Alaafin, Ajimobi and Onikoyi Abesan from Benin Republic

Oyo state Governor Senator Isaq Abiola Ajimobi discussing with Onikoyi Abesan from Benin Republic while Alaafin of Oyo Oba Adeyemi  ( Middle ) looks with keen intrest   at the Alaafin's palace in Oyo  during the maiden Oranyan Festival
 

OPPOSITION ARE DIRECTIONLESS IN ONDO STATE- Gov Mimiko CPS

OPPOSITION ARE DIRECTIONLESS IN ONDO STATE- MIMIKO PRESS SECRETARY

Eni Akinsola,  Chief Press Secretary to Gov Mimiko
 

Mr Eni Akinsola is a seasoned journalists he has worked in various media organisation before his appointment as the Chief Pres Secretary to the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, in this interview   with Remi Oladoye He spoke extensively on how his boss have been able to put in place a structure that will enhance Youth empowerment and food production in the state, he spoke also spoke debunked the allegation raised by the opposition and describe the as directionless.

 
What is the concept of Agric business introduced by the state government all about?

What we are trying to do is to create generate empowerment for our youth an encourage food production through participant owners but in our own concept of farm, people stay in the hostels where there is electricity, water supply, sport centres and Dstv, in their hostels, I mean we are making it attractive for the young people it is not just about production alone but creating employment opportunity ,life long opportunity that when they graduate from the farm and we make loan available to them which they can access, rather than working for government they can easily establish their own and use the experience to become an entrepreneur rather than working as a partner with the government the opportunity in Agric sector is enormous in Ondo state, when the governor came on board, the first setb of loan was fro yam farmers it was about 7oo million naira and they pay back now, I don’t know how much they give out

What are the Challenges so far

The major challenges we have then was a short of opposition when the programme was first advertise, the enrolment was not that high graduate are not interested in it but now we are oversubscribed, we have many more graduate willing to work in the farm and our agribusiness cities at large. We have three the first one is oversubscribe and that is why the governor said because of the land is there we are going to set up three more in ondo state we have a functioning ministry of direct labour that can built house in two or three month,

Two Month for a standard house?

Yes a standard house in two month the technology they use is hydrates technology on sand and cement, they are make there, and they are use there they are bullet proof and they are cool all day long no need of painting or anything.

How much do they need to pay to get hostel?

Farmers do not pay, government provide everything and government is maintaining them.

Has these farming programmes been able to sustain the state in food production?

I will be lying by saying yes, we are less than three years into these project and the first one did not come until a year and half when Mr governor came on board , the second one is less than a year to say sufficiency in less than three years is saying what is not the truth we are getting to that point where demand is also been meat.

Are you foreseeing or looking at a situation whereby you will serve other southwest state with the farm produce?

Of course , that is the direction, and Mr. governor has said this and he is working towards that, the idea or regional integration was made in Akure at the government house about two years ago, Governor Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola visited Mr. Governor and mar governor said genteel men why not let us start thinking about leveraging on what unite us by getting some sort of integration and they all agree, Aregbesola said he is going to create a ministry of regional integration and Mr. governor said he was going to have a commissioner for special duties that will work in that projection and part of what they said was that the state will look at area of comparative advantage so that where a state have its strength other state will not dabble into it so that we will be buying from each other, that is part of what regional integration was all about when it started it was not a political party thing but now it is a political party centred and from my own little understanding of international relations, I do not see any political unit that started on that kind of platform, they first seek political unity and then seek regional unity and how it can happen is that they first seek economic unity and then pursue political integration and we are not going to be part of that our point has been made and it is still being made that let us look at the areas of commonality, let us look at area where we can work together as a united people then we will somewhere close when we have elevated those things that needed like geography, property, like distance, then we can then talk about politics so we are looking at that, our main target is to be able to produce enough fish for the southwest to consume and ell to the other part of the country, I want to tell you that as at now people come from cotonou to come and buy our fish.

Are you saying that your strength lies in the flourishing agricultural produce?

