OGUNGBANGBE on Olojo Festival, Urges National Rebirth Celebrates Ooni of Ife, Ooni in-Council, bodies corporate. By ISAAC OLUSESI

Dr Thomas Ogungbangbe has charged that the good enthusiasm for Olojo festival could be deployed for national rebirth and a return to the highest values of national restraint, national brotherhood and national patriotism and make the festival grand finale official ceremony the basis of a truer and better nation.

Continuing, the quintessential icon of the Ajagbusi Ekun royal dynasty said, "since the Olojo festival is a prominent feature on the nation's cultural calendar and annually witnessed by people from all walks of life who come enthusiastically, together to feel a life of culture and tradition, Nigerians can also come together as stakeholders in the Nigerian project of rebirth, irrespective of our challenges and key into the process of rebirth."

Prince Ogungbangbe charged those who are sabotaging the government's growth and development policies, programmes and projects, do other unpatriotic things, to have a rebirth, get self restraint; and those who act in contrariness to commendable public spirited efforts at security and stability, to have a rethink towards forging genuine peace and unity.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ife/Ijesa axis of Osun State noted that the selfless desire of the Ooni of Ife, Ojaja II Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has continued to give Ifeland the much needed facelifts in the areas of kingship system and tradition, culture and tourism, mining and real estate, and agriculture and industrialization, with footprints in the New Ife City 'NIC' prospecting positive impact on the neighborhood of the most ancient town in the Yorubaland. 

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ENERGIES Group lauded efforts at blending modernity into the annual Olojo festival without causing alterations to the cultural values, practices and tradition of the festival, adding that "the harbinger is the Ooni's amiable character, integrity, humility with passion for culture, tradition and development of Yorubaland."

He described the Ooni as exceptionally brilliant and a consensus builder whose almost a decade on the throne, is hallmarked by peace, progress and unity, not only in Ile Ife but also across Yorubaland.

Still on the occasion of the Olojo festival celebration, Ogungbangbe celebrated the Ife inner and outer chiefs who sit on the right and left hand side of Ooni; _Ilu,_ the council of state; _Bale,_ the village heads; _Isoro,_the traditional priests; _Obas,_ the bead crowned kings; and the _Ajo Ife Mefa,_ the assembly of the six quarters of Ifeland, and ranked them honourable, prestigious, courageous and credible, personifying the requisite unity of Olojo festival.

He extolled other articulate and accomplished voices of the Ife people, at home and in the diaspora who have made their marks in the diverse spheres of human endeavour life, including academia, business, politics, and professionals in the public and private sectors, represented in the Ife Elders Council, Ife Action Council, National Ife Descendants Students Association, Ife Voice International Organization, Ife Development Board, Ife Youth Vanguard, and other registered bodies corporate also with the mandate to co- organize  and participate in the Olojo festival. 

Ogungbangbe applauded the entire people of Ifeland, and described all as the illustrious custodians and stabilizers of the esoteric Ife tradition.

*OLUSESI writes via* isaacolusesi@gmail.com