The Ooni of Ife and co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Monday, tasked the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to waste no time in tackling the challenges confronting the country as a man of action that he is known to be.
Ooni Ogunwusi gave the advice in his congratulatory message to President Tinubu made available to journalists by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare.
The Ooni in the message said capable Nigerian youths should be engaged by the President Tinubu’s administration as the country deserved its rightful position within the comity of nations globally.
“Mr President, congratulations from the House of Oduduwa to you and your amiable wife who is now the mother of the nation as you have officially taken the mantle of leadership as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Ooni Ogunwusi added, “As we celebrate this remarkable day of your inauguration with you, we wish you monumental success in all the policies of your administration so that Nigeria can become great again and maintain her rightful position not only as truly the giant of Africa but also as a leader within the committee of nations globally.
“We trust that your administration will be marked by good governance characterised by transformational economic growth, adequate security, and progress for all Nigerians both at home and in diaspora. We also trust that you will leverage your wealth of experience as a man of progressive action in mobilising resources and managing diverse interests to unify Nigeria across political, ethnic and religious lines.”
Ooni Ogunwusi also charged President Tinubu to carry the Nigeria traditional institution along, especially, in tackling the security challenges in the country as the traditional rulers are the closest to the people.
“The traditional rulers in this country are the closest to the people as there is nobody in Nigeria who is not a subject of a particular traditional ruler, this is why it is important for the government to empower us with more strategic constitutional roles especially in the area of security management and conflict resolutions,” he said.
In working for Africa, the Ooni urged President Tinubu to partner the progressive African leaders and friends of Africa across the globe like President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva, who recently hosted the Ooni and his team in Brasilia, Brazil for the unveiling Annual African Traditional Religion Day celebrations.
“As truly the giant of Africa, Nigeria must first of all be great for Nigerians under your watch, and Nigeria must provide progressive leadership of unity and peace for the greatness of Africa under your watch. I have interacted with some African presidents who are truly looking up to Nigeria under your watch as the big brother Africa. This of course dominated our discussions during the my meeting with President Williams Ruto at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya two months ago,” he said.
