Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II has revealed he almost killed himself over a loan, but his passion for music saved him
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II has revealed that he once contemplated taking his life as a young man, but his love for music saved him.
He disclosed while speaking at the maiden edition of ‘Memorable Moments With Music’ at The Muson Centre, Lagos on Wednesday, as contained in a statement signed by the Palace.
According to Ooni, his decision to end it all arose from an N8 billion loan he took and expended on a real estate project, which eventually failed.
The respected Yoruba monarch said he lost his mind thereafter and contemplated suicide after getting the project as far as the 10th floor only for a structural defect to force him to pull down the building.
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He, however, turned to music, which gave him the needed succor to pull through that trying period of his life.
Ooni said: “There is power in music. When I almost committed suicide in my younger age as a real estate business man, it was music that saved my life. Music is a perfect communication with God.
“I had become very successful in the real estate sector at a very young age. I took a loan of N8 billion about 12 years ago to build high rise building which I had to pull down by myself when we were already on the 10th floor, and the money went down the drain.
“Life turned upside down thereafter and the only option was for me to commit suicide, but listening to series of inspirational music reset my thinking faculty.
“I have since then adopted music as a very powerful solution tool when faced with challenge.”
He also said the experience encouraged him to invest in music and art for the economic empowerment and mental liberation of the youths and the less privileged people later in life.