••• Also Celebrates Daughter’s Birthday, Ifa Festival In Grand Style
The Olu of Oke-Ariko, Sagamu, Oba Olayinka Oladunni, has called for promotion of rich african traditions and cultural heritage that define the black race, saying a people that despised their tradition or failed to identify with it have lost their root.
Oba (Dr) Olayinka who made the call while celebrating his 14 years on the throne of his forebears, the town’s annual Ifa festival and birthday of his daughter, Princess Olamide Olayinka Aiyeola, said he has no regret promoting and celebrating the festival as a traditionalist.
The three-in-one celebrations held in Sagamu featured prayer session and celebrations of God’s protection over the family, the celebrant and his domain.
The two – day long festival was conducted by the Araba of Otta Awori Kingdom, Chief Faniyi Fashola among other priests where several worshippers from far and near trooped in to participate in the annual festival.
Oladunni noted that the yearly festival had been part of his life, maintaining that a nation that fails to identify with its traditions and history is a lost one.
“I have no regret for this annual celebration, it’s part of my family tradition, it’s an avenue to give thanks to our maker, it’s what I do every year to thank God for his blessings.
“Eledumare has been so wonderful to me in all ramifications, those that are around can testify to this, I have no regrets in doing this being a traditionalist.
“I want to use this opportunity to express my warm greetings to those that came from afar to rejoice with me and my family, most especially my two wives, Olori Gbemisola Olayinka and Olori Atinuke Olayinka, there is an adage that says behind a successful man, there must be a woman; it’s my prayer that we shall all celebrate more of it this on earth, my daughter is celebrating her birthday in the same day, may God grant her every thing she deserves in life,” he stated.
Also speaking, one of the monarch’s wives and mother of the birthday Princess, Olori Gbemisola Olayinka, who was so elated, described the event as memorable and a day to rejoice in the Lord for his kindness to her family.
“As you can see, Olodumare has been so good to us beyond imaginations, our own Olu of Oke Ariko is marking his 14 years of God’s wonders on the throne with joy and in good health, my own daughter Olamide ‘omo mummy’ is equally marking her birthday, can you now attest to the reasons behind my joy? I must give every reason and adoration to our maker for His benevolence upon us as a family,” Olori Gbemisola said.
In the same vein, Olori Atinuke Olayinka in her goodwill message expressed her heartfelt joy on the celebration of Olu of Ariko’s 14 years on the throne.
Olori Atinuke said: “we are all rejoicing with our family head today, it’s a day of history, and a day of joy, we are glad that the almighty God has been guiding him aright in the last 14 years, his reign has been peaceful and prosperous too. I pray God to grant Dr Olayinka sound health and further preserve him to serve humanity.”
Source: https://www.thedailycrucible.com.ng
