Chief Saheed Kayode Okewunmi, the Ajaguna of Isheri Oke in Ikosi-Isheri Local council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State is an IFA priest who is not only versatile in Africa traditional religion and Ifa consultation, but he is also a jewel of African traditional religion. Chief Okewunmi is a man who knows his onions, and has come to anchor his faith in the Almighty Allah. His love for the profession of herbal practice was dictated by his zeal to help humanity. In this explosive interview at his Ifa/herbal secretarial at 1 Apena Compound, Isheri Oke, he talked about the history of his Odyssey in to the herbal world.
EXCERPTS
What inspired you into herbal practice and when did you start?
I started the herbal practice over 30 years ago. I inherited the herbal practice from my late father, whom I still consult spiritually whenever I am faced with difficulties or challenges. If you must know, my father was my source of inspiration.
Has there been any challenge you once faced since you started this herbal practice?
Yes, every work has its own challenges and hazards, so mine is no exception. I have on several occasions fought various spiritual battles against some people even from my own constituency due to my transparency and accountability. The battle line was drawn when some of them became jealous of my rising fame in the media and herbal world simply because I refused to break protocol.
For example, there was a pathetic case of a woman that was battling with a strange ailment which the family brought to me for healing. After consultation with my Ifa, the oracle told me that she would die and I should not lay my hands on her for healing So, I asked the family to take her home or to the hospital that I would not be able to help. Some of those herbal men from the same constituency with me were angry that I did not collect money from them, but I refused to do so, because of my conscience. Some of them would collect this money from the hapless victim on the excuse that they could heal her, when they knew they would not be able to do so.
Aside from Ifa consultation, which you are known for, which other aspects of divination can you exercise your herbal authority?
After all said and done, I can tell you with all honesty that I can proffer solutions to same life difficulties for those who are battling with recurring failure in their business, failure to acquire visa to travel abroad, failed marriages, and preventing an unauthorized persons or intruder from taken possession of one’s land by crook or fraud, as well as selling one’s house without one’s concept. I used to help people to break that yoke and restore it back to them. On the issue of low business sale, we help people to bounce back on their feet and have good sales results.
What is the importance of Ifa Divination to you?
We consult Ifa to know what is happening in the spiritual realm before it manifests itself in reality or physical to us, thus we could uncover the spiritual blockade in one’s life and come up with a solution. We help people to serve the god of iron (OGUN) and also help pregnant women to have safe delivery.
How fulfilled are you as an herbal practitioner?
I am fulfilled in all honesty but not in terms of being wealthy, but I am satisfied. God has always blessed the work of my hands for what I do to save lives rather than being part of destruction as others have chosen. My contribution to humanity is to save lives and rescue hapless victims from spiritual bondage and destruction, hence I would say I am fulfilled because of the path I have chosen to stay.
What is your relationship with the “Agbo” seller or “Elewe omo”?
On my relationship with the herbal sellers otherwise known as Elewe omo, the Agbo seller works with the masquerade for the potency of their herbs and roots, because they believe the masquerade comes from the spiritual world and that the Ewele Omo usually gets their herbs and roots from then mysteriously when ever they are constrained by time to go into the bush to source for the needed materials for healing and potency, therefore Chief Ajaguna could be said to be an embodiment of humility, goodness and transparency,
