A former lawmaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable Rotimi Makinde has charged Yorubas home and abroad to embrace the ancient Olojo festival not just as a celebration meant for Ile-Ife descendants alone but as a pilgrimage and a major platform to connect all Yoruba sons and daughters to their source.
The former lawmaker who represented Ife Federal Constituency at the 7th Assembly made this call while addressing pressmen during the just concluded 2024 Olojo Day Celebration on Saturday.
Citing the remarkable events attached to the ancient festival, he said, “the Yoruba race is not limited to Ile-ife or Nigeria alone, we have sons and daughters with yoruba communities established all over the world.
Being an event and the only day where the ancient crown (Ade Are) of Oduduwa, the Progenitor of Yorubas is being revealed and worn by His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ile-Ife, who would have been in confinement for seven days, every Yoruba out there should see a festival like this as a pilgrimage holding a strong reference to our source”.
Makinde however congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) , Yoruba sons and daughters near and wide, for a successful 2024 edition of the ancient festival. He further eulogized the Arole Oduduwa for his earnest preservation, exhibition and promotion of the ancient Yoruba Cultural heritage as upheld by his ancestors and wished him a longer reign and celebration.
The proactive ex-lawmaker hence implored well meaning Yoruba indigenes to embrace and support the festival in their ultimate capacity that it may become a global pilgrimage as the likes of Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“Promoting this festival as a pilgrimage will not only uphold our heritage as a race but also enrich the economical stability of the hosting community, state and the nation at large”, He said.
Olojo Festival holds annually with a date only determined by the Imperial King after due consultations. Prior the grand-finale, the king is expected to be in confinement for seven days where he’s expected to commune with the world beyond, praying the ancient community, Yorubas and the nation at large.
