The International Council for Ifa Religion, on Sunday, called on Yoruba monarchs to embrace the Oro deity to secure their domains.
Its President, Fayemi Fakayode, gave this advice during a special programme organised by the council to commemorate the 2024 World Oro Festival.
The programme, held at the Aseyin Palace in the Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, had the theme: “Warning Moral Values: The Role of Tradition and Yoruba Culture.”
Fakayode said, “Oro is a system of security and protection for the community. Those who do not understand our tradition think it is a thing of darkness.”
He explained that any Yoruba community that recognizes the Oro deity has the opportunity to live in peace, as evil-minded individuals would desert such environments.
He added that the Oro deity could also be used to address electoral crises, contract killings, economic downturns, and insecurity in society.
Fakayode said, “Our bad attitude toward the ways of our ancestors is responsible for our current ordeal. Our ancestors invented a system to implant peace and harmony in society. The Oro festival is one of the devices that our forebears developed to make the land conducive for living.
“Oro is a male Orisa. He is one of the Orisas who descended from the celestial realm. Therefore, Oro is an Imole (light), whose real name is Ita. When he coexisted with other Orisas, he emphasized the importance of sacrifices, initiations, and rituals to maintain development and ward off iniquities, which made him popular and well-respected among his peers.
“It is important to note that the Oba (the King) owns the land. He is the second in command to the Òrìsà. This means the Oba is the authority on earth, as he is the representative of the ancestors and the Òrìsà. If the Oba is the authority, how does his authority become effective?
“Here, we are talking about real Obas in Yorubaland, like the Aseyin of Iseyin, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oonirisa of Ile-Ife, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
“Oro has become a symbol of the king’s authority. This is why the kings of towns where Oro is celebrated are always powerful and have strong authority. Whenever people want to render a king powerless or do not want him to have control over his domain any longer, they campaign against the Oro festival of the town.”
Present at the event were traditional chiefs, youth organizations, civil society organizations, students from public and private schools, and many others.
PUNCH
