Afenifere felicitates Ooni at 50

The leadership of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Tuesday commended the National Assembly for passing the South West Development Commission (SWDC) Bill, which they said would address the infrastructural challenges facing the southwestern states of the country.

The group welcomed the development and pledged its support for the commission when a senior member of the group, Senator Femi Okurounmu, led a delegation to celebrate with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on his 50th birthday at his palace in Ile-Ife.

Senator Okurounmu described the passage of the bill as a gateway for the rapid development of the region and called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure its success.

Speaking on behalf of the national leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, he remarked: “We commend the National Assembly for passing the bill for the South West Development Commission. We look forward to a commission that will help Yorubaland address some of the infrastructural challenges we are facing.”

He further emphasized that steps have been taken to strengthen Afenifere to better serve the interests of the Yoruba people and Nigeria as a whole. Okurounmu also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

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However, he appealed to the president to also rehabilitate other vital routes in the South West, including the Ibadan/Ife/Akure/Owo/Ado Ekiti highways, and offered prayers for the Ooni on his milestone birthday, which he described as both historic and memorable.

In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, praised Afenifere’s various interventions during critical moments in the nation’s history, noting that they had corrected many wrongs. However, he urged the group to increase its efforts in fostering unity among the Yoruba people.

“I also commend members of the group for their role in protecting Yoruba interests, and I charge you to support President Tinubu by providing him with relevant information that will help him serve the country better,” the monarch said.

The Ooni also expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for passing the South West Development Commission Bill, voicing optimism that it would bring added value to the region.