Ghanaian President John Mahama on Monday reminisced on the role the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), played in his re-election in 2024 after he lost the seat in 2016.
Mahama spoke in Ile-Ife, Osun State, after he was installed as the Aare Atayeto Oodua by the Ooni.
The Ghanaian President recalled that after he lost his seat in 2016, he was abandoned by many friends but Ooni stood by him.
He said shortly after Oba Adeyeye was installed, he visited the Yoruba community in Ghana, adding that as part of his itinerary, “he visited me and I received him warmly”.
He added: “Shortly after that, I went into re-election in 2016 and I lost. Most people are fair-weather friends. After I lost, to some people, I was no longer important to them. But the Ooni invited me to pay him a visit in his palace in Ile-Ife.
“Through my sister, he kept asking of when I was coming to visit him. He was persistent with it. That time, I was a nobody. I was in opposition, and yet he insisted that I should come and greet him. This is what moved me.
“So, one day, I gave a date, and when I came, he received me so warmly. During the visit, he took me to all the secret corners of the palace. When I came from the secret places, he told me that I should go and get my seat back.
“Truly, in 2024, I was re-elected as the president. I don’t take this lightly.”
Mahama said he has empathy for Nigeria and promised to strengthen the bond between Ghana/Nigeria to boost the prosperity of African nations.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
