Wale Raji, Ooni of Ife, Chart Course For Developmental Strides In Epe

By Babatunde Kaka & Ronny Ikpoto

• According to the lawmaker, the link between the source, ( Ile-Ife ) and Ilara, is being reestablished and strengthened by virtue of Ooni’s historic visit.

Yesterday, May 14, 2021, Ilara Kingdom in Epe Division played host to the apex Monarch in all of Yoruba land, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, a special guest of honour in this year’s edition of the Ebi annual Festival.

As earlier reported by EKO HOT BLOG, the Ooni’s special visit is not unconnected to the long-standing relationship between Epe and the ancestral home of the Yorubas.

Speaking during his address, Oonirisha appreciated the good people of Ilara for the warm reception accorded him on the special occasion. He described the momentous occasion as a pristinely ordained pocket of time and space.

The Ooni also displayed his uncanny command of Yoruba customs and traditions when he took the gathering down memory lane with his Yoruba oratory prowess, rendition of chants and panegyrics accompanied by subtle gong beats while offering his prayers for the King, Ilara and the entire Epe Division.

Hon. Wale Raji, Lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, who also graced the historic occasion utilized the platform to exchange developmental ideas with the Ooni, who is a cornucopia of knowledge by virtue of his exalted position as O’odua’s chief custodian.

In his address, Hon Raji stated that he counts himself lucky to be a part of the historic visit. According to him, the link between the source, ( Ile-Ife ) and Ilara, is being reestablished and strengthened, an understanding that will be beneficial to Ilara and Ile-Ife.

“I know your influence Kabiyesi, before your emergence as Ooni. You were a businessman par excellence, we know successes you’ve recorded in real estate development and some other ventures. Nigeria is blessed to have such influential, energetic and people-oriented programs initiator as the Ooni.”

READ ALSO: Fireworks As Ooni Of Ife Storms Ilara Kingdom In Historic Visit To Epe

Wale Raji, who stated that a return visit to the Palace of Oonirisha in Ife is already in the offing, used the medium to appeal to the First Class Monarch to use his influence and whip up support for the developmental projects across the division by wooing would-be investors to leverage on the industrial and infrastructural development fanning across Epe Division currently.

“We are seizing this opportunity to give us the necessary support because you have the influence and we pray that we benefit from your wide influence in an effort at developing this area. Just down there, we already have a fenced land size of about 100 hectares earmarked for the agro-industrial estate. We’re still looking for investors to develop that area.”

Land earmarked for ICT and Skill Acquisition by the Alara was also mentioned for support and actualization. He prayed for the relationship established would wax stronger.

See Photos: