KEY POINTS
- Ooni appeals to sacked workers to be patient with Tinubu-administration despite hardships in the country.
- Monarch retreats to pray for Nigeria prior to the commencement of Olojo festival.
- It has been revealed that the Ooni will wear the sacred Crown of Oduduwa in the coming Olojo festival.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The monarch made this appeal as he was set to go into a one week prayer and fasting in Preparation for Olojo Festival in which he offers pray for Nigeria.
In his response on Monday when interviewed by his media assistant, Moses Olafare, Ooni Ogunwusi was emphatic that the period of seclusion is the most spiritual within his reign.
At this time the Ooni consults with his forefathers asking for blessings and good fortune of the people, hoping that the current economic crisis in the country will not prevail.
Ooni’s call for patience
Yakubu said the monarch has recognised and accepted the hardships that Nigerians are going through but advised the youth and citizens to exercise patience and refrain from doing anything that would harm Nigeria.
“I realise that people are going through phases that are not very friendly, where life does not come out easy and indeed it is a phase that is very tough,” Ooni said. He said he hopes for the situation to get better in the country after the celebrations of Olojo Festival.
This seclusion is performed before the olojo festival
The seclusion of the Ooni is part of the particular festival called Olojo and during this time the king becomes passive, praying in solitude.
According to Vanguard, This year, the seclusion occurs before the Olojo Festival, when shells of the Ooni will go out in public with the crown of Oduduwa, also referred as ‘Ade Are’ which is worn only once a year to indicate the creation of man.
Olojo Festival which is celebrated by Oba Ogunwusi, will be the ninth edition on Saturday 28th September, 2024 and the king always use the festival to pray for peace, progress and welfare of the nation.
His spiritual obligations in those years are not limited to Yoruba race alone but also pray for leaders and other people in the country.