Our strength lies in a number of things. Ondo state is about the largest of the southwest from the farthest part of the North you can travel minimum of seven top eight hours at top speed in Ondo state to the south, I don’t know any other state in the country that has that kind of stretch, so we have the benefit of swampy land in the southern part rainforest of the middle part and the near savannah North, so we can plant almost everything like maize, onion, palm cocoa, and others like that, we have fish farmers in the south so we are blessed, yet we won’t call ourselves master of all trade, there are areas neighbouring state have advantage over us and that is what we are we are doing each day of our lives we look at such opportunities.

Have you put in place a kind of cooperation between Ondo state and other state that you think you can work with.

We have tried as much as possible to let our idea of what we mean know at the first meeting of the Southwest governor in Ado Ekiti, everything was said by Mr. governor, I do know for instance that they agreed that the Akure- Ado road is going to be constructed by both governors, plans were being made to know that coast implication and to develop those thing together and that is part5 of regional integration but each day, we talk they informed us they are forming a committee and some of the highlight is that they first target is political integration which may be a clog in the wheels of progress.

How far have you gone in aligning with the Federal government policy on cassava production in Ondo?

At the national executive council meeting, Mr. governor had the privilege with Murtalla Nyako of presenting a blueprint on Agric Revolution in Ondo state and the Federal Minister of Agriculture said on several occasion that what we are doing in agric, sector other state must copy them because we are making the people owners of their destinies, it is not that some entrepreneurships will put resources, use the land waste the land and proceed to another state, no whatever its been made in Ono farm remains in Ondo state.

Are you not allowing investors from other state?

That is why it is PPOP approach, it all depend on what you want to do, there are terms and condition for everything there are opening in every areas for investors there is arable land from the North to the South for investors but what we do not want is to deprive the people of their land because we don’t want problem of land in the future, when the growth of who owns the land arise, in the partnership with any investors from any other state ownership reserve with the government. And it would be given out on favourable terms to would be investors and in most cases government provide infrastructure.

Back to the Cassava question sir, what have you been able to achieve?

In Ore alone, we have about a thousand hectares that has been planted with cassava this season, in Epe, of the four thousand hectares of land almost half of will go for cassava production and from that we gave this arrangement with an Agricultural organization to provide improved cassava stem for planting that process is on, for traditional farmers the yield is bigger and faster this are part of what we are doing. about transforming them to powder pulp, Onodo state is where there is highest level of cassava consumption in the southwest because apart from Gari, Lafun, there is also what we called pukuru in Ono state it is a unique cassava flour and it is being exported even as we s peak, we have que in to the federal government programme on cassava and agriculture generally, there has been a lot of correspondences between the governor and the honorable minister of Agriculture in the country.

What is the target of this government in Agriculture.

We have an agency called Wealth Creation Agency, those are the people who manage Agro business cities. There has been some issues on youth employment generations in Ondo state what has been the effort of government so far. Perhaps we have to start with the Agric Project immediately, the question we have in Nigeria is do you power industries on petrol , is there anywhere in the world where industries are powered on petrol and diesel, nowhere in the world except Nigeria, so that is the challenges of industrialization in Nigeria so we are in a different situation and we are not accepting any challenge , so what government is doing is the biggest industry that is not depending on electricity much in the world is Agriculture, one can run a 50 000 hectares of palm farm without electricity, through which one can produce raw materials for consumption I don’t need electricity to process cassava to turn it into pukuru , I don’t need one wax of electricity to do that in Large quantity but the challenge we gave is that of electricity and what we have is n that of electricity and what this government is doing in regard to this challenge we don’t just wake up one day and start on electricity project because if we produce a thousand megawatt of electricity , the moment you connect it to the NEPA pole it becomes the property of the power generation, Now that the opportunity for private partnership is open, the Ondo state government is planning serious planning is at advance stage to have a 30 megawatt in ore and 215 meggawatt in Akure, the 30 meggawatt in ore will power the Ore industrial part and what we are trying to do in ore is trying to make it a hub so that we can have thousands of industry in that area that will be the power there will be advantage of Ore being a loader, it is a highly populated area apart from Akure and the population is not majorly yorubas we have many Igbos Hausa’s and other tribe so we are creating a mini Nigeria out of ore and the way to go is Ore Industrial City and there is also Ore sunshine village going on in ore. It is also an avenue to create a new city out of the city. We want to move people, create a new place away from the clusters so that we can redevelop the town like it is happening in Akure the city is congested and the people are moving into the satellite towns around Akure, this is part of the total industrial park we are planning so industry will come and industry cannot come without facing power generation, we are facing the root problem generating power business concern won’t need to be invited they will come on their own.

