The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi on Sunday began 7-day seclusion ahead of the annual Olojo festival.
During the seclusion rites, the traditional ruler would be incommunicado and not grant audience to anybody.
Addressing newsmen on his way out of the palace into seclusion, Oba Ogunwusi noted that he was in a very high spirit to formally begin this year’s OLOJO festival with seclusion to meet with God Almighty.
The owner of the day through fasting and prayers during where he will pray for the resuscitation of the country’s economy.
The monarch, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for setting up an excellent Economic Advisory Council led by Prof. Doyin Salami, warned stakeholders especially those within the presidency to resist attempts to sabotage the council’s efforts in the best interest of Nigerians, especially the poor masses.
According to Oba Ogunwusi, “I am going into seclusion now just to pray for the presidency that they should listen to provide an enabling environment for the new economic council to do their job. It is very important.”
“In fact, we have to do it in any way because the Nigerian economy needs to be resuscitated in a rapid manner for the betterment of our country.
I am so much familiar with the pedigrees of all the members and I’m so sure they will deliver only if given free hands to work”.”
“As the spiritual head of the Yoruba race, I must continue to pray for the country and the government.
I must also intercede for the people to support the government and for the government to work for the people.
The president has to listen to this wonderful team.
Every recommendation must be followed to the letter because these are experts carefully selected from all parts of Nigeria. Failure to listen to them might even draw us back.
“There is a problem in Nigeria, we cannot continue to deceive ourselves because if we do so, we are only postponing the evil day. It is important that we have a rapid economic transformation.
“We are very thankful for having a corrupt-free President and whoever would not allow him to listen to the council will have God Almighty to contend with”, Oba Ogunwusi remarked.
While explaining the significance of the seven-day seclusion, Ooni Adeyeye revealed that the Almighty God answers prayers during the period, noting that all he prayed for during last year’s seclusion, particularly for peaceful state and general elections, were granted by God.
“This time around as the Arole Oduduwa, I am focusing more on how the Nigerian economy will be completely turned over.
If you look around, you will see unemployed youths everywhere this is the time to pay attention to these kegs of gunpowder that we are all seated upon.
“To me, I am very excited that the best decision ever made by this current government of Buhari administration is to bring in experts for the economic council because I know that our economic fortunes will change for good”, Oba Ogunwusi stated.