Ekiti monarch seeks global recognition of Ogun festival

Prominent Ekiti traditional ruler and the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Adeleke Bobade, has canvassed recognition for the Ogun Onire Festival of the community to promote its tourism potential.

Oba Bobade said that the Ogun Grove, the ‘Bembe’ drum and activities for the Ogun Onire celebration were great tourism assets that could be invested in for the economic benefit of the federal and state governments and citizens.

Ogun, the god of iron, believed historically to be closely associated with Ire Ekiti, is celebrated yearly with the Ogun Onire Festival in the community.

The traditional ruler, flanked by some members of the Onire-in-Council and the Ire Development Union, spoke during a chat at Ire Ekiti on Saturday while rounding off activities for his 20th coronation anniversary.

Traditional rulers from the Southwest, including representatives of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemi Adejugbe, as well as leaders of thought, political leaders and some eminent Nigerians, graced the grand finale of the 20th coronation anniversary on Friday.

The monarch said, “I am not satisfied with the present state of the celebration of Ogun Onire. This festival has great tourism potential and can be turned into a more popular and money-spinning event that attracts people from across the globe.

“We are calling on the federal and state governments to give the Ogun Onire Festival the attention it deserves and develop it to world-standard festival status.

We are urging the state and federal governments to invest in the Ogun Onire Festival to make it a point of attraction to the international community. If this is done, it will serve as a source of revenue generation for the country,” the monarch said.

Oba Bobade said that the community had witnessed various developments in the areas of education, infrastructure and socio-economic development under his watch over the last 20 years.

The monarch, who said that the community had, since his ascension to the throne, transformed from what it used to be, also thanked God for the peace, unity and development of the town, adding, “There is unity among our sons and daughters and they are doing well in their different endeavours at home and abroad.”

He listed areas of growth the community had witnessed under him to include hosting a study centre of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, construction of a modern civic centre, and attracting youth and human capital development initiatives, among others.

The traditional ruler, however, lamented the poor state of the roads linking the community and appealed to the concerned authorities to attend to the roads.

The President of the Ire Development Council, Ayodeji Abe, and his predecessor in office, Col. Adedotun Adeyeye (retd.), said that the reign of Oba Bobade had brought unprecedented development to Ire Ekiti, adding that the peaceful coexistence in the community had translated into socio-economic development.

Culled from punch