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The Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) was on Sunday honoured by the Methodist Church of Nigeria with a distinguished award of extraordinary Ambassador of Peace.
Ooni Ogunwusi was at the Cathedral church of Methodist Nigeria Oyo, venue of the event, in company of his beautiful queen Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi(Yeyelua) and a retinue of traditional rulers and chiefs.
received the award alongside the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who was also honoured with the same award.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was honoured with Heroic Leadership Award.
While receiving the award, the Ooni sang three songs of praise to appreciate God’s love and also thanked the Methodist Church for the honour.
He then emphasised that the unity and peace being enjoyed among leading Yoruba monarchs and all black nations is real and would be sustained in whatever it takes. He therefore preached love, tolerance, respect and fear of God as factors of the lasting peace.
He said:
“Yoruba people and black nation are blessed with the array of traditional rulers in Yoruba land because their is now an existing love and unity in our midst. God loves Yoruba nation and that is why I will always appreciate God for the lasting peace he has brought to the Yorubaland. I can assure all nations of the world that we shall live up to the expectations of the award given unto us today to make sure Yorubaland does not disintegrate”.
“Yoruba and black nations is blessed with the array of traditional rulers in Yoruba land because their is an existing love and unity”
The award was in commemoration of the 3rd service of award of Progressive Association in Christ (Egbe Olarewaju) of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Oyo Circuit, Methodist Cathedral.
Oba Adeyemi said the award remains the most precious among all awards he has received in the past.
He eulogised Ooni’s effort in his peace campaign among the Yoruba nation and prayed for continuous love and piece among traditional rulers in Yoruba nation. He prayed for the leadership of Methodist church cathedral, Oyo circut, diocese of Oyo, other awardees and the entire congregation.
In his sermon earlier during the event, Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde described the Ooni and the Alaafin as excellent kings with virtuous and exemplary style of leadership. The highly respected clergyman said he was highly impressed and elated by the efforts so far made by Ooni Ogunwusi for unity and peace to reign among Yoruba monarchs. He thus charged them to continue to demonstrate the culture of humility, peace, unity and love which he described as the bedrock of progress in any progressive society.
“Ooni and Alaafin are people of history creating indelible footprint on the surface of history”, he said.
Obasanjo who got the award of Heroic leadership, was represented by his wife, Bola Obasanjo. He described the award as most prestigious.
Obasanjo concluded by advising the youth to emulate the humility and respect being enjoyed by the Ooni and Alaafin.
Other awardees are popular veteran actor Lere Paimo, Professor Olatunde Fawole Rector The polythecnic Ibadan, Iyalode of Methodist church Apaara Oyo Chief Mrs Oyebisi Animashaun among others.
