Ooni of Ife Appeals for Patience Amid Hardship as He Enters Seven-Day Seclusion to Communicate with ‘Spirits’
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a prominent monarch in the South-West region of Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to remain patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration as the nation faces challenging times. The Ooni made this call ahead of his seven-day seclusion, a traditional rite during which he will pray and communicate with the ancestors to seek divine intervention for Nigeria.
Expressing concern over the economic hardship faced by many citizens, Oba Ogunwusi acknowledged the current difficulties as a testing period for the nation. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Moses Olafare, the Ooni explained that the seclusion is a sacred moment for him, where he interacts with his ancestors and prays for the well-being of the Nigerian people, the Oduduwa race, and humanity at large.
The statement read, “This time around, I want to pray and seek the face of our Creator to intervene in the current economic situation. Things are very tough, and people are feeling the hardship. I want to pray for everyone, especially the youth, urging them to exercise patience so that we do not destroy our country with our own hands.”
The Ooni also expressed optimism, saying, “I know that people are going through difficult times, and truly this is a challenging period. But I believe that after this festival, normalcy will return to the country, and the problems we’re facing will soon come to an end.” He further called on the Tinubu administration to enhance its efforts to provide the benefits of democracy to the citizens.
Olafare noted that the seclusion precedes the annual Olojo festival, a period marked by silence, reflection, and spiritual cleansing, allowing the Ooni to withdraw from human distractions and focus on divine communication. During this time, the Ooni undertakes solemn prayers and offerings, seeking peace, prosperity, and protection for the entire nation, beyond just the Yoruba race.
The Ooni will celebrate the 9th edition of the Olojo festival on Saturday, September 28, when he will appear publicly wearing the sacred Crown of Oduduwa, known as ‘Ade Are,’ which is worn only once a year to commemorate the creation of mankind, according to Olafare.
