By Gabriel Omonhinmin
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II of Ga on Sunday, February 27, 2022, led a large delegation from Ghana to the Ooni of Ife palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, was on hand to welcome the king and his entourage to Nigeria and Ile-Ife. King Tsuru II of Ga, and his entourage said that the visit was a major step to retrace their roots to Ile-Ife as one the numerous children of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race world-wide.
He said the Colonial Masters’ antics resulted in the dispersing of his kingdom to far away Ghana from the Yoruba source. The King stressed that the Ga people of Ghana have their ancestral roots in Ile-Oduduwa. That after so many centuries of being away from Ile-Ife, they were now very happy to be back home to Ile-Ife at last.
The Ghanaian King explained that during the ancient times and the reign of Ife Akanulubebe, the present Ga people of Ga emanated from Aga ko from the Ilode quarters in Ile-Ife, that compound in Ile-Ife still exists up to date. He continued, while leaving Ile-Ife for Ghana, his ancestors took along with them, one of the Oduduwa crown and made sure they maintained the administrative structures that existed in Ile-Ife, long after they had left the place. These administrative structures which are similar to the Ile-Ife traditional structures still exit and are operational in Ga up till this very moment.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II of Ga, stressed that the Ga people are blessed with vast areas of land and a rich landscape, which demonstrates the Olokun’s undying spirit of affection.
The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, in his brief remarks said, that some of the Yoruba people who left Ile-Ife at the same time with the Ga people, are presently in Ethiopia and Sudan. Ooni said he was with the Yoruba people of these two countries, some years ago, when they had some challenges. During my visit to these countries, I joined our people in these places, looked at their origin, prayed and pleaded with our progenitor Oduduwa to show mercy on them, and liberate them all from servitude and bring them back to their brighter days. The Ooni of Ife, said, Olodumare deserves all the acknowledgement for listening to our prayers and brought the Ga people back to the palace of ancestors today.
The Ooni said, up till now, it is a matter of deep regret, that the colonial expeditions of old, resulted in the creation of artificial boundaries that is today regarded as the Greater Accra, the Gold Coast, whereas Nigeria is erroneously referred to as the Slave Coast. The Ooni maintained that whatever the impression created then and now, “Our historical documents and transcriptions are treasures of ancient and present African kingdoms. Today, we are all entrusted with the monumental responsibility of preserving our past. These standards are made up of numerous strands that must be protected and stored appropriately. While doing all this, our long established erudition and expertise must intellectually lead and mold their narratives, meanings, interpretations, and economic values. The Ooni concluded that no one is better at telling and interpreting our history than we the people.
