Ooni Visits Aregbesola, Lauds Him For Promoting Yoruba Values

His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II yesterday paid his first official visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Oke-Fia Government House, Osogbo.
During his visit to the Governor after his appointment and inauguration, the monarch commended the governor for promoting the Yoruba culture and ethos by adopting the Oranmiyan title.
This was even as the Governor of the state charged the traditional ruler to use his position to unite all Yoruba Sons and Daughter’s all over the world.
The monarch in a “Thank you” visit to the Governor was accompanied by traditional rulers and chiefs in Ife land commended the Governor for bringing unity to the cradle of Yorubaland.
He called on the people of the state to pay their taxes for government to be able to continue with her developmental projects in the state.
The Monarch informed the Governor that Ife and Modakeke have come together with a resolve that there will no longer be rivalry and war during his reign as the Ooni of Ife and thereafter.
He called on the Governor to support the initiative of the two communities setting up a trust fund by House of Oduduwa to assist youths and rebuild the ruins of war in the area.
Ogunwusi also added that payment of tax by residents and people of the state is the utmost thing they can do to help government, saying Ile-Ife as it stands now will not wait for government and depend solely on government for development.
He noted that the time has come for all hands to be on deck to bring Osun to a place of prosperity and abundance.
According to him, “we are all here to show our appreciation to the governor, I use this opportunity to say that our relationship will continue to grow, what we have in Ife is great to the extent that foreigners acknowledge it.
“Europeans have been to Ife and they likened us to Roman empire and other empire of the world, the time has come for all and sundry to see the greatness of Ife and Osun.
“Leaders in Ife are more closer to the people than government, I wasn’t to assure that the change and development that has come to Ife will spread across Osun. I don’t want to believe that it will be difficult for our people in Osun to pay tax, the only way we can help government is by paying tax”. The Monarch stressed.
In his own remarks the Governor â€Žurged Traditional rulers in the state to help government in educating people on the need for the payment of tax and in addition urged Cocoa farmers in the state not to sell their produce out of Osun.
Aregbesola noted that for the state to experience abundance, citizens and residents alike must be ready to fulfil their civic duties to government by promptly paying their taxes.
He emphasised that the time has come for everybody to realise that Osun has nothing serious to expect from the Federal allocation accruing to state monthly.
The Governor stated that government and citizens need to look inward for the prosperity and development of the state.
He said, “I am happy that we have all seen the need for payment of tax, thank God that our Monarchs are even joining us in the callâ€Ž for regular payment of tax.
“I want to also ask that Traditional rulers use their position to ensure that farmers are enjoined not to take their Cocoa out of the state because what we have in Osun if properly harnessed will help the economy of the state.
“We have been able to enumerate 66 million fruit bearing Cocoa trees that can to give us 330 thousand Metric tonnes as against the 18 thousand metric tonnes”. The Governor averred.
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