The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has appealed to Nigeria’s Ambassador Designate to Jamaica, Belize, Haiti and Dominican Republic, Dr. Maureen Tamuno, to help reunite people of black descent scattered across the Caribbean with their kinsmen in Nigeria.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the call on Thursday at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife while playing host to Maureen who was on a courtesy visit.

The first class monarch explained that Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba race, have a lot in common with those in the Caribbean, as most of them were transported to that part of the world during the days of slavery after which they naturalised to become citizens of those countries.

In his words, “Our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean need us so much just as we need them too. Asking them back does not necessarily mean they should leave the Caribbean and start living with us permanently but there are lots of things we can do together in terms of trade and cultural exchange.”

“While considering these responsibilities, I am happy to know that our good daughter, the ambassador, is a cultured scholar who is prepared to do us proud. She understands the terrain and I am sure about her ability to perform optimally”, he added.

Earlier in her address, the Ambassador Designate revealed that her courtesy visit was beyond being ceremonial but a channel to further have first-hand information about the prestigious Yoruba culture.

“What I am seeing here is so massive and I am so overwhelmed by the display of culture. The only time I saw something like this was on television and I am impressed to find out that they exist in real life here in Ile-Ife, the source of mankind.

“One of the challenges in our quest to unite Nigerians with those in the Caribbean is the unavailability of direct flight, we had to go through some countries which is unusually stressful and expensive. However, I am glad to inform you that the impediment has been removed as we now have direct flights from here to that part of the world.

“We already have Nigerians doing well in the Caribbean, in fact the Nigerian-Jamaican president is a Yoruba man and a host of others”, Dr. Maureen stated.

Fifteen persons have reportedly lost their lives and many still missing in a boat capsized in Tijana, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

BLENKAS gathered the boat capsized happened at about 6:00 pm on Saturday when the villagers were returning from a local market in Zumba, Shiroro Local Government area of the State.

Confirming the incident, the Snarkin Kasuwan (Head of the Market) of Zumba, Mallam Adamu Ahmed stated that the local boat was conveying over 60 people, including women and children when it capsized.

He told BLENKAS that the capsized was as a result of a heavy windstorm that occurred in the area yesterday.

He explained that about 17 villagers have so far been rescued alive through the efforts of local divers who saved their lives immediately the incident was reported, while many are still missing.

According to him, the local divers defied the heavy downpour to search and rescue victims, adding that help was yet to come from the government.

Among the victims were some returnees who had earlier fled their ancestral homes with their children following bandits attacks in the area.

It would be recalled that a similar boat accident occurred in 2017, which claimed over 13 lives when a boat carrying about 30 people, capsized midway into their journey to the same Zumba market.