A profound bond between Nigeria and Ghana was celebrated in Ile-Ife on Monday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, bestowed the prestigious title of Aare Atayeto Oodua upon Ghanaian President John Mahama. During the installation ceremony, President Mahama spoke with heartfelt emotion, declaring that the role the Ooni played in his recent electoral victory would remain indelible in his memory.
Recounting the remarkable events at the palace, Mahama shared the fascinating details of how the revered monarch took him into the private, sacred chambers within the Ile-Ife palace and, following their time there, assured him unequivocally that he would reclaim the presidency of Ghana.
“When he came to visit Ghana, Ooni invited me to pay a visit to his palace in Ile-Ife. I was in opposition and he insisted that I should come,” Mahama stated at the ceremony. “When I came, he received me so warmly. He took me to all the secret corners of the palace. When I came from the secret places, he said ‘go, you will get your seat back.’ And truly in 2024, I was reelected as president. I don’t take this honour lightly.”
Mahama emphasized that the Ooni has been a genuine friend and ally, maintaining their relationship even during his time in the political opposition. He pledged to use his renewed tenure as president to strengthen the ties between the two nations. “As long as I am president I will continue to bring these two countries together. Indeed, historically we are the same people, like the Ooni said, we have people in Ghana that traced their origin to Ile-Ife,” he added, connecting the two West African nations through ancient Yoruba ancestry.
Turning to regional affairs, President Mahama acknowledged the deep challenges currently facing the sub-region, particularly mentioning the decision by three Sahel states to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He argued strongly against allowing discord to prevail, stressing that God placed the nations of the region together for a shared purpose. “I believe there should not be chaos because God put us in this region together for a purpose,” he affirmed. “I believe that instead of ostracizing them, we must build a bridge between ECOWAS and our brothers in the Sahel, because our destinies are tied together, and we shall continue to encourage them to come back into the fold.”
Finally, Mahama took a moment to commend President Bola Tinubu for the personal friendship he extended, noting that Tinubu was a source of inspiration, even when he was still in the opposition. This ceremony highlights the deep cultural and political connections that bind West Africa’s leaders.
