By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Obaleesun of Ile-Ife in Osun State, Oba Olaolu Oladotun Dada has called on all Yorubas to ensure that all the artifacts were not exposed to destruction.
The Obaleesun made this known during the celebration of Orisa Week Day held at Obatala Temple in Ile-Ife, Osun State on Sunday.
According to him, “It is now time for Yoruba’s to protect the symbols of our cultural heritage and if we should showcase half of what is bequeathed to us by our forefathers, the race would be celebrated as one of the fore-runners of civilization in the entire world”.
Speaking on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Adewoye Ogunwusi-Ojaja II as he clocks one year on the throne in December, Obaleesun said, it is what the famous monarch has been doing since he assumed the palace by ensuring that Yoruba race is at the limelight of the world globally and ensure adequate protection of our heritage.
Obaleesun who is also the Arole Obatala Agbaye described the Ooni as God-chosen monarch not only for Ile-Ife land but for the entire Yoruba race.
“Ooni is not an Oba, he is an Orisa (deity), he has the authority to loose, to bind and no monarch is equivalent to him as he has been ordained by the Almighty”, he said.
He said: “Oba Ogunwusi has turn around the fortunes of the entire Ile-Ife in the last one year. Ooni has constructed about six good roads in the ancient community, renovation of the temples, he paid royal visit to Yoruba monarchs which had never happened in the history of Ife searching for unity and love among the traditional rulers. He also travelled to the United States of America, USA, meeting President Barack Obama, I was opportune to be part of his entourage then.”
Oba Dada, who highly commended the Ooni for empowering all and sundry in the town said, with what the monarch has done within one year in the town is like he has spent hundreds years on the throne, adding that, very soon Ile-Ife would turn to a Mega City.
Obaleesun further noted that, Ile-Ife community would soon turn to a food basket of the state with the efforts of the Ooni on agricultural development adding that, he has embarked on 500 hectares of land for the plantation of palm kernel and another 1000 hectares of land for Cocoa plantation while construction of Olokun Estate is also ongoing in the ancient community among others.
Obaleesun however called on the residents of the town both at home and in diaspora to join hands with the Ooni in his efforts to uplift Ile-Ife and entire Yoruba race above others.
