anchored by the Olu of Warri.