Soon-to-be installed Aare Ogboni (generalissimo of Ogboni Ekiti) of Ekiti State, Chief Emmanuel Ayodele Famodimu, has advised the incoming governor of the state, John Kayode Fayemi, to go all out in righting every wrong done to governance by his predecessors when he is inaugurated on October 16 to pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years.
He handed this advice to Fayemi on Tuesday when he was received by top members of the Ogboni confraternity at the Imesi Ile, in Osun State, origin of Oke-lmesi town in Ekiti, as part of the traditional preparations for his installation as the Aare Ogboni, generalissimo of Ogboni cult in Ekiti.
Famodimu, who predicted that Fayemi’s government would bring comfort and progress to the people of the state, was quick to advise the governor-elect to run a government that would relate closely with the masses.
He also urged Fayemi to be humble and do things more differently from what obtained in his first tenure which allegedly downplayed the role of the common Ekiti people.
“I am a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and I galvanized support for the party as a reputable man in Ara Ekiti. This time of Fayemi, there will be peace in Ekiti and our youths shall live long and have progress. Fayemi will succeed.
“As the new Aare of Ekiti, I pray for Fayemi that he will succeed as the Almighty lives. I advise him to be more humble and be a born again. He should right all the wrongs that have been done in Ekiti. He should draw closer to all Ekiti people, especially the common people who have voted overwhelmingly to bring him back. He should do all our bad roads and also revive the dead factories, ” he said.
Chief Famodimu, 51, who spoke about his achievements as a traditionalist and well-known priest of Osanyin, a Yoruba deity respected for making accurate predictions on any area of life, said his past deeds in the circle of traditionalists in the state, have put him in better position to emerge as the next Aare Ogboni Ekiti.
His words: ” I have more than five buildings and have a very good reputation. I have been the Oluwo of Ekiti for 14 years. I have also been the Asosoyin of the Ara-Ijero of Ekiti who keeps the deity called Osanyin, l have been doing this for more than 33 years now.
“We will ensure that there is peace and stability in Ekiti. I will work with the monarchs to ensure things are smooth and that they have cordial relationship with their subjects and the government of the day.”
Asked why he still retains his baptismal name, Emmanuel, when he actually practices traditional religion, Famudimu said he does not discriminate on religion, adding that the Almighty God is supreme over all beings and situations: “I was born into the family of traditional worshippers but while growing up, I had a stint in Christianity and was baptized and with that I got the name, Emmanuel.
“But when I came of age, I realized that I would be trading off my heritage as a traditionalist so I returned to my roots. But this has not stopped me from supporting Christianity, my child was last Sunday ordained as a servant of God in the church. So, I do not oppose Christianity.
” My grouse with Christians is that they have placed Jesus Christ above the Almighty God. They are always giving honour and glory to Jesus Christ and leave, downplay the Almighty father, do you not think that the Almighty father would be angry with that? Jesus Christ was born of a woman, just as all of us were born of women, although, some are super beings. But the Almighty God has created all things, including all humans,” he said.
Commenting on the tragedy that recently befell the late monarch of Odo-Oro, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, who was stabbed to death by one of his subjects, the in-coming Ekiti Ogboni generalissimo, assured Ekiti monarchs that he would use his office to protect them from evil plans by their enemies.
“Everyone has his own faith, some are Muslim, others are Christian, while others still hold into the tradition of their forefathers, but my advise for all is that we should always rely on the Almighty God, only He can set things straight for us.
“In my own tenure as the Aare Ogboni of Ekiti, I will ensure that the monarchs are protected against onslaught by their enemies so we won’t have the kind of tragedy that befell the deceased monarch of Odo-Oro. I will work closely with all monarchs in Ekiti to ensure that they are protected and no evil come close to them.”
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