Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II says the witches in Ile-Ife, Osun state, are no more interested in diabolical and evil acts as they also want to improve their lives and develop their children.

While calling for investment and active participation in the development of Ile-Ife, the monarch said there are no more witches that would disturb anyone who chooses to do business in the ancient town.

Speaking on Sunday, while hosting members of a socio-cultural group known as Ife Klub 1, Oba Ogunwusi said: “This Klub worked with my last two predecessors and is now working with me, so by the grace of God it will never disintegrate. I must stress to you all that the wellbeing of Ile-ife is paramount to me because we are like the proverbial white chicken who doesn’t appreciate its value. Whereas, it is in its home that the chicken is not highly regarded, it is highly valued abroad.”

“God himself resides in Ile-Ife and that is the truth. There are many Ife sons and daughters who the land has blessed but they abandon their roots. They say there are witches in Ile-Ife that kill children, or that if they establish businesses at home, witches won’t allow them to prosper.”

“There are no witches here that will disturb anybody anymore. They now want to have money and send their children to school too.”

“Some are making money in Ife, yet they don’t contribute anything to its development, rather they take their monies to Ibadan, Ilesha, Lagos, London and America. The Almighty has restored Ile-Ife’s glory and we must not let it go dim. So many people of Ife origin have refused to come back home and this is why we are making concerted efforts to put many things in place to attract them.”

Mazi Emeka