Like what time will it be ready?

I cannot say the exact time but I can assure you by this time next year the ore own will be ready, the equipment had been purchase and all the payment had been made so everything will be ready before next year runs out. What we don’t allow in Ondo state is for an investors to come and tell us they want to partner with us and ask us to pay without they putting any imput on ground, we don’t allow that and that is what has been happening elsewhere so if you are bringing your funds bring it to Nigeria, starts your structures and we put our own imput but where we are partners with the world bank and the federal government in the Onod state social community development agency, government put in a hundred millions every years for five years we are paying for five years and what the agency is doing is to build community industries and concerned all over.

When do people look forward to see result of the industrialization project.

Result are already here we don’t need any time frame if you get to agribusiness city the cattle are growing and very soon we start selling those that are to be eat by people and the one for reproduction you know there is a season for cattles to be raise, I know for sure that cattle rearing is not something that can take place in a day or a month and yet you start reaping but it will take like two years , also I’ve told you about the electricity that by this time next year will start because saw the papers when it was been signed, we have a technical hub here we call it I.T hub with whawhi of china the biggest technical firm is china is is coming to invest in billions of dollars in computer and ICT stuffs we have signed the papers, the people are already in town and they are taking possession of houses in Akure the truth about ondo state industrial development is that it is not a one day thing , if you have to start an industry you must first start with evaluation and environment impact assessment, the power generation feeders it took one year six month to get the EIA for the generations things we’ve learnt from the mistake of the past we’ve done what is to be done right.

The opposition parties claimed that the is administration have received over 500 Billion naira in the last three and half years and with what you have just said, is it true that the government had received such money

If you divide 500 Billion into twelve and divided it by forty, whatever amount that gives you is what the opposition claims we got per month and you can determine if Ondo state ever got anything close to that in the last three and half year, and there is a saying that you don’t play madness with a mad person. If you play madness with a mad person nobody will be able to differentiate who is mad and who is not. The opposition party in ondo state are directionless ,they have the conquertorial ment5ality, their tactics is not about logic it is not reasoning it is about telling the public what is not Possible, I do know that there are months we get 3.58B, or 4.5B.

Are you telling us that all the achievements recorded so far is solely from the internally generated revenue or the allocation received from the Federal government?

The truth is that what we’ve done has been solely from our IGR and allocation from the Federal government.

But how much is the IGR generated in a month.

Our IGR is about 300 million naira in a month, but I do know Ondo state has approach capital market for a bond of about 27Billion naira and we have started plan on it., all we have been doing are from the allocation and IGR, we are good managers of resources and we have been able to block some of the area of waste, collect and share, that era is gone because I do know that is the strategy of the immediate past administration that is why if you ask the elite they will tell you there is no money in circulation that is because we don’t pay 50 percent of contract on front in Ono state when you are suppose to get guarantee from banks why do I need to give you money that does not exist so what we are doing is checking the limit of business interaction you get loan from your bank to run your contract and get paid overtime.

What has been the effort of this administration in education?

Ondo state educational programme is superb, through qualitative assurance education , ondo state tertiary institution students paid the least salary in the southwest, I don’t think they are paying up to fifty thousand naira while LASU is paying about 200 thousand or more., then you can see the mega schools they are of different type we have type 1 and typ2 we didn’t just built the mega schools there are some factors we consider before citing the schools ,the present administration in the state is not toying with the education, we are not just building the mega schools we are putting in place a suitable mechanism that cater for the maintenance of the schools, the halls in the school will be outsource for party at weekend it has been given to somebody to keep and we expect that by the end of every month we will be getting some eight hundred thousand naira or less from the hall so I don’t know what kind of maintenance that will cost about 800 thousand naira in a month, the pulpils were children of the common people on the street like trader, driver and so on and we give them free books and uniforms they also get free ride to school

The PDP gubernatorial candidate chief olusola Oke sometimes ago at the PDP unity rally alleged that the state governor abandoned many projects including the University of science and technology in Okitipupa which was started by Agagu administration.

