The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi,Ojaja II has described the Elerinmo of Erinmo ijesa, Oba (Dr) Michael Odunayo Ajayi Arowotawaya the second, as a pillar of the rich Yoruba culture who will not compromise his heritage for anything.
Oba Ogunwusi made this known during his visit to the Agidanyin festival in Erinmo Ijesa.
The Ooni of Ife who described the Agidanyin festival as one of historical traditional festivals in yoruba land maintained that it signifies peace.
The front line monarch who blessed the ancient Erinmo Ijesa land with the release of the symbolic pigeons called on the indigenes and non indigenes to support the Elerinmo in his step to taking the town to greater heights.
Ooni of Ife who arrived the ancient town of Erinmo in grandstyle amidst pomp and pageantry, in a convoy of over 32 vehicles,lauded the remarkable achievements of Oba Dr Michael Odunayo Ajayi Arowotawaya the second ,maintaining that his efforts in equipping libraries,organizing seminars for farmers,distribution of writing and other schooling materials to students are attestations that Oba Arowotawaya is God sent to Erinmo Ijesa.
Speaking during the historic festival, the Elerinmo of Erinmo Oba (Dr)Michael Odunayo Ajayi Arowotawaya the second appreciated God whom he said had been his guide so far.
According to the Elerinmo “the development of my people and my town are paramount,it cannot be compromised and I will never compromise it”.
Oba Ajayi who described the Agidanyin festival as symbolic to Erinmo Ijesa maintained that it is a festival of his ancestors that brings bountiful harvest,improved economic and peace.
The Elerinmo of Erinmo ijesa appreciated the Ooni of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja the second for encouraging and promoting the yoruba cultural heritage.
Appreciating God that his reign as the Elerinmo is recording a huge success ,he prayed that the ancient town will witness further development.
He called on the youths to engage themselves in productive activities that will guarantee a better tomorrow for them.
The event was graced by many traditional rulers from far and near.
Agidanyin Festival is celebrated in remembrance of the great Erinmo ancestor, Agidanyin, the son of Obalufon Alayemore (3rd and 5th Ooni of Ife in history) who founded Erinmo in 1100AD.
Agidanyin was a great fearless warrior who participated actively in several wars especially the numerous inter tribal wars at that time. After Obalufon Alayemore installed his son Agidanyinmosa as the ruler of Erinmo Ijesa, known today as the ELERINMO, he also went ahead to found Efon and installed another son as Alaaye of Efon before returning to Ile-Ife to ascend the throne for the second time as the fifth Ooni of Ife.
The Agidanyin festival 2020 was spiced up with many activities and intervention programmes that were created to impact the people of Erinmo directly.
These include empowerment initiative sponsored by a non-governmental organisation, AnneGift Foundation which delivered over 200 modern agro equipment to farmers, welfare support and palliatives for widows,aged and physically challenged persons, commissioning of 2 new drilled modern boreholes and training of over 1000 community members on setting up small scale businesses .
Prayers were also offered for peace and progress of Erinmo and Oodua descendants with a crusade heralding the 3day programme, special Jumat prayers and special church Thanksgiving to cap it.
Erinmo is regarded as the “land of spiritual mountains with cultural diversity”. The Festival and town whose mountains are said to be holy and spiritually sacred attracts huge visitors from all over the world seeking and finding solutions to various problems.
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