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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has gone incommunicado in preparation for the 2011 edition of Olojo, the internationally-acclaimed festival in the ancient city.
According to OSUN DEFENDER finding in the ancient city, Ooni's seclusion was in preparation for the age-long festival in celebration of Ogun, the god of Iron and other deities in the city.
During his seclusion, the monarch was not to be visited by any visitor, neither would he attend to his immediate family members, as he is said to be communicating with the 401 deities residing in the ancient city, supplicating for the entire Yoruba race and the nation at large.
At the entrance of the palace of the prominent monarch, it was conspicuously displayed that the Ooni had gone incommunicado, while the main gate leading to the palace was under lock and key, while palace aides were attending to visitors.
It was also gathered that at on Thursday evening, the monarch, in company of the major host, the Osogun of Ifeland would perform a vigil known as Ilagun, while the monarch would wear the popular Aare beaded crown for the public glare on Friday afternoon.
According to the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism in Osun State, Honourable Sikiru Adetona, the state government is in top gear in preparation for the festival, as the current administration in the state is ready to harness the tourism potentials of the ancient city.
In furtherance, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ife Central Local Government, Honourable Taiwo Olaiya, said in preparation for the festival, the local government council has embarked on massive cleaning exercise in the ancient city for the festival.
He also assured that all hands are on deck for the celebration, while urging all and sundry to attend the festival in order to savour the rich culture of the ancient people of Ile-Ife.
Visits to some hotels in the ancient city revealed that most of the operators were anticipating that there would be influx of visitors into the ancient city and there had been preparations to offer the best in hospitality to the tourists with adequate security in place.
The festival would be climaxed with Ooni leading his people to Oke-Mogun in a procession on Friday this week, while the programme would be rounded up next Monday, which would the second Oke-Mogun.
Osun Defender