Professor Olu Aina, pro-chancellor,
governing council, Igbinedion University, Okada, has revealed that the
late Ooni Oba Sijuwade Olubuse (II) some few days before he died
appealed for support for the south-west.
Professor Aina said he had honor to meet privately with the Oonibefore his death.
Aina said that the late Ooni had sought support of the South West
zone for President Muhammadu Buhari in his wish to re-invent Nigeria,
continuing that he defined Buhari as a man “God specifically brought as a Messiah to re-start Nigeria.”
The professor revealed this in an audience he had with some Ife
Kingmakers and Chiefs weekend, as preparations for installation of the
next Ooni commences to generate attention.
He said: “Permit me to share an intimate moment I had with the
Ooni a few days before he passed on. On the 9th of July 2015, baba
called me and instructed that I should see him urgently. He even
rebuffed my attempts to shift the date he set for the meeting which he
made compelling. I struggled hard with my very tight schedule to see the
Ooni.
“Surprisingly, our discussions centered on state of the nation.
He told me bluntly that Nigeria should be grateful for having Muhammadu
Buhari as President. He talked at length on his worries about Nigeria
and the reign of impunity in high places as well as the general
breakdown of security across the federation.
“He expressed concerns about the dilemmas of the Nigerian youths
and the rate of unemployment in Nigeria. At a point, he heaved a heavy
sigh and said that God specifically brought President Buhari as a
Messiah to save Nigeria!
“The Ooni that I knew was never given to talking in vacuum. His
reflections were usually sharp on issues. His reeled in deep thoughts,
thus making predictions that always turned into clinical reality, mostly
on local and national politics.
“He, indeed, expressed conviction in the political change in
Nigeria and the capacity present government to rebuild the country. I
recalled also that he talked extensively on the potentials of the Yoruba
to assist in the stability of Nigeria given the mindset of the people
and their positive disposition to the national cause.
“He prayed that the south-west with their contributions to the
success of the 2015 presidential election will leverage on that to
return to the center and assist in consolidating governance particularly
for the emergence of a new Nigeria.
“Although, I had wondered the reasons behind the emphasis the
Ooni made on support for the new government, yet, I was not shocked
because all along, I knew he has been expressing tremendous respect for
the President, touching on integrity and his no-nonsense posturing. He
had shared his thought on this with some of us his close children long
before the last Presidential election”
It would be recalled that the 85-year-old monarch was crowned in 1980 and was widely respected.
He died in London in July but his death was only announced two weeks later.
Ooni was believed the most influential monarch by most Yorubas, who number about 35 million in the region.


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