Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday, urged politicians promoting the 2023 presidential ambition of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to deploy wisdom and avoid arbitrary use of power.
Ooni stated this while receiving organisers of the South West Agenda – a political group promoting Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
Ogunwusi, who applauded Tinubu’s reported presidential ambition as a good signal for the Yoruba race, added that such a lofty dream could only be realised through unity.
He said, “Asiwaju Tinubu is a very great descendant of Oduduwa. He’s such a unique Yoruba son and we are always proud of him. He is popular and known for uprightness.
“But first, I want to challenge all politicians here this afternoon to first go and work on yourselves, you must be United if you are indeed for the Yoruba race. It is you people that form political parties, change from one party to another among other things.
“With all that said, I want you to know that many will rise with similar interest and it is allowed. I implore you and your principal to deploy wisdom, not power so that we will all be on the same page.
“We Yorubas are Omoluabis and I want you all to know that everything is not politics. With these in mind, it shall be well with us and we are good to go.”
Chairman for the South West Agenda, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, had earlier explained that the visit was to seek the spiritual blessings of Ooni.
He said, “Baba, this is the highest throne in Yorubaland and Ile-Ife is the town that gave birth to all the entire Yoruba race. We have come here today to seek your blessings and support towards the actualisation of having a Yoruba man as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023. In this quest, we have found Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu worthy and that is why we have embarked on this assignment even without being sent.
“We Yorubas must unite ourselves to realise this and not make ourselves tools in the hands of those who might be willing to divide us against ourselves. SWAGA is well known to almost everyone in the country, including those from other parts who have declared support for the movement.”