Most of the building started by Agagu administration were abandoned by contractors some of them took more that 50 percent and delivered less than 10 percent it’s like we are doing everything to conserve what has been spent to maximize gains so that it won’t be a huge loss for the state. The present administration in the state has done a lot on the permanent campus of the site and by the special grace of God they will resume operation at the permanent site by next academic session.

Tell us about the sunshine city in Ore

Ore sunshine city is a huge project with many amenities , when completed there is going to be a mega filling station, there will be a motor park and a trailer park that can comfortably have 1000 trailers park at the same time, there will be two hotels two guest houses and several canteen and then business enterprise and what Mr governor want to do is that when you are going to the east you can conveniently keep a night before you go government is also putting in place a good health centre so that if there is any accident on this road they are lifted from here to the trauma centre in Ondo, the area covered between 100 to 200 hectares , NNPC is going to built the fuel station then document have been signed between the government and the private companies it’s going to be PPP.

Hope it won’t be something middle class people may not be able to afford

On this road it won’t be expensive, the sunshine garden we thought was going to be expensive we started at 1.5 Million but now its 8.8 Million naira and it is oversubscribe, and we have build 225 building at Oba Ile sunshine gardens people are begging us for more

Ekiti Assembly Passes Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places State Peace Corps Bills

Ekiti Assembly Passes Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places State Peace Corps Bills

Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the State’s Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Bill and the Ekiti State Peace Corps Bill into law
The two bills were passed after the committees saddled with the responsibilities of further scrutiny of the bills presented their reports at the plenary session of the House.
The Chairman of the Committee on Health and Human Services, Hon. Adeojo Alexander Ayodele presented his committee report on the prohibition of smoking in the public places bill while Hon. Ogundele Folorunso presented the report on the Peace Corps bill.
The bill on the prohibition of smoking in public place is a private bill sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Orisalade Adetunji.
The Peace Corps bill seeks to establish a peace corps to assist law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of communal peace and security in the state.
The two reports were adopted and unanimously approved by the lawmakers.

" Vote wisely and defend your votes” - Mimiko’s wife tells electorates

“Vote wisely and defend your votes” - Mimiko’s wife tells electorates

Oluwakemi Mimiko

Ahead of the October 20 governorship election in Ondo state, the Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko has urged electorates to make the right choice by casting their votes for the Labour Party Candidate in order to continue to enjoy the various developmental projects currently going on in the state.

Mrs. Mimiko made the call yesterday at the September edition of her monthly meeting with women groups in the state at Oka Akoko, in Akoko South West local government area of the state.

The wife of the governor, while stressing the need for the people to re-elect Governor Mimiko, cited the various unprecedented achievements of the governor in the last three and half years as reasons why he should be re-elected.

She challenged the people that if they want to continue to enjoy such dividends, they should cast their votes for the Labour Party come October 20, noting that since the first term promises were kept, the party will not disappoint them.

Mrs. Mimiko however called on women in the state to turn out en masse to vote and to also defend their votes. She encouraged them to be more active in the democratic process and appealed to them for their continued prayers and loyalty to the present administration so that peace and progress would continue to reign supreme in the state.

She said: “we need to go back to our various houses to talk to our children and husbands to preach politics of peace, tolerance and love to them so that peace would reign supreme in the state during and after the elections.”

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Olayinka Alabi, in her remarks also stressed the role of women in a democratic process which cannot be neglected.

She also commended the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for his various programmes towards improving the standard of living in the state.

