The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, has kickstarted this year’s annual Olojo Festival celebrations by embarking on a 7-day spiritual seclusion in which he will be 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.
Addressing journalists shortly before he was escorted on a procession to the ‘ILE MOLE’ ancient cult chamber located on Iremo Road in Ile-Ife, Ooni commended President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria over what he described as his sterling Pan-African speech during the 78th UN General Assembly in the USA quoting him thus: “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.”
Ooni called on Africans worldwide to unite and be peaceful for the development and desired economic liberation. He urged relevant stakeholders in Africa to prioritize the unity of the African continent. He said that “pan Africanism is non-negotiable”.
His words: “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 African development.
“For the past 8 years that I’ve 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, who lamented the suffering and hardship in Nigeria, said there was a need for the ancestors to step in so that the administration of President Tinubu, would 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 and 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 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 said.
The Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide who 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. He said that the large turnout of the Afro-Brasilians and other Africans in diaspora was an attestation that Olojo festival is indeed a rallying point for connecting the Africans together.
Ooni Ogunwusi who 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.
