The 5th Coronation Anniversary Speech

Itsẹkiri dede mo kin Aghan, Ẹnẹ mu uyiri biri uranran, gb’Oritse, ni uṣẹ́ to owinọ ṣé gb’ẹnẹ ni odon tò boghọ. Ò ṣé aninọ ẹnẹ, Ò ṣ’ọgbara, Ò ṣ’ayẹ, Omi, è boghọ-ẹnẹ, Alẹ, è gb’ẹnẹ fẹ́ mi, Afẹrẹ ori fi, è kwa-ẹnẹ, kẹnikẹ dẹ, Oritse to mu Itsẹkiri kpé ẹnẹ, ò yọ ẹnẹ kuri urun’ghan wé dede, Onuwé, inọ mi kon biri ọyọ, Kẹnikẹ dẹ, ọfọ mi è wa yé.

Protocols.

We are deeply inspired by the kindness that God has shown us, which calls for all of us to reunite, rally around the Crown and the greater purpose we have been entrusted with. These moves have been laudable and must continue to lay the right foundations that will stand the test of time—sure foundations that can serve future generations.

The journey before us is noble yet demanding, one that requires not only goodwill and enthusiasm but also the wisdom, capacity, commitment and collective strength to fulfil the God-given responsibilities before us.

We cannot allow past distances to prevent future unity; we must rightly build bridges where necessary and not walls. Our strength is not found in the numbers we exclude, but rather in the multitude that can be inspired, empowered and brought together for a common purpose. It is in unity that we embrace one another and move forward together courageously. The Crown is not merely an ornament; it is a carried responsibility to be stewarded, a legacy to be protected and a purpose to be fulfilled together. Let us remain united and rally around the Crown.

Mindset Change

Throughout this week, we have displayed our rich and diverse cultures founded on strong traditions and beliefs.

Culture is the way we do things. Looking at time like a river: when a river is stretched, we can locate where it starts, the process of its growth and where it ends. Therefore, our way of doing things, when viewed in the light of the past, the present and the future, takes on a whole new meaning. Culture is not merely an outward expression; it must be anchored on eternal principles that help us evolve as a people in this ever-changing world. We are who we are because of what we believe, what we accept and what we celebrate.

The way our ancestors did things in the past is what has become our tradition. These traditions from the past have become our history, which is now behind us. Our present way of doing things is what determines our future.

The time is now for us to properly examine our present circumstances and make decisions we believe will result in a better and brighter future for our people. This generation inherited traditions, history and a legacy of a proud, rich heritage. God, in His omniscience, does not allow any man to go back in time to make amends.

This means we cannot change the facts of our history, change past traditions or rewrite our past. While we cannot change our past or deny the reality of the present, it is this same God who gives us the power to shape the future in the way we want it.

If our future is to be different from our past or even our present, then the way we do things must be different from the way we did things.

If our future will be different from our past, our traditions must evolve into a culture that helps us create our future.

If the future we want for our children will be different from the history of our forefathers, then we as a people must evolve our tradition into a culture that will better serve us and our children in the future.