-Adewale Adetoyese
Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has described the Arole Oodua, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, as a royal ally and a critical face of his administration’s tourism expedition.
Governor Oyetola made this known on Saturday, while joining thousands of natives, tourists and dignitaries at the Ile Oduduwa Palace of Ile-Ife, to celebrate the 2020 edition of Olojo festival.
“We are happy to have an Ooni who shares our dream that Olojo Festival should be of tourist and commercial values and not a mere avenue for celebrations and merrymaking.
“Ooni is our Royal ally and a critical face of our tourism expedition. He has been involved in our journey towards making tourism an essential component of the economic transformation of Osun by making his resources and influence across the world available to us. We appreciate his efforts at making the culture and traditions of The Source core paraphernalia of our tourism endeavours.
“We cannot but put on record his fatherly role at building bridges among the royal fathers in the State and the nation and ensuring peace in Ile-Ife in particular.” Mr. Oyetola said.
The Governor who aligned with the objective claim of Ile-ife’s status as the source and the cradle of the Yoruba and the Black race, stressed that Olojo festival therefore historically marks the celebration of the creation of the World.
“The festival is a means of supplication and thanksgiving to the Almighty but also a way of creating a bond with the Creator.”, Oyetola noted.
The Governor explained that his administration has concluded plans to establish a unique and World Class edifice – the Yoruba Museums And Heritage Centre – to showcase our unique culture, tradition, heritage and experiences to the globe and create a huge market for the State. This he said is in his administration’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba roots, Ile-Ife.
The event, which climaxed with the Ooni adorning the ‘Are’ crown and making the symbolic trip to Oke Mogun, was witnessed by guests including Erelu Abiola Dosumu; the lawmaker representing Ife Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Taofeek Ajilesoro; a former House of Representatives member, Rotimi Makinde, traditional rulers from Nigeria and Benin Republic, traditionalists, students and culture promoters.
The Arole Oduduwa had on Friday night returned from the seven days seclusion exercise which he embarked upon as part of the festival, which he described as a core spiritual exercise strictly for fasting and prayers for his subjects, the Yoruba race and the entire humanity.
See some beautiful pictures from event below,
