In a stirring call for unity and resilience, kakalistiq.com reports that HRM Oba Olukayode Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, urged Nigerians to embrace love and unity in the face of adversity. Speaking during the Ojude-Oba Ilara celebrations, held on the second day of Ileya in Eredo LCDA, Epe Division, Oba Ogunsanwo highlighted the transformative power of love in fostering national progress.
“Love covereth a multitude of sins,” Oba Ogunsanwo remarked. He emphasized that intentional acts of love and understanding among Nigerians would pave the way for economic prosperity, peace, and progress. “If we show and entrench love with one another, things will improve, and mistakes will be overlooked or handled with compassion,” he added. This ethos, he suggested, would accelerate development and tranquility across the nation.
The Ojude-Oba festival, extending its reach from Ilara to Okemagba, serves as a platform for community bonding and homage to the Kabiesi, who in turn pray for the people’s success and prosperity. Oba Ogunsanwo expressed confidence that the festival could evolve into a major tourism hub, thanks to its cultural richness and support from the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “The festival has the potential to become a full-fledged tourism attraction, bringing together diverse cultures within our kingdom,” he said.
Acknowledging the efforts of the Federal, State, and Local governments in preventing food crises and alleviating hunger, Oba Ogunsanwo praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their interventions. These included the establishment of a subsidized multi-modal transport system, cash transfers, and food palliatives. “We thank the government for their collaborative efforts and strategies that have elevated hunger and averted food crises,” he noted.
Despite the economic challenges posed by the removal of the fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the Naira, Oba Ogunsanwo remained optimistic. “There’s no gain without pain, so the pains of this period are just for a little while,” he assured. “All these measures are being put in place to ensure that the economy does not collapse.”
He called for patience and continued support for the government’s efforts. “Though we could be far better than this, little drops of water make a mighty ocean. All these little efforts, when they materialize fully, will lead to better conditions for our people,” he concluded.
The Ojude-Oba Ilara festival, witnessed by esteemed royal fathers, business magnates, and traditional and religious leaders, not only highlighted the cultural vibrancy of the Ilara Kingdom but also underscored a message of hope, unity, and collective progress, resonating deeply with all who attended and those watching from afar.
