Ooni lauds Brazilian President, pledges African support

…As Brazilian Minister appreciates Ooni

Jeleel Olawale

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has lauded the new President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva, for his love for the African people and his vow to integrate Afro-Brazilians in the inner system of his government, saying this will be unprecedented in the lives of Afro-Brazilians for which the Africans will give his government unflinching support.

Ooni, who is the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) made this assertion during the inauguration of the President at Brasilia, Brazil’s capital on Sunday.

Oba Adeyeye, who was represented by a 4-man delegation led by his Director of Media & Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, addressed Brazilians and world media at the occasion.

“His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife is delighted to have been invited to this epoch event for the inauguration of president LULA, who is our in-law in Africa. The Ooni of Ife who represents the African monarchy which is the world’s oldest monarchy would have been here himself but because today coincides with some Oduduwa Festival activities in Ile-Ife, the cradle of mankind, he decided to send us here,” Otunba Olafare said.

On the significance of the emergence of Lula, Olafare praised the new Brazilian leader for his pan-African speech in which he vowed to work for the masses, the African Brazilians, and productively partner with the African continent for development, especially in the area of cultural tourism and traditional religion.

“Well, the new president is a man of the masses, he’s a lover of Africa and as you may have heard him in his inaugural address here today, he has the plan to engage in productive partnership with the African continent and ensure adequate participation of the African Brazilians in his government administration.

“This, to us, is very significant, don’t forget that Africans represent not less than 60 per cent of the population in Brazil, so, if that’s what he has come to do, then, the entire African people worldwide will support him, if the government is about the masses here, it means that government is for Africa.

“Of course, Lula has always been one of us in Africa, that’s why you see that the continent is well represented here today; Angola, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and the rest.

“We are also here as a royal delegation representing the African monarchy which is the oldest monarchy in the world to identify with Brazil, particularly the LULA’s presidency which promises to focus on the masses and African partnership, and we are in tune with that,” Olafare said.

Olafare earlier held a meeting with two Federal Legislators who were members of President LULA’s inauguration committee; Hon. Regiment Luiz Otoni Santa Barbara, representing the State of Rio de Janeiro, Promoter of Twin City Law between Rio & Ile-Ife, and Hon. João Miguel representing Minas Gerais State at the National Assembly in Brasilia before leading the Ooni’s delegation to the venue of President Lula’s inauguration ceremony.

Accompanied by the House of Oduduwa’s Ambassador to Brazil & South America, Mr. Ajoyemi Osunleye, Ooni’s Liaison Officer in Brazil, Carolina Maira Morais, and Emese Seun Arasanmi, bearer of the Ooni’s Symbolic Royal Staffstick.

Similarly, Professor Silvio de Almeida who was inaugurated as Minister of Human Rights & Citizenship of Brazil appreciated Ooni for attending the swearing-in ceremony.

“Oh, my God! You were sent by my home continent to witness my swearing-in ceremony as Brazilian Minister in charge of human rights and citizenship. This indeed is the greatest of all the gifts I’ve gotten today.

“Please tell our people back home that President Lula is a Pan-Africanist who is ready to support Africa. Please tell them that he has now made one of them the minister in charge of human rights and citizenship and please assure the King, Ooni of Ife.

“I will not let him and my home continent down as I will use the necessary constitutional power given me by my President to protect the rights of our people and protect our traditional religions just the same way the rights of all peoples of Brazil and their respective religions will be adequately protected,” the Minister said.