The Olukere of Odo-Oja, Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Obasoyin has cautioned traditional rulers and citizens in the region against the desecration of the Yoruba tradition and culture.
The traditional ruler expressed displeasure over the actions and utterances of some monarchs in the land over the celebrations of tradition and culture in the land, noting that people should be guided even in the face of civilisation.
Oba Obasoyin stated these on Tuesday while addressing newsmen as part of activities marking the 2024 annual Olosunta festival in the community.
He said, “There is one Oba that insults traditionalists and insults Yorubas that are promoting their culture and tradition. Nobody becomes an Oba with the Bible or Quran. Every Oba in Yoruba land passes through the traditional process to become an Oba. If you don’t want to perform culture and tradition, then why are you becoming an Oba.
“The whites have their culture. All these religions come from the whites, yet they have their own culture and tradition which they promote. Whoever, whether an Oba or anyone sits down anywhere to say that our culture and tradition should be washed away, such a person needs re-examination. You don’t choose an Oba who will insult our forefathers.”
Explaining that the Olosunta festival is not idol worshiping, the traditional ruler disclosed that the nine-day festival affords the citizens the opportunity to seek the face of God and cleansing to usher in fresh supplications to God for the beginning of the new year.
Oba Obasoyin who hailed the giant strides of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the state in the last eighteen months at the helm of affairs, urged the governor to ensure more provision of infrastructural developments in the community.
“The festival brings us together and it is our own way of starting a new year in Ikere-Ekiti. Just as Christians will start a new year after Christmas, but we in Ikere-Ekiti start our new year with the hosting of Olosunta festival.
“People should not let them be discouraged, we are not worshipping any idol here. We are remembering our past heroes, just like others do. It is a kind of cleansing of all the bad things that have happened in the past year and starting the New Year with fresh demand, belief and trust in God.
“We believe the new year will usher in prosperity to the town, safety to all our children both home and abroad, prosperity and peace to Ekiti State and Nigeria in general,” he said.
On expectations from the state government, the monarch added, “We still continue to plead for more. This Palace needs a new building. We are expecting the government to support us and we want to see that our children are in the top echelon in government. We are still looking out for more appointments both at the State and federal level.”
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