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.
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.
