Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ( Ojaja II), has expressed confidence in the ability of the new Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams, to unite the Yorubaland Oba Adeyeye spoke at the grand finale of the 2018 edition of the Oodua festival, in Ile – Ife, Osun state.
Declaring the event open,the Ife monarch also urged other Yoruba obas, sons and daughters of the race to support Adams’ quest for peace across the nation.
Oba Adayeye,said Aare Adams has, in the last few years, shown unequal commitments to the promotion of culture and traditions, through the Olokun Festival Foundation,( OFF), adding that Aare Adams is the symbol of unity of the Yorubas, it is pertinent for all sons and daughters to support him.”
Adams, who had earlier visited the Ooni in his Palace, alongside three prominent Obas and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)and Oodua Progressives Union(OPU), said it is the tradition of the group to pay courtesy call to the palace before proceesding on the grand finale of the annual event.
In his speech, he said :”This event was the first public outing since I was installed the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land. We are presently in Ife, which is the source,it is a new dawn, the journey to unite the Yoruba race has begun in earnest, I urge all Yoruba sons and daughters to join me in my vision and commitment to unite the Yoruba race, this is not too big and we can all make it a reality”, he said.
“Our quest to seek peace and unity in our land is incomplete if we fail to appreciate the roles of our foremost Obas,particularly, the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo for the roles at different forums to promote the Yoruba race.”
He urged the Yoruba should be liberal in their religious beliefs, saying religion is a thing of the mind.
Director, Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife,Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan, in his lecture, urged the Yorubas to embrace their culture and traditions.
Other prominent monarchs present at the event include Oba Joseph Adewole,Moronfoye Oni,Johnson Folorunsho, and Ifarotimi Ifaloba, among others
Meanwhile,the 2 – day annual event had earlier featured the grand finale of the beauty Pageant, where 16 contestants contested for the coveted prize.19- year- old Miss Olalekan Ebunoluwa Ajoke, a student of Razol Theatre Academy emerged the winner.
Oba Owa Ajero of Ijero also lauded the ability of Aare Gani Adams, saying Ife is the source of the Yoruba. The monarch also charged the guests to emulate the spirit of unity as exemplified by Adams through the various activities promoted by the Olokun Festival Foundation
