BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has said the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and 2023 general elections would top his prayer requests as he embarked on his annual 7-day seclusion rite for Olojo festival.
Ogunwusi said he would use the spiritual period of seclusion as a point of contact to God Almighty towards resolving the challenges tye nation was confronting.
The monarch urged the government to end the strike to avert the looming anger of Nigerian youths, adding that, “the youths are angry and no one can blame them for that. Just imagine the number of months they have been kept out of school, ASUU and government must unite and end this because we cannot handle the anger of the youths if they go out of control.
“They have started blocking highways and even threatening to lock airports, that is an indication that they have been pushed to the wall.
“This is my seventh year on the throne and I have been serving humanity with special focus on the youths of our country. Apart from investing hugely in human capital development and capacity building, I have engaged many of the youths as handlers of my firms and they have shown excellence in leadership. So, I appeal to our government to look at this direction and make the necessary amendment.
“Next year’s election is equally another strong prayer request with which I am proceeding into seclusion. I am praying that the process goes seamlessly acceptable to all for peace and prosperity of our land.”
Explaining the potency of the seclusion exercise, the Ooni who would be incommunicado and desist from granting audience within the days in seclusion said, “there has never been time my prayer requests during seclusion is not answered by the Almighty, it has never happened. It is a period of fasting and prayer to appease God and seek blessings for our land.
Olojo festival connotes a strong indication of God’s creation and the day of the first dawn on earth. It is celebrated annually in Ile-Ife by all descendants of Oduduwa, globally.
