The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged traditional rulers across the Yoruba nation and beyond to embrace unity as a vital instrument for collective development and national cohesion.

The Ooni made the call while beginning a seven-day seclusion as part of traditional rites marking the annual ‘Olojo Festival’, one of the oldest and most sacred cultural events in Yoruba land.

“I am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek God’s mercy upon this land. May we all experience peace, unity, progress, and the blessings of the Almighty,” the Ooni said.

The Ooni also appealed to citizens to rise above ethnic and religious divides, saying Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity.

He further called on political leaders to act with fairness, justice, and compassion, reminding them that true leadership involves prioritising the welfare of the people.

The Olojo Festival (Day of the First Dawn) commemorates the creation of the earth.

The week-long seclusion is a spiritual purification process during which the Ooni refrains from public appearances, engaging instead in meditation, prayer, and ancestral communion.

The ritual prepares the Ooni for the festival’s climax, where he emerges wearing the sacred Aare Crown, believed to be the original crown worn by Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba people.

(NAN)