The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, on Monday, November 7, 2023 performed the traditional prayer sanctification at the Odun Ade Festival, in Imesi-Ekiti, to spiritually banish the 400 years of ancient enmity between the Ewi-in-Council and the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti and his people.
Oba Aladesanmi was ushered into Imesi by the Guild of Hunters with booming of ancient guns, dancing and culturally melodious songs, extolling God and eulogizing the Ewi for his heroic and legendary banishment of trans-generations jinx, which forbade the Ewi from stepping into Imesi
The Ewi was welcomed to the event with deafening applause, and was received by the Onimesi of Imesi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Festus Olatunde Olatunji, the Oniyin of Iyin, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye, and other distinguished traditional guests and eminent Nigerians.
Welcoming Oba Aladesanmi to Imesi, Oba Olatunji said, “This is one of the finest moments in the historical existence of Imesi as a town in the Yoruba nation.
“It is a day that all the ancestors of Imesi and our heroic progenitors will be smiling and nodding gleefully in their abode. They will be comforted to sleep well in their vaults, as their unachievable aspiration of making peace with the Ewi has come to pass today, especially when we are celebrating them – Odu Ade – which is the unadulterated essence of their reigns.”
The Onimesi described Oba Aladesanmi III as the ‘Odidimode,’ whose reign has ushered in humongous blessing and monumental bliss of grace in Ekiti.
He added, “The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Adejugbe Aladesanmi III is here physically with the cultural largesse and traditional benevolence to redeem and refresh the glory of the relationship between the Ewi-in-Council and Imesi and its glorious people.”
Expressing gratitude to his ancestors for making the day Oba not only a reality, but also an astounding historic day, Oba Olatunji said that he was happy and extremely grateful to the Ewi.
The Ewi, Oba Aladesanmi III, in his royal grandeur, chanted and offered sacrificial prayers, an act attested to by the change in the element.
As Oba Aladesanmi went into prayers for the town and its people, the atmosphere changed from mild warm to a cool atmosphere, as a breeze sneaked into the environment, as if it had just rained.
The speech and the aura which Oba Aladesanmi III brought into the event excited the guests and indigenes of the town, who expressed their happiness for witnessing the stepping of an Ewi of Ado Ekiti on the soil of Imesi after 400 years.
The Onimesi, Oba Olatunde, used the event to confer an award of excellence on the All Prohressives Congress, APC, candidate for Ekiti South federal constituency I, retired Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo.
Oba Olatunde said that the award was in recognition of Ojoawo’s excellent service to humanity and for the upliftment of Ekiti State, in particular via his contribution to the planting of Ekiti airport.
Also, the Revtor if the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Engr Dayo Aladebeye, received the award for his unrelenting brilliance, especially with the classical management of the Federal Polytechnic.
Chieftaincy titles were conferred on Barr Dele Falana, as High Chief Ofoji of Idosere quarters, Imesi, and Elder Martins Adeniyi as Chief Osokoti of the Osokoti family, Imesi.
The award ceremony and chieftaincy installation ceremonies took place on the sideline of the traditional Odun Ade celebrated by the ancient town to foster unity among the people and friends from other communities.
Oba Olatunde said that the town has gone through a lot in the recent past, but the time has come to unite the people and work for the future generation.
He enthused, “We can achieve more as a people through unity, steadfastness and cooperation. We cannot afford to fail the future generation.”
Oba Olatunde said that Imesi had gone through 21 invasions during the internecine Yorubas wars, which ravaged the ancient town, virtually diminishing his seniority and social status in the comity of Obas. He, however siad that the time has come to unite the people and work for the future generations
Reacting to the honour done to him by the community, AVM Ojuawo thanked the Onimesi for the privilege given to him.
He said, “I will never betray the trust of the Imesi people, and more importantly now that I’m your son, I will always respond to your call whenever the opportunity beckons.”
Reacting to his award, the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti Rector, Engr Oladebeye, pledged to remain a son of Imesi in words, deeds, and actions.
He pledged to transfer the interest of the Imesi community to his successors as he is on the threshold of retirement as the head of the Federal institution.
The Odun Ade Festival witnessed many cultural activities, including: the unveiling of the Imesi Cultural Drum Ensemble group and the launching of the Imesi Palace project.
Dignitaries at the cultural event included: Alaaye 1 of Oke Ayedun, Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of the APC, Barrister Paul Omotosho, wife of A M Ojoawo, Mrs Olaitan Ojuawo, Otunba Kayode Fasae, and members of the entourage of the awardees.
The side attraction at this year’s Odun Ade festival were the Imesi Museum of Royal Antiquities and the Potshed Pavement. Dignitaries at the event were also marvelled by the intense research of Oba Olatunde, which culminated in the display of the photographs of 18 out of the 23 obas who had reigned in Imesi; just as the Potsherd site served as illumination to the fact that Imesi town was once a buoyant ancient town of civilization.
