The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, on Monday, November 7th, 2023, performed the traditional prayer sanctification at the Odun Ade Festival, Imesi Ekiti, to spiritually banish 400 years of an ancient enmity between the Ewi-in-Council and the Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti and his people.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti was ushered into Imesi by the Guild of Hunters with the 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 he was received by the Onimesi of Imesi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Festus Olatunde Olatunji, the Oniyin of Iyin, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye, distinguished traditional guests, and eminent Nigerians.
Welcoming the Ewi of Ado Ekiti 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 sales 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.
He described Oba Aladesanmi III as the Odidimode whose reign has ushered in humongous blessings and monumental bliss of grace in Ekiti.
“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 Ewi-In-Council and Imesi and its glorious people.
Oba Olatunji, who expressed gratitude to his ancestors for making the day a reality and an astounding day of history, said he was happy and extremely grateful to the Ewi.
In his royal grandeur, the Ewi, Oba Aladesanmi III 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 warmth to incredible as a breeze sneaked into the environment as if it had just rained.
The speech and aura Oba Aladesanmi III brought to the event excited the guests and indigenes of the town, who expressed their happiness at witnessing the stepping of an Ewi of Ado Ekiti on the soil of Imesi after 400 years.
The Onimesi, Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde used the event to award Excellence on Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo (retd).
According to him, the award was in recognition of his excellent service to humanity and for the upliftment of Ekiti state, in particular, through his contribution to the planting of Ekiti Airport.
Also, Engr Dayo Aladebeye, Rector of Fed Poly Ado Ekiti, received the award for his unrelenting brilliance, especially in managing the school classically.
Others who bagged titles are Barr Dele Falana, who was installed as High Chief Ofoji of Idosere quarters, Imesi, and Elder Martin’s Adeniyi, who was installed as Chief Osokoti of the Osokoti family, Imesi.
The award and Chieftaincy installation ceremonies took place on the sidelines of the traditional Odun Ade, which the ancient town celebrated to foster unity among the people and friends from other communities.
Oba Olatunde said the town has experienced a lot in recent times, but the time has come to unite the people and work for the future generation.
‘We can achieve more through unity, steadfastness and cooperation. We cannot afford to fail the future generation’ said the monarch.
Oba Olatunde said Imesi had endured 21 invasions during the internecine Yorubas wars, which ravaged the ancient town and virtually diminished his seniority and social status in the Comity of Obas. But the time has come to unite the people and work for future generations.
Reacting to the honour given to him by the community, AVM Ojuawo thanked Onimesi for the privilege he was given.
“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,” he added.
Engr Dayo Oladebeye, reacting to his award, pledged to remain a son of Imesi in words, deeds, and actions. He pledged to transfer the interests of the Imesi community to his successors as he is on the threshold of retirement as the Rector of the Fed Poly Ado Ekiti.
Odun Ade Festival witnessed many cultural activities, including the unveiling of the Imesi Palace Cultural Drum Ensemble Group and the launch of the Imesi Palace project.
Dignitaries at the cultural event included Alaaye 1 of Oke Ayedun, Ekiti State APC Chairman, Barrister Paul Omotosho, Mrs Olaitan Ojuawo, wife of AVM Ojuawo, Otunba Kayode Fasae (Jimlas) and members of the entourage of the awardees.
The Imesi Museum of Royal antiquities and the Potshed pavement were sites of attraction by dignitaries who marvelled at the intense research of Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde, culminating in the display of photographs of 18 out of the 23 Obas that reigned in Imesi as the potsherd site served as illumination to the fact that Imesi town was once a buoyant ancient town of civilization.
