-Steve Ovirih
Ayeka kingdom in Okitipupa Local government, Ondo southern senatorial district has gone purely traditional in their bid to ward off the likelihood of any pestilence in the kingdom and Ondo state in general.
To this end , the regent of Ayeka , Princess Barrister Oluyemi Bajowa led prominent high chiefs of Ayeka to worship Ode, the traditional god also known as “Obaluaye” in the local parlance.
According to local historians, ODE is the god that is appealed to in the past whenever untoward pestilence or sourge stalked abroad, threatened the peace or afflicted the people of the community.
In the light of the ravaging coronavirus disease which has caused high mortality in America and Europe, and which over two hundred and fifty Nigerians have contracted in less than three weeks in Nigeria, the people of Ayeka having made traditional consultation resolved to appease Ode, the god of cleansing to cleanse Ayeka Ule and every nooks and crannies of Ondo state and to ward off the ravaging coronavirus from their Land.
The traditional rite of cleansing was marked on Wednesday, the 8th April at the palace of the Lumure of Ayeka amidst pomp and colourful display of traditional aplomb . Masquerades came out from the pantheon and huge sacrifices as well as other local paraphernalia of appeasement were on display.
The high chiefs in turn offered prayers and poured libations to the gods of the Land.
The regent, Oluyemi Bajowa prayed to the traditional deity of Ode to return as of old and wash the land clean of deaths, crises and pestilences. She charged the gods to secure the kingdom and make it free of any Virus invasion ; the sacrifices after the ablutions at the palace are taken to strategic points of Ode Ayeka to be offered to the gods.
The Lisa of Ayeka, High Chief Ayeyowa while speaking with thepolity.net noted that the coronavirus which has caused the government to order the lockdown of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun is a dire warning. He said it is important to reach out to the gods of the land in times like this and this responsibility which is needful has been taken care of, adding that though the sacrifices are very expensive, the palace will rather consider the welfare of the town than the cost of the sacrifices.
The Regent, Her Royal Majesty Oluyemi Bajowa said the palace is aware of the rites as it was done in the time past. She said the traditional stakeholders who know how to toe this sacred path to keep off pestilences have advised hence the need to gather and offer sacrifice to Ode in Ayeka kingdom.
