Ooni Congratulates New Owa Of Idanre, Prays For Successful Reign

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has congratulated Oba Mayowa Aroloye on his emergence as the new Owa of Idanre Kingdom in Ondo State, offering prayers and ancestral blessings for a peaceful and prosperous reign.

The Ooni, who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), expressed optimism that the new monarch’s reign would usher in peace, unity and development in the ancient kingdom.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare.

Ogunwusi described Oba Aroloye’s emergence as a significant milestone for the people of Idanre, expressing confidence in his ability to provide purposeful leadership and advance the interests of the kingdom.

He noted that traditional institutions remained vital to the preservation of cultural heritage, ancestral values and the identity of the Yoruba people.

The monarch, therefore, urged traditional rulers to sustain their contributions to peaceful coexistence, community development and the preservation of cultural traditions.

The Ooni expressed confidence that the new Owa would bring fresh ideas to traditional leadership while building on the historical and cultural legacy inherited from his forebears.

He also offered prayers for divine guidance, wisdom, sound health and the strength needed by Oba Aroloye to discharge the responsibilities of his new office.

Ogunwusi further stressed the importance of unity and cooperation among traditional rulers across Yorubaland, noting that collective efforts by royal fathers would strengthen traditional institutions and promote the overall advancement of the Yoruba race.

Welcoming the Owa-elect into the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, the Ooni wished him a peaceful, fulfilling and impactful reign.

He expressed the hope that the new monarch’s tenure would be marked by notable achievements, prosperity and improved well-being for the people of Idanre.

Idanre, according to historical accounts, traces its roots to a prince from Ile-Ife and was historically associated with the name Ufe Oke, or Ife Oke, meaning “Ife atop the hills”. The settlement is associated with the mountainous landscape that served as a natural fortress and is linked to the historical and cultural heritage of ancient Ile-Ife.

The Owa of Idanre was also among the traditional rulers of Yorubaland reportedly recommended by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi, to the British colonial administration in the 1930s, following a request by the colonial authorities.