The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has stated that the historic Ark of Noah and the Tower of Babel are still in ancient town of Ile-Ife.
He made mention of this during the official declaration of Ile-Ife as a tourism zone in his palace.
He said, “The Ark of Noah which the entire world has been searching for is in IIe-Ife. The Ark of Noah has been in existence and it is in Ife land.”
The monarch who stated that traditional culture has been going into extinction, called on Africans to come together and salvage the culture.
He maintained that the whole land of Ife is full of mystery, saying “we want to bring out the mysteries for the whole world to see.
His Imperial Majesty also stressed that the whole world is gravitating into Yoruba culture, expressed dissatisfaction over the neglect of the culture saying “we the custodians of culture do not value it.
“The bottom line is that everything started in Africa and it has been established by researchers and historians.
“Wherever in Africa the origin of man started, it’s our general asset. We have to take the continent out of the poverty that we are.
The Ooni urged the African-Americans to visit Ile Ife to discover their root just as he called on the entire world to explore the tourism potentials of the ancient town.
“We want to bring out the mysteries for the whole world to see. God thrives on mystery and every inch of Ile Ife- the land of expansion- is full of mystery. God has blessed us with some mysteries and we need to bless the world with those mysteries.
“For instance, there was a barren twin in Ife who turned herself into a river in order to bless the town. It remains the first wife of any monarch in this town. If you dare the water and fall into it deliberately, as small as it is, you will never return. But if you fall into it by mistake, it will protect you and drop you at the nearest bank of a river where your relatives can see you.
“This river is Yeyemoolu, there is nothing you ask from her that Yeyemoolu will not give you. This is another tourist attraction, a mystery river that the world can explore.”
In his remarks, the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Department Corporation, Mrs. Sally Nwechue Mbanefo, stated much of the tourism potential of Ile-Ife has remained untapped.
She stated Ile-Ife has the tendency to challenge Lagos as the capital of tourism in Nigeria, stressing that making the town a global Tourist Zone will be of advantage and assist in building an edifice for a Yoruba legend, Moremi.
Mbanefo cited Moremi, as a great heroine that should not be forgotten so soon.
Speaking at the event, the Osolo of Isolo, Akure, Regent Adebusola Abisoye Oluwatuyi applauded the move by the Ooni, describing it as one that will not only unite the black race culturally but draw the entire members of the universe to their origin.
Regent Oluwatuyi noted that the event was capable of making Ile-Ife a tourist destination and a befitting spiritual home of all the Yorubas and the world at large.