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Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Alayeluwa Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, has called on Nigerians and Yoruba people at home and abroad, particularly Iloko’s youths and residents, to shun ritual killings, cybercrime, drug abuse, and other social vices threatening the moral fabric of society.
This was made known on Saturday, August 23, by the monarch during the annual New Yam Festival in his town.
Oba Ogungbangbe decried the rising cases of ritual-related killings and fraudulent practices among young people, describing it as “a dangerous trend that must not be allowed to define the future of Yoruba land.”
He noted that the New Yam Festival is not just a time of merriment but a sacred cultural heritage that symbolizes gratitude to God and the ancestors for bountiful harvests.
According to him, the festival should also serve as a moment of reflection on the values of hard work, honesty, and communal peace.“
This festival reminds us that diligence and patience bring reward. Our youths must realize that there is dignity in labor. Resorting to money rituals, drug use, internet fraud, or violence does not bring lasting fulfillment; it only brings shame and destruction to the community,” he said.
The monarch urged parents to take their roles in moral upbringing more seriously as he warned that neglecting cultural and ethical teachings would only worsen the erosion of values.
Owaloko also called on government and security agencies to intensify efforts in tackling insecurity, which he said has crept into several communities in the South-West.
He concluded by charging the youths to embrace education, skills acquisition, and community development initiatives, adding that the survival of Yoruba culture depends on the younger generation’s willingness to uphold the values of integrity, unity, and hard work.
Traditional chiefs and spiritual leaders of the town take their turns as they use palm oil, salt, afero healing water, and yam varieties to pray for the king, prosperity of his people, and the town.
Alayeluwa Oba Ogungbangbe afterwards led the symbolic breaking of the yam, marking the official commencement of the festival.
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