By Teniola Blessing.
Oba Olatunji Olatunde, the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti in Ayekire Local Community Development Area, Ekiti State, has organised a special traditional prayer session to mark the Seventh Coronation Anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
The traditional ruler, who led a seven-hour traditional prayer session in his palace on Wednesday, described Oba Ogunwusi as a re-incarnation of Oduduwa — the progenitor of Oduduwa race.
“The Ooni deserves special prayer session on his Seventh Coronation anniversary because of his mission on the throne for the Yoruba race.
“He has been divinely saddled by his creator to create and plant wonderful, incredible, amazing, terrific, extraordinary and many other positive things that will stun the sensibility of many.
“Thus, he needs prayers for total accomplishment, fulfilment and appreciation particularly on his seven years reign on the throne of his forefathers,” the Onimesi said.
Oba Olatunde in an interview with newsmen after the prayer session in his palace, said that the traditional prayer session held from noon to 7:00 p.m. was part of the activities to mark Ooni’s Seventh Coronation Anniversary.
He described the timing for the prayer as a perfect number which is significant in traditional and spiritual platforms.
“Ooni Ogunwusi is an enigmatic being whose conception, birth, name, strides in life, emergence as Ooni, act, deeds, pronouncements, body language and gait are spiritual, sacred, strange, weird and full of characterisation of the historic Oduduwa.
“Hence, his Seventh Coronation Anniversary deserves special traditional prayers,” Onimesi said.
He noted that Oba Oguwusi’s seven years on the throne have been spectacularly historic, legendary and full of landmarks never witnessed in Ile-Ife and Yoruba race.
He said that the Ooni has brought unprecedented peace and blossoming relationship within the traditional institution in Yorubaland, and had laid to rest the tussle for superiority among the sons of Oduduwa.
“He has within seven years normalise and stabilise the relationship between Ile-Ife and its neighbours thereby instilling a sustainable alliance based on trust, genuine love, friendship and symbiotic relationship.
“Ooni has also within seven years travelled all over the world to re-establish and re-unite with sons and daughters of Oduduwa race in Diaspora and also spread his royal tentacles within Africa to re-integrate Oduduwa offsprings back to the source – Ile- Ife,” he said.
The Onimesi said that he decided to organise a seven-hour traditional prayer session for the Ooni to mark his seven years on the throne, noting that henceforth the prayer session would become an annual event.
“It is in tandem with my relationship with the Ooni of Ife, who has a glowing interest for the development of Imesi-Ekiti, the original homes of all the Imesi in the world,” the traditional ruler stated.
He prayed God to accept the prayer and grant the Ooni long life in good health and tremendous prosperity.