Ooni Ogunwusi
Arole
Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwuwusi, Ojaja II
on Monday led thousands of Ife indigenes, market men and women,
financial experts and business tycoons across the country to
celebrate the 2019 edition of Aje festival.
Speaking
at the event in his Ile Oodua palace, Ile-Ife, Ooni Ogunwusi
explained that AJE is a deity in charge of wealth and economic
prosperity, adding that it has a great positive influence on the
world's economy.
According
to the foremost African traditional monarch, he said the first trade
and commerce in the world started at the popular Igbo-mekun
(Ojaife) market in Ile Ife, stressing that the role played by the
Igbo people of the present day Eastern part of country in the
development of market activities cannot be over emphasized.
“We
must go back to our history, this celebration belongs to all,
including our brothers and sisters from the eastern part this
country. Igbo people are naturally part of this celebration, because
Nigeria’s economy won’t be complete without emphatically
mentioning them.
“In
the ancient days, the Igbos were part of the natives in Ile Ife from
Omirin quarters, we were one big happy family before they left for
the eastward to where they are today from where a section of them
left in a clockwise migration to become Jews, that's why there are
enormous similarities between the Jewish and Igbo tribes till date".
Ooni said
He
however frowned against the notion that Igbo people migrated from the
Jews, saying unlike the erroneous perspectives that they were from
the Jews, the correct notion is that the Jews left Igbo land for
their current location in Ethopia, Isreal and around the world.
On
the forthcoming general elections, Ooni Ogunwusi who is the
Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria
admonished that only a peaceful election can guarantee wealth and
prosperity. He urged the electoral umpire and other stakeholders to
ensure free, fair and credible polls for the stability of the
country.
In
the same vein, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Folashade
Tinubu-Ojo explained that AJE is one of the most powerful among all
Yoruba deities, particularly its economic potentials.
Mrs
Tinubu-Ojo who expressed her deep belief in the celebration assured
Nigerians that the country’s economy would receive a boost soonest.
She advised all and sundry to promote the prestigious Yoruba cultural
traditional heritage.
The
Coordinator of Aje Annual Festival, Princess Toyin Kolade expressed
delights at the impressive turnout of participants at this year's
edition, saying people all over the world are beginning to appreciate
cultural tourism revolution embarked upon by the Ooni of Ife as
an instrument for economic advancement.
The
Lagos based business tycoon who is the Iyalaje of Apapa kingdom
described Aje as a spirit that determines the day-today
survival of human beings. She charged Nigerian government to join
actively in showcasing the festival to the world.
"I
am so elated with this turnout today, it shows that our people really
appreciate the Arole Oodua Ooni of Ife who has stopped at nothing in
his quest to socio-economically librate the society through his
cultural tourism revolution.
"If
the government can join him by investing heavily in the tourism
sector, the whole world will always see Nigeria as a pilgrimage
destination which will in return grow our national income as a
country." Princess Kolade said.
No comments:
Post a Comment