No More War Between Ile-Ife and Modakeke-Ooni

By Ismaeel Uthman

The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has declared that there “is no more war’ and there will be no more between the Ile-Ife and its neighbouring Modakeke.

Oba Ogunwusi who paid a courtesy visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday in Osogbo said: “the era of communal dispute between Ife and Modakeke has gone.

The frontline traditional ruler disclosed that he has met with Ogunsua of Modakeke and other stakeholders to end the age-long differences between the two communities.

He said: “Though my coming to the throne of my fathers is just about three months ago but the little the time the giant the strides as we have en- rooted lasting peace between Modakeke and Ile-Ife.

“Ile-Ife and Modakeke have vowed not to fight anymore as we have equally pledged to live peacefully with any rancour.

“We have set up Ooduduwa Development Fund which will serve as a venture through which people would be contributing to refurbish the look of the two towns of Ife and Modakeke.”

He urged Aregbesola to continuously show his support to the people of the town, saying “ the era of vendetta has been totally waved off.”

Oba Ogunwusi pledged to use his throne to continuously foster peaceful co-existence, unity, love and tranquility not only in Ile-Ife but across the state, Nigeria and the entire world. The traditional ruler commended Aregbesola on what he described as laudable achievements of his administration that has transformed the state.

He lauded the immense achievements’ of the Aregbesola’s administration in the state, maintaining that “the era of Governor Aregbesola has truly and apparently ushered-in unforgettable transformation in all aspects of the economic especially on youth empowerment.”

The frontline traditional ruler stressed that the spate of development recorded under Aregbesola so far had truly placed the state ahead of its peers.

According to him, Aregbesola’s administration was building a brighter future for the people of state through the implementation of several developmental projects that had impacted greatly the lives of the residents.

He said: “The current government has made a landmark achievement which can never be forgotten in the annals of the state democratic setting, as its policies and programmes being implemented so far which had placed and repositioned the state.

“Our Governor had distinguished himself as a lover of peace as this has been placing the state to be the most peaceful in the country.”

Oba Ogunwusi who described the ongoing projects in the state as unprecedented, said that the time has come for every citizen to support the current administration with regular tax payment as being prescribed by the government.

The royal father said that the only way for government to continue its good works is for the citizens to see the need in full compliance towards tax payment. “It is regrettably and unfortunate that the entire Nigeria is facing the economic quagmire which effects had adversely and gruesomely paralyzed the economy of state as Osun was not excepted.

“The only way to rescue our state is for us to pay our taxes and continue to extend unflinching support towards the noble intentions of our Governor”, Ooni Stated.

In his remarks, Governor Aregbesola applauded Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi for exploring the virtues of his position to seek everlasting solution to dispute between his town and Modakeke.

Aregbesola who described the visit as timely urged the monarch not to relent in his efforts of strengthening peace and unity among the yoruba race.

Aregbesola assured that his government would not renege its promises to the people of the state, adding that he would continue to turn the state to a model that would be admiring by the people across the earth. He tasked Oba Ogunwusi on the need to help his government in revamping the lost glory of agriculture, saying if cocoa production alone is properly managed, the state would earn over N40billion every year.

“This is the period of economic hardship and the only way out for this, is agriculture. Everybody most go back to farm because our state is hugely rich in agriculture.

“In view of this endowment, Osun has the capacity of generating over N40billion from cocoa production every year as the state could also bold of over 66million bearing cocoa trees across the state.

“In achieving this, our government would tap this opportunity by encouraging our youths to farming. We will also ensure that our cocoa produce is being graded within state for the benefit of our people. “We implore our traditional rulers to pass this message across their subjects so that our state could earn enough from agriculture”, Aregbesola stated.