New Telegraph

Olota seeks govt involvement in Iganmode Cultural Festival

The Olota of Ota Kingdom, Oba Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege (Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode), has called on the Ogun State Government to support and be involved in the annual Iganmode Cultural Festival, the way the state has been doing with other top festivals like the Ojude Oba Festival. Speaking during the media conference for the 2021 edition of the Festival on Wednesday, November 3, the professor of journalism, said the festival was to remember the past warlords of the Awori Kingdom and also preserve the culture of the community.

While calling all and sundry to join hands to make this year’s event great, he also implored all the citizens of Ota, those living in the community and those outside and likewise visitors who are in the community for business and other activities to continue to stay together in peace and harmony. Obalanlege also called on the state government to help the community work on some of the deplorable roads in Ota land so as to help in the development of the area.

“Undoubtedly, every “Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja” comes with great improvements on the previous ones. The theme of this year is “Culture: A Module for Sustainable Leadership”, could not have been more apt especially as this historical and spiritual event has helped immensely in projecting the rich cultural values and norms of the Otta people and by extension, all Awori People as a whole,” the Oba said. “It is a festival that helps to remind our people of their origin and identity, as an essential component for stimulating communal understanding, love, unity and for augmenting steady progress, peace and development of the larger Community.

“Otta, nay Aworiland is home to very interesting historic sites as well as unique traditions and customs of which we are reputed. “While we request partnership with Government on this Cultural Festival and its mainstreaming in the Tourism Calendar of the State like it is done with Ojude Oba, Lisabi Day, Oronna Day or even Odun Omo Olowu that continue to enjoy Government patronage and presence every year, we will encourage Government not to rest on it oars to fulfil all promises to our people.

“Culture is believed to be a distinctive way of life of a group of people. Moreover, in order to promote our cultural heritage, we believe in enhancing industry and tourism. To attract tourists in appreciable numbers however, we need to develop our infrastructure and generally upgrade our environment.

“That is why I will call on the State Government to come to our aid to fix the deplorable roads that are in Otta and give us a fair share of our contribution to the State economy. “On our path, we will continue to sensitise our people not only to be of good conduct, but to be loyal, patriotic and support the Government of the day by paying their taxes regularly.

Our people need to focus attention on creating the necessary conducive atmosphere for businesses to continue to thrive by maintaining the peace and shunning social vices that will heat up the polity. Only then can we legitimately demand that Government should compensate us with various infrastructural development projects.” Meanwhile, the chairman of the organizing committee of the 2021 Iganmode Cultural Festival, Aare Ayodele Bankole, has revealed that the 2021 event will start on Monday, December 13 with the Osugbo prayer session at the palace of the Olota of Ota.

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