By Akinwale Kasali
The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, has started this year’s annual Olojo Festival celebrations by embarking on a Seven Day spiritual seclusion.
The Seclusion is targeted at seeking the face of Almighty God(Olodumare) and ancestors of the land for the recovery of Nigeria’s economy and unity of the African people for prosperity.
Oba Ogunwusi, speaking at a press briefing shortly before he was escorted on a procession to the ‘ILE MOLE’ ancient cult chamber located on Iremo road in Ile-Ife, commended President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria over his sterling Pan-African speech recently during 78th United Nation, UN, General Assembly in the USA quoting him as saying, “To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”
He called on the entire African continent people worldwide to unite and be peaceful for the development and desired economic liberation.
He urged relevant stakeholders in Nigeria and Africa as a whole to prioritize the unity of the continent, saying pan Africanism is non-negotiable.
“President Bola Tinubu spoke very creditably well as a true Pan-African leader during the 78 edition of the UN General Assembly. I also respect Presidents Yoweri Museveni and William Ruto of Uganda and Kenya respectively for always consistently standing for Africa. I have met with them and we have always discussed Africa development.
“For the past 8 years that I been on the throne of Oduduwa, anytime I go into seclusion, there is nothing I ask the ancestors that doesn’t come into fulfillment. Therefore, I can rest assured that this time around, the actualization of Pan-Africanism will come to reality. “Ooni said.
Ooni lamented the suffering and hardship in Nigeria said there is a need for the ancestors to step in so that the administration of President Tinubu, will be the renewed hope in terms of friendly economic palliatives for the poor masses, good roads, uninterrupted power supply, affordable education, employment opportunities, and above all, actualization of the ideological oneness that all sundry in Africa have been hoping for.
He charged government at all levels to be more sensitive to the plight of the people, also urging all and sundry to support the president so as to move the nation forward for stable national security and economic advancement.
“I will pray for the unity of Africa. Things are very hard. We all know the economic challenges that people are facing.
“The issue of restiveness of our youths would not go beyond control, before this are sensitive issues that we need to address before it goes out of hand.
“My prayer also would be to pray for divine intervention for the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to turn things right because expectations of people are so high”, Ooni stated
The Monarch who is also the Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, and doubles as Co-chairman, National Council Of Traditional Rulers Of Nigeria (NCTRN) praised President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil for his love for Africa saying the large turnout of the Afro-Brasilians and other diaspora Africans is an attestation that Olojo festival.is indeed a rallying point for connecting the Africans together.
It would be recalled that the Ooni was earlier this year hosted by the Brazilian President to unveil the African Religion ISESE Day in Brasilia, Brazil has also been hosted in recognition of his Pan-African initiative by several African leaders like President John Mahama of Ghana and King of Kumasi, Asantene Osei Tutu in 2016, President Ruto of Kenya in March this year and President Museveni of Uganda barely a month ago.
