The Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, has pleaded with the Ogun State government to list the kingdom’s Iganmode festival in the state calendar.
The monarch said the festival should be included in the tourism calendar of the state like Ojude Oba, Lisabi day, Orona day, Odun Omo Olowu and other festivals in the state that enjoy the government patronage.
Olota stated this while speaking at a press briefing held as part of the activities to mark the 2021 edition of the Iganmode Festival which is billed to hold this December.
Iganmode festival is celebrated by the people of Awori clan of Ota in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the State to project its culture and tradition.
The monarch explained that he wanted the festival to be held yearly in partnership with the state government, describing it as a cultural event that will mobilise the whole Community and ensure peaceful co-existence .
The Olota also called on the state government to come to the aid of his kingdom and fix the deplorable roads in the area and give them a fair share of their contribution to the state economy.
According to him, to attract tourists in appreciable number in the state, there is a need to develop infrastructure in the state and generally upgrade the environment.
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His words, “We request partnership with the government on this cultural festival and its mainstreaming in the tourism calendar of the state like the Ojude Oba, Lisabi day, Orona day or the Odun Omo Olowu that continue to enjoy government’s patronage.
“We will encourage Governor Abiodun not to rest on his oars to fulfil all promises to our people, for us, we would continue to support all his efforts by individual and growth that are directed at improving the cultural heritage and the lives of our people in general.
“About patronising, I mean about holding the event with the government because, as I said, it is a cultural event that will mobilise the whole community, that will bring peace because. It touches on everyone within the community and the state at large; it will ensure we have unity in this community. I think it is relevant.
“To attract tourism in appreciable number, 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 and fix the deplorable roads in Ota and give us a fair share of our contribution to the state economy.
“On our part, we will continue to sensitise our people not only to be of good honour but, to be loyal and support the government of the day by paying their taxes regularly.”
In his address, the Chairman Planning Committee of the 2021 Iganmode festival, Aare Dele Bankole said this edition of the festival is being used as a point of call to other tourist attractions in the land.
According to him, participants of the festival will be thrilled to tourist sites in the community during the festival and also enjoy indigenous food eaten by the people of the land.
