President John Dramani Mahama has been installed as the Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
Yesterday’s event at the ancient palace in Ile-Ife in Nigeria, the revered cradle of Yoruba civilisation, drew traditional rulers, diplomats, and political leaders from across West Africa, highlighting the enduring Ghana-Nigeria bonds.
Conferring the title, which denotes a high-ranking cultural ambassador of the Source, the Ooni described President Mahama as “a bridge-builder and a symbol of African unity”, recognising his commitment to Pan-African cooperation.
Accepting the honour, President Mahama stated: “I receive this chieftaincy title on behalf of all the people of Ghana. It is a further cementing of the historic bond between the people of Ghana and the people of Nigeria”.
He reflected on the steadfast personal fellowship extended by the Ooni during his political interlude, stating that “When I lost the elections in 2016, many people disappeared. But His Imperial Majesty never broke his friendship with me”.
President Mahama said a subsequent visit to the palace’s sacred quarters carried a profound personal reassurance: “‘Go, you will reclaim your seat.’ Truly, in 2024, I was re-elected as President”.
On regional solidarity, he affirmed that “when Nigeria prospers, Ghana prospers; and when Ghana prospers, Nigeria prospers. We are like twins of the same mother, except when we are playing football or debating who makes the better jollof”.
Addressing contemporary regional challenges, President Mahama directly commented on the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
“I do not believe this development should deter us,” he asserted, urging continued dialogue.
“Instead of ostracising our brothers, we must continue to build bridges between ECOWAS and our brothers in the Sahel, because our destinies are tied together,” he said.
He illustrated the imperative for collective security with a Ghanaian proverb: “In Ghana, we say that when there is fire burning in your neighbour’s house, you take water and help to quench it.
If you stand by and allow your neighbour’s house to burn down, the fire will eventually spread to your own house”.
President Mahama called for sustained diplomatic engagement to encourage the reintegration of the AES nations, stating that it was the only path to “lasting peace, stability and shared prosperity for our people”.
He dedicated the honour to Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as “an elder brother” and “a source of inspiration and steadfast friendship”.
info@businessghana.com
