Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has forecasted that there will be a time when the nation will extend loans to other countries, asserting that significant prosperity awaits.
On Sunday in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Tinubu addressed attendees right after receiving the chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua during a well-attended ceremony that celebrated the 10th anniversary of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s coronation.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was joined by Nana Shettima, the vice president’s wife; ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan; Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; and Dimeji Bankole, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, at the event.
Present at the event were dignitaries such as former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, Osun State Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, and former First Lady of Osun Kafayat Oyetola.
Traditional rulers in attendance at the event included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun; and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye.
Tinubu, who commended Ooni for the title bestowed on her, further said, “Today is not a day of long speeches. I want to thank the people of Ile-Ife. I also thank the Ooni of Ile-Ife for bestowing such honor.
“Nigeria’s joy has come; for those wondering how we want to do it, we will show them how things are being done. By 2026, Nigeria will be in prosperity; we will be lending to other nations.
“It is important to say it here at the source of the Yoruba race today that during the administration of President Bola Tinubu, people will wonder how he has been able to achieve such a milestone,” she said in a mixture of Yoruba and English.
In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, stated that Oluremi Tinubu had been a supporter since his rise to the throne, highlighting the important role that former President Obasanjo has also played in supporting the throne.
In his message of goodwill, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, wished for a long reign for the Ooni, requesting prayers for the nation’s leaders to guide the people correctly.
Adeleke, speaking to the crowd, stated that Oba Ogunwusi had added elegance to royalty and revitalized the tradition, elevating Yoruba to a proud nation globally.
“Our royal father demonstrated what it means to have an empowered royal father. With strong economic footing and limitless capacity for local and global networking, His Majesty changes the narration of traditional rulership.
In the last decade, his imperial majesty has pushed ahead with the branding of Ile-Ife as the cultural capital of the Yoruba people.”
Adeleke noticed the state government would be an ally in the Ooni “as we implement that same vision of an upgraded cultural capital of Yoruba people.”
“In line with that vision, our government embarked on an infrastructure upgrade of Ile-Ife with 14 roads completed so far and several others ongoing. We are about to complete the first-ever flyover in this cradle of the Yoruba nation,” Adeleke said.
