Ooni Goes Into Seclusion To Herald Olojo Festival
Written by News Desk on September 22, 2025
Spiritual exercise to usher in the prestigious annual Olojo festival in Ile-Ife has begun as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi commences seven-day seclusion, as part of the traditional rites .
A Statement by the Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace,
Ile-Ife, Otunba Moses Olafare, notes that the monarch has declared this year’s spiritual holiness to prayers for the nation.
” I am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek God’s 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.”It reads.
The statement quotes the Monarch urging Nigerians to embrace unity, peace, tolerance, and love for one another and encouraging the citizens to rise above ethnic and religious differences in achieving national goals.
The frontline Traditional Ruler called on political leaders to act responsibly, urging them to govern with fairness, justice, and compassion.
Ooni implored stakeholders particularly the traditional rulers across the length and breadth of the Oduduwa race to embrace unity as the only veritable tool for achieving these goals.
Recall that the seven-day seclusion is a period of spiritual purification during which the Ooni abstains from public appearances and engages divinity and his ancestors, enabling him to intercede for his subjects and the nation.
In another development,the Ooni of Ife has denied claims of alleged imposition of Olojo Festival levy on the People of Ile – Ife.
He explained that the Ooni had made available needed funds for the festival and volunteers had also made donations towards the successful celebration of the annual event.
“ The palace could not have and did not send anybody to commit crime in the name of Olojo festival,such individuals ought to have been arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.It is also unfortunate that the traders have not informed the palace of the extortion they face annually as they claimed. Since they can identify the people involved they should report to the police and let them face the consequences of their actions”. Statement reads.
Meanwhile, Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria ,APTAN, in a statement signed by its Coordinator and Secretary of APTAN, Ile-Ife Branch,Mr. Saidi Adegoke and Mr. Monsur Jimoh, alleged that their members had been harassed by representatives of the Palace of Ooni over refusal to pay the traditional Olojo Festival levy.
