Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has thrown his royal weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s renewed Forest Guard initiative, describing it as a bold and timely intervention to strengthen grassroots security across Nigeria.
The monarch made this known on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the President at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he also extended Eid-el-Kabir greetings.
Speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting, Oba Ogunwusi revealed that the visit also served as a debrief following his recent diplomatic engagement in Kazakhstan. “I’m here to greet Mr. President for the Sallah break and also to appreciate all the great things he’s doing for our dear country,” he said.
He shared insights from his foreign trip, noting growing international interest in Nigeria due to recent reforms. “I went to a country called Kazakhstan and came back with feedback. The good things he’s doing are opening Nigeria up to so many nations that now want to work with us,” the monarch stated.
The Ooni particularly praised the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market under Tinubu’s leadership.
“In history, there is no arbitrage again. You bring dollars to Nigeria to do business and take it out no dual exchange between the central bank and the parallel market. The world is watching us as a nation,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to support the President’s economic vision and contribute to national development. “Nation-building is a collective responsibility. We must all play our part and stay hopeful,” the monarch said.
Turning his attention to security, Oba Ogunwusi described the proposed Forest Guards initiative as a strategic move to combat insecurity and attract investment.
“We’re very happy with the Forest Guard structure and the new platform to bring in more police force to continue to comb the entire forest,” he explained.
“Once security is addressed, there will be a solid platform for investment to flow into Nigeria.”
Reiterating the importance of traditional rulers in governance, the Ooni said, “We traditional rulers should lead by example, work in tandem with the government, and give hope to our youth. This is another testimony of hope for Nigerian youth.”
He described Tinubu as “a bold president committed to a better Nigeria,” and called on Nigerians to adopt a unified outlook. “It’s about time for all of us in Nigeria to come together and look at Nigeria as a cup half full, not half empty,” the Ooni concluded.
