TVC E. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has unveiled a plan to launch a common anthem in Yoruba language to be recited at public functions after the national anthem.
He said the proposed Yoruba anthem became expedient to inculcate the spirit of solidarity, unity, service, love and togetherness in every Yoruba person irrespective of age and status.
The Ooni disclosed this on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Ayo Fayose at Ayoba Villa, Government House, Ado Ekiti, the state capital, to round off his two-day visit to the Fountain of Knowledge.
He noted that the anthem would further consolidate unity among the Yorubas both within the country and in Diaspora.
The royal father said he drew the inspiration to compose a common Yoruba anthem after listening to the Ekiti anthem.
He also reiterated his call on traditional rulers in Yoruba land to put aside battle for supremacy saying monarchs are nothing before God as they are humans.
Oba Ogunwusi also promised to soon release a book that would further add value to his current peace efforts across the country.
The Ooni said his two-day visit to Ekiti State had been most rewarding due to the prevalence of peace and display of mutual love among leaders and their followers.
He added: “My ascension to the throne of Oduduwa is not by mistake, it was God, the creator that ordained it and it is my belief that He has a clear role for me, and that role is to bring all my people together and foster peace among them
“We Yoruba must learn to do only those things that unite us,and not those that separate us because there cannot be growth and development where peace and unity are conspicuously absent.
“The time has come for us leaders in the country, especially those of us in Yorubaland to put supremacy aside,we are all nothing before God, we are just basically human”, the Ooni said.
Responding, Fayose thanked the Ooni for extending his visit to two days to enable him fraternise more with the Ekiti people and urged him to continue with his tempo of peace and prayers for the Yoruba people and the entire nation.
