Ooni of Ife Ogunwusi Enitan Adeyeye
Sokoto riots: Ooni of Ife calls for religious, ethnic tolerance among Nigerians
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has reiterated the need for religious and ethnic tolerance among Nigerians, emphasising the strength in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society as Nigeria.
Oba Ogunwusi made the appeal at the palace of Oba Ademola Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos, where the latter conferred traditional titles on eminent Nigerians.
A statement issued by Mr Temitope Oyefeso, Special Assistant, Public Affairs to Oba Elegushi, Sunday, in Lagos, quoted the Ooni as urging religious harmony and peaceful coexistence among the populace.
The Ife monarch was reacting against the backdrop of the incident in Sokoto State at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOED), where a female student, Miss Deborah Yakubu, was on Thursday attacked and killed by a mob of her fellow students and residents over allegations of blasphemy.
The incident threw the state into mayhem as rioters protesting the arrest of two persons by the police connected to the killing subsequently targeted churches and properties belonging to the Catholic and ECWA religious groups in the state to destroy, as the state government imposed a day curfew to curb further damage.
“While our tongues and faith may differ, there is a purpose for being Nigerians under the umbrella of the same country.
“Everyone should explore the opportunities of the diversity towards attaining a prosperous and peaceful nation,” the Ooni said.
On the occasion proper, Oba Ogunwusi said that with the conferment of traditional titles on Nigerians of different ethnic and religion, Oba Ademola Elegushi was using the traditional stool to echo the message of unity for development.
He said that the conferment had again demonstrated the spirit of brotherliness among Nigerians of non-Yoruba speaking tribe.
Speaking, Oba Elegushi said that the Nigerians being honoured were carefully selected in recognition of their contributions towards the development of Ikate Kingdom and Lagos State.
The Oba said that the honour was done as part of his palace’s commitment towards improving the relationship that exists between Ikate Kingdom and those who live and do business within the community.
Among those honoured were: Oliver Cohnen, a German and Managing Director of AFP Furniture; the real Estate expert, Chiedu Nweke; an IT expert and former IBM Country Manager, Akin Bolarniwa and a renowned legal practitioner, Adeoeju Omotayo.