THE THRILLS AND GLAMOUR OF MAIDEN ORAYAN FESTIVAL

THRILLS   AND   GLAMOUR  OF MAIDEN ORAYAN FESTIVAL

Alaafin says it is the Beginning of Yoruba Cultural Renaissance 

Ajimobi  Laments Dearth of Yoruba Culture, Promises to Promote Culture

Prof Wande Abimbola speaks on Oranyan , Call for Unity among Yoruba.  

IKU BABA YEYE, OBA LAMIDI ADEYEMI 111 ALAAFIN OF OYO

 Over hundred Yoruba Oba in Attendance

We wish this Fesival never ends - Traders

The common saying  Ajise Bi Oyoo Laari, Oyo kii se bi baba eni kan kan  comes into term last week as the  Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi get another place in history with the  celebration of  the maiden edition of Oranyan festival, a festival 

which brought all the sons and  daughters  of Oranmiyan the  founder of Oyo Empire together to  celebrate  their progenitor and the first  Alaafin

 The festival which can best be described as the first ever festival of Unity in Yoruba had in attendance traditional rulers and powerful delegations from virtually all towns and  city in Yorubaland  especially those  with historical link to  Oranmiyan  within and outside the shores of Nigeria 

 Apart from  about  forty Yoruba  Obas  from the  Republic of Benin  who were accompanied by high chief and representatives of the Honourable minister  of Culture and Tourism  there were about hundreds of Yoruba  Oba in Nigeria among who are ,the  the Ataoja of Osogbo, Timi of Ede  Orangun of Ila, olofa of offa, Olu of Inisa, Olugbon of Ile Igbon, Oba  Gboyega Samuel Osunbade, Onpetu of Ijeru, Olota of Ota, Onira of Ira, Akibio of Ilora , Elerin of Erin Ile, Okere of Saki, Onijo of Oke Iho, Onitede of Tede, Iba of Kisi, Onipe of Ipeland, Olojoku of Ojoku,  Asolo of Isolo , Agoloto of Badagry, Aare of Ago Are, Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Awori of Yewa,  Eleruwa of Eruwa, Aseyin  of Iseyin and others.

Gov Ajimobi, Alaafin  and Onikoyi Abesan  from Benin

Republic

Other dignitaries  at the occasion include, Professor Wande Abimbola, the Awise of Yorubaland, Professor Bade Ajuwon,  Dr  Omololu  Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo state and the Balogun of Oyo Empire,   Senator Ayoade Adeseun, , Professor  Soji Adejumo fomer UBEC chairman Oyo state,  Senator Abiola ajimobi, the executive governor of Oyo state and his entourage,  Alhaja  Monsurat Sumonu,  Speaker  Oyo state House of Assembly, representatives of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the  executive governor of Osun State, Representative of  Ekiti state governor  Dr Kayode Fayemi, legislators  from both  the National and State Assemblies, Gani Adams  leader of the Oodua People’s Congress,  Dr Fredrick Fasheun,   Leader of OPC,  Chief  Dr Alex Alozie,  Eze Nidgbo of  Oyo state  and his team ,delegate from  The  National Union of Road Transport Workers Union NURTW, Lagos Socialite, Alhaji Buhari Oloto, Chief Segun Eso, Jide Okunun, Alhaji Mukaila Ajao, Wakilu Lawal, Wahab Adepoju Ajagbe  among others.

 The one week long activities which started on  September  8 started  with a carnival float around Oyo and his environs. It also features exhibition of art and craft, film show and documentary on  Sango and Alaafin Lamidi Olayiwola  Adeyemi 111, lectures on  art and craft, football competition, Gbegiri day, visit to Historical sites  by tourists   and grand finale held on Saturday with  cultutral display from  diffrenet cultural group, including  Ajofoyinbo, Eegun Aye, Pobe Dancers from  Benin republic, festival lecture  by Awise Agbaye,  traditional oath taking,  presentation of trophy to the winners of the football competition  among others.

 In his welcome address the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 who described Oranyan as a pride to the whole Yoruba race  an embodiment and platform builder of what makes Yoruba race  who they are today    said  Oranyan Festival is immortalized and showcase to the whole world the deeds and worth of  an enigmatic  Oranyan, one of the sons of Okanbi, the son  of Oduduwa who was the first  Oba in this part  of the world  to establish  an enduring  empire  which spread beyond dialectical region  and lasted  more than  600 uninterrupted years.

