The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has explained why he will not be attending the coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, scheduled for Friday this week.
Ooni Ogunwusi, who on Sunday commenced his seven-day seclusion in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of the traditional rites of the annual Olojo Festival, said the spiritual exercise coincides with the coronation ceremony.
He, however, visited the Olubadan-designate earlier in Ibadan to show solidarity and extend his goodwill.
Speaking in Ibadan, the monarch, who also serves as Permanent Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), described his visit as a show of love for the people of Ibadan.
He expressed regret over his unavoidable absence at the coronation but assured the Olubadan and his people of his continued support.
The Ooni was warmly received by a mammoth crowd, including Mogajis, traditional chiefs, and other monarchs. Oba Ladoja, visibly delighted, commended the Ooniโs personal sacrifices in promoting unity among Yoruba monarchs and the larger Oduduwa race worldwide.
Meanwhile, in Ile-Ife, Ooni Ogunwusi began his annual spiritual retreat, known as seclusion, ahead of the Olojo Festival.
The week-long period is dedicated to meditation, prayer, and spiritual purification. According to him, this yearโs seclusion is devoted to seeking divine blessings for Nigeriaโs peace, unity, and sustainable progress.
The Olojo Festival, meaning โthe Day of the First Dawn,โ is one of the oldest Yoruba cultural festivals. It marks the day the Almighty created the earth and symbolizes creation, renewal, and the spiritual authority of Ile-Ife as the cradle of mankind.
Before entering seclusion, the Ooni prayed for Nigerians across all regions, urging unity, peace, tolerance, and love.
He stressed that the nationโs diversity should be seen as its greatest strength and called on political leaders to prioritise fairness, justice, and the welfare of the people.
โI am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek Godโs mercy upon this land. May we all experience peace, unity, progress, and the blessings of the Almighty. To the sons and daughters of Oduduwa everywhere, I urge you: be peaceful, be united, and let us work together for progress,โ the monarch declared.
He added that without peace and tolerance, Nigeria would remain divided and underdeveloped, emphasizing the moral duty of traditional rulers to guide their people spiritually and culturally.
The seven-day seclusion, he explained, is a sacred responsibility that links him with the divine and his ancestors, empowering him to intercede for his people and the nation. It also prepares him for the climax of the Olojo Festival, when he will appear wearing the sacred Aare crown, believed to be the original crown of Oduduwa.
During the festival, the Ooni leads ancestral rites and prayers at historic sites in Ile-Ife, reinforcing the cityโs place as the spiritual heart of the Yoruba people and uniting indigenes and visitors in cultural pride.
Oba Ladoja, in his response during the Ibadan visit, praised the Ooni as a mentor with valuable experience, noting that people look up to traditional rulers not just for leadership but for inspiration and protection.
He urged other monarchs to emulate the Ooniโs commitment to unity, saying cultural institutions must be strengthened above divisive tendencies.
