Ooni: I knelt before Obasanjo for prayers

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, has revealed the role former President Olusegun Obasanjo played in his ascendance to the prestigious throne.

Speaking when he visited Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Ogunwusi said before he was crowned as a king, he knelt down before the elder statesman for prayers.

He described the Nigerian leader as a pillar of support, saying he will continue to get close to the ex-president.

The monarch also appealed to Obasanjo, whom he described as one of the most prominent “black men” on planet earth, to speak up for the youths.

“I remember that when I was still a prince, it was this same sacred room that I knelt down before Baba and he laid his hands upon me and prayed for me in African way. And the result is what we are seeing today,” he said.

“So, for me, I cannot but get closer and closer to Baba. May he forever live long for us not only in Nigeria but to the world. I am happy to be here and I will continue to come. You are one of the foremost black men on the surface of the earth. We implore you that what we grew up to know about is preaching for the unity of this country and it is based on that we are following you so that the unity of this country is not negotiable.

“Sir, in all you do, do not forget the youth. The more we have such person like you, the better the Nigerian society would be. It is the youth that some of the bad politicians approached to cause confusion in the society. And we want to say enough is enough.

“They need someone to channel their energy into productive venture and someone like you who have seen Nigeria and who possesses an incomparable experience is what they need to motivate them to become responsible elders.”