Kabiyesi said further that “ while other great nations celebrate their  heroes by showcasing  their glorious past, African  do not  give much reverence to their because of the  super imposition  of the two religions of Islam and Christianity  and etching  of their  sermons and creed into the consciousness of African’s psyche have  conditioned  our sense of appreciation and thinking thereby making us to see and read fetishism  and primitive as  hallmark  our tradition and culture.” Adding that hat Oranyan Festival is  one of the  steps  taking by  the Alaafin in council  at making  sure that the contribution of  Yoruba to the emergence  of modern  cosmopolitan world  is not relegated to the  background and shoved  into the ocean of forgetfulness,

 Oba Adeyemi while   explaining the  idea behind what is termed  cultural renaissance of the  Yoruba people  said, “ Modestly and realistically, we desire earnestly to resuscitate  those norms that contribute to the event to make Yoruba race a unique one. As you can all see we have structured the event  and today’s programmes s so well as to stimulate  Unity and Lubricate  togetherness among the Yoruba”

 Also the executive governor of Oyo state  Senator  Abiola Ajimobi in his speech  Oranyan festival  is an event that should be viewed beyond a mere gathering of people to witness the honour being bestowed on a deserving hero, who not only distinguished himself as a worthy son of Oduduwa and first Alaafin of Oyo Empire, but also carved a name for himself as the great empire-builder who laid a solid foundation for the continuation of the Yoruba race. Adding that “the exemplary attributes and outstanding contributions of Oranyan in time past should definitely serve as impetus to each and every one of us alive today and propel us to contribute significantly to the society and humanity at large”

 Lamenting on  the fading glory of Yoruba culture, Senator Ajimobi said “ It is however saddening that today, our society has been overwhelmed by foreign cultures and arts, most of which are inferior to our values and heritage.

 The over-cultivation of these foreign cultures have overtime led to the erosion or debasement of our cultural values and ideals. The way things stand, indigenous languages, etiquette, modes of worship, festivals, traditional modes of recreation and storytelling and all aspects of traditional living are in danger of extinction”. Adding that It is therefore high time we repositioned what we have and use it to get what we want.  The future of the past must be guaranteed. To do this, it is incumbent on us to hold on to and lift proudly aloft that which is glorious about our past.  We should return to the cultural values that have served us well for centuries.

Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Olunloyo and Monsurat Summonu, Speaker OYHA

 

 

 

While  stating the role his administration has played in the promotion of  culture and  tourism development in the last one years , the governor  explained that “We have created the Ministry of Culture and Tourism out of the former Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, basically to streamline the functions of the Ministry and its agencies for effective performance, as well as re-vitalizing Oyo State Culture and Tourism towards transforming and repositioning the State to generate employment, reduce poverty in the society and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the State ,the State also recently won an award as the most mobilized participating State at the 5^th African Arts and Crafts (AFAC), EXPO 2012 wherein 18 countries and 17 States with over 100 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) participated in  June, 2012, in Abuja. We have also provided a grant running into millions of Naira to cultural groups and associations in the State. 

this is apart from the various donations made to artistes and towards enhancing traditional festivals in the State” 

 Oba Adeyemi welcoming  the Ataoja of Osogbo

 The governor also disclosed that he has mandated the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to start preparing for the hosting of a Carnival tagged “OYO FEST”.  According to him, arrangements have been concluded with other stakeholders for the packaging and hosting of the carnival which is expected to bring together the entire people of Oyo State, irrespective of political or religious inclinations and to boost the economic activities of the State. It is a period in which all businesses - hotel, food/drink vendors, artisans etc - are expected to experience massive turn around, and a consequential boost in the exponential sales in products and ultimately more income to the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

 Bashorun of Oyo, and Awisw of Yorubaland, Prof Wande Abimbola

 

 Assuring the people of his unrelenting effort in promoting tourism in the state, the governor said  “I therefore want to assure you that the present administration in the State will continue to do its best to see that our cultural heritage is well packaged to the delight of all.  We will not relent in our efforts towards promoting, presenting, preserving and developing our rich cultural heritage”

  He however express gratitude to Oba Adeyemi for his unshaken support at all times and for deeming it fit to remind the Yoruba race of their rich cultural heritage and commended the committee and everybody that contribute to the success of the maiden edition of the programme.

