The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says there is the need for Nigerians irrespective of tribe and tongue to unite and embrace peace.
Ogunwusi stated this at the “Conference on African Origins,’’ held on Wednesday at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
The Ooni advised traditional leaders to put aside supremacy and work together for the common good of the people and generations yet unborn.
He said: “We have a lot of similarities in our culture, heritage and tradition. We have common ancestral background which is evident in our history.
“Let us all come together for the sake of unity and the generation yet unborn because united we stand, divided we fall.”
Ogunwusi said that Nigerians should begin to look inward and think primarily on how to move the country as a whole to another level.
He said: “We cannot continue to be divided; we are killing ourselves. Enough is enough.”
The Ooni said that as a nation, it was critical for us to know our history, saying that no nation in the world had grown without the heritage, tradition and culture of that nation.
Ogunwusi said: “If you look at every European country, you will see a cross sign in all their flags. They believe so much in their core heritage.
“So, what are we standing for? What do we believe in? Are we going to continue to divide ourselves? It will not pay any of us.”
The Jaja of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, said he was impressed because the conference would encourage people to look back at history in trying to find out their roots and origin.
Jaja said: “This is the best thing we can do. No one can talk about our history better than us.
“It is clear that the historians who came into Nigeria came with a purpose to promote their own identity and play down ours.
“Promoting our culture is the best thing that we are doing now.”
Jaja also appealed to the Federal Government to encourage the teaching of history in elementary schools pointing out that a country without history would go nowhere.
Dr Michael Oboni, Attah of Igala, said that the conference was an indication of the beginning of progress for the black race.
Oboni said: “This is the beginning of the beginning for us as black people.
“We did not converge at this part of the world called the Niger area by chance. Something attracted us to it and that thing should be looked into.
“The colonialsts came and distorted our way of life and since then we have remained divided.”
Oboni said that he was happy that we as a people are beginning to retrace our steps saying “It is better late than never’’.
The Attah said that he was elated with the outcome of the conference and appealed to the organisers to make it more frequent every year.
He said: “This conference is fit for the survival of the black man and it should be held regularly because our salvation lies in this conference.
“It will help us see what we have in common and when we project it, this knowledge will make us whole.”
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