By Jeleel Olawale
The Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Cooperative and Empowerment, Honourable Durojaye Isaac Kolawole has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and people of Ile-Ife on the 2023 Olojo festival.
Durojaye in a congratulatory message, saluted Ooni for witnessing another Olojo festival on earth, described Olojo as an important traditional festival in Ile-Ife which is an annual festival celebrated every year.
According to him, It is the day all the creation converged and the melting point is the sacred Aree crown. It is the creation that brought about the entire world.This festival is sacred and spiritual.
He said Olojo festival is meant to appease the ancestors so that they will grant the Ooni and his subjects more life and good health.
“This festival is celebrated as a remembrance of a day in the year which the creator of the world blessed, and lots of prayers and sacrifices have been performed to appease to gods.”
He charged Ooni to continue to promote and preserve their cultural heritage, saying that the culture of the people is the identity which gives them recognition.
Durojaye expressed delight that the people of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba have been so passionate and committed to the preservation of cultural heritage.
“For a society to be societal, it must be cultural. Society and culture are also intertwined. The culture and tradition of people are their identities as it affords them due recognition.
“It is their underlying distinguishing factor from other peoples and cultures. In fact, all societies across the globe have various and divergent cultures which they cherish and practice,” he said.
Durojaye added that Olojo festival is a festival which afforded Yoruba people the opportunity to showcase their God-given cultural heritage. He also congratulated the people of Ife for the success of the festival.
“Olojo festival is promoting our culture and tradition to the whole world. The festival has shown to the whole world that Yoruba culture is very rich.”
He thanked Ooni for relative peace the ancient city and its environs is witnessing, stressing that Oba Ogunwusi’s style of traditional administration has successfully brought unprecedented peace and economic stability to the ancient city of Ile-Ife and its environs,”Durojaye declared.
The Special Adviser wished Ooni long life, successful reign and celebrate more of Olojo Festival in good health and abundance.
He admonished residents and indigenes of the ancient city to continue in their prayers and cooperation with Ooni Ogunwusi.
Hon. Durojaye charged the Federal and state governments to create constitutional roles for traditional institutions to ensure sustainable peace and progress in the country.