The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has congratulated His Royal Majesty, Oba Mayowa Aroloye, on his emergence as the new Owa of Idanre Kingdom in Ondo State, praying for a successful reign and offering ancestral blessings as the monarch prepares to assume the responsibilities of the revered traditional stool.
The congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Sodiq Lawal, Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, on behalf of Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs.
Ooni Ogunwusi, who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), described the emergence of Oba Aroloye as an important development for Idanre, expressing optimism that his reign would bring renewed peace, unity, progress and development to the kingdom.
The Ooni, also the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), emphasised the importance of traditional institutions in preserving the cultural heritage, values and identity of the Yoruba people. He urged royal fathers to sustain their contributions to peaceful coexistence, community development and the preservation of indigenous traditions.
He further expressed confidence in the new Owa’s ability to provide purposeful leadership, introduce progressive approaches to traditional administration and sustain the historical legacy of his forebears.
Beyond his congratulatory message, the Ooni offered prayers for divine guidance, wisdom, sound health and the strength to discharge the responsibilities of the throne. He also stressed the need for greater unity and collaboration among traditional rulers across Yorubaland as a means of strengthening the traditional institution and advancing the collective interests of the Yoruba race.
Welcoming Oba Aroloye into the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, both under his leadership, Ooni Ogunwusi wished the monarch a peaceful and fulfilling reign, praying that his tenure would bring prosperity and lasting benefits to the people of Idanre.
Idanre shares historical and ancestral ties with Ile-Ife, with accounts tracing the establishment of the ancient settlement to a prince who migrated from the cradle of Yoruba civilisation. Historically associated with the name Ufe Oke or Ife Oke, meaning ‘Ife on the hills’, Idanre’s origins reflect its connection to the wider historical heritage of the Yoruba people.
The Owa of Idanre also occupies a place in the history of the traditional institution’s recognition during the colonial era. The stool was among the 51 Yoruba traditional monarchies reportedly recommended by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, to the British colonial administration in the mid-1930s, following a request from the then colonial government.
Oba Mayowa Aroloye’s emergence thus marks a new chapter in the history of the Idanre traditional institution, with expectations surrounding his leadership and the continued preservation of the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
