Olojo festival: Pan Africanism is non-negotiable — Ooni
By Jeleel Olawale
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has called on stakeholders in Africa to prioritise the unity of the African continent, saying pan Africanism is non-negotiable.
Ooni made the call while speaking with journalists in his palace on Sunday in preparation for seclusion as part of Olojo rite.
He said that stakeholders should not be deprived of Pan African movement and behaviour should be very apt.
Ooni called on African continent to unite and be peaceful for the development of its citizenry.
“Pan African movement is not negotiable as this is a way out for us in Africa, for the unity of African continent as this must be paramount to all of us.
“I will use the medium to pray for African Unity and movement, for actualisation of Pan Africanism. We therefore as stakeholders must play our roles to ensure that Africa as a continent speaks in unity,” he stated.
Ooni emphasised that Nigeria needs spiritual intervention at this time of economy downturn, adding that he would utilise this period to pray for way out at the seclusion.
“I will pray for the unity of Africa. Things are very hard. We all know the economic challenges that people are facing.
“This is the time we need spiritual and divine intervention. My annual OLOJO seclusion. This is how my ancestors have been doing it. We should pray very well because things are very hard. We all know the state of the economy. It is a sensitive thing that needs prayer which should not go out of hand.
“I will pray for this government for divine intervention because all of us must be patient with Bola Ahmed Tinubu to turn things around because expectations are so high and everywhere is tense.
“I will pray for our leaders in the seclusion because it is an annual routine event and there is nothing I prayed for that God has not answered over the past eight years since I ascended the throne,” he declared.
He said: “As I am going into seclusion, I will talk to my creator and my ancestors for things to be better. I want to appeal to our government to be more sensitive to the plight of people. The palliative is not getting across board.”
Ooni said he would pray for Nigeria to be more united, excel and prosper, on the continent as well as in the world, adding that African unity is the only way forward and to “see ourselves as partners in the global picture of things.”
Oba Ogunwusi charged all and sundry to support the President so as to move the nation forward and to be more united.