 The Awise of yorubaland, Professor Wande Abimbola   while describing Oranyan, said   Oranyan is a giant  being he is  about 20 feet that is why his  staff is about 15 feet,  he  said  celebration of festivals will usher in  success, goodluck, open womb for   the barren   and others.

   He  commended the Alaafin  for his magnanimity  to  remember  and celebrate the founder  of Oyo Empire  and  appeal to  people  of Oyo to continue   to corporate with Alaafin   in celebrating  Oranyan festival.

 Senator Ayo Adeseun  A member of the upper chamber of the parliament in Abuja in an exclusive interview with  Feedback said “ celebrating Oranya festival is one of the solution to the  Unity among  Yoruba that is being threatened. According to him “this  is one of the solution, the issue of our  unity been threaten  as a race is bound to be so  because we are  very much enlighten and that we are the envy of other tribes in the country, naturally  in the kind of  Federal system of government  we  run in Nigeria   though it is not been done federally, there is bind to be those  kind of see saw development and that is why the Yoruba’s  in  the southwest can come together formulate our own  policies  develop our economy the way we want  it to be and become the bride for all Nigeria  although it has to be  in contest of one Nigeria and  i think this is one of those steps in the right direction anything that  will unite the Yoruba that can now unleash  the  internal crisis created  in our people  honestly must be encourage and  supported “

pobe dancers from Benin Republic

 

 Also  Hon Kamil Akinlabi  a member of the Federal House of Representatives   maintained that “Oranyan  festival is  a celebration of  Yoruba  culture tradition and norms  and  it is to call the attention of the  Yoruba’s at home and diasporas to the uniqueness of our culture  and tradition and to say that Oranyan gave us the language, the culture, the dressing even the type of food we eat  so that is what we are showcasing to the entire  Yorubaland , so that that will continue to remind us of the oneness and to be able to insulate our traditions  from  political influences  people  will know that the Culture and tradition and our  history is  unique , they are  unique in the sense that you cannot just come  because of politics  dilute  it for us and that is exactly what we are showcasing  and that is what we are celebrating today”

 Factional Leader of the Odua People’s Congress OPC whose organization is partnering through Olokun festival said celebration of Oranyan festival will make people to know who is Oranyan and what role he played in Yorubaland  .  According to him “ Oranyan as a deity is one of the  heroes within the deities of Yorubaland,he is a warrior, he fought a lot of war in Yorubaland and he is one of the most important  institution  we have in Yorubaland because he went  to organize Benin  where he gave birth to a child called Eweka, Eweka dynasty is one ruling house in Benin Kingdom today, and at the same time he became the  became the Oni of Ife and later became the Alaafin of Oyo, so deities like that needed to be recognise and  needed to be laid emphasis  to what he done  if not for the festival it will be very difficult for people to know the role he played when he was alive”

  In  his own  remark,  Eze Ndigbo of Oyo state, Dr Alex Alozie  who came  with retinue of  his traditional chiefs   said  “ this is a very beautiful, festival  it is a beautiful one you can see it yourself that people are happy, you see as traditional rulers we keep on doing things to ensure that our culture does not die, and this is part of it, what we are saying it if we look at the area where the culture is fading away and see that it did not die, we must promote it “.

  One of the  benefits of event l of such magnitude is the  boost in the  economy of the   place as  commercial activities  rose drastically during the   festivals ,  Alhaja Amdallat Awobioju,  a tradomedical practitioner  who is also the  Iyalaje Ewedapo of Oyo state  attest to the fact that the festivals has  realy promoted  her business  since its started   and she  wish the  Oranyan festival did not end ,” we are  very glad and grateful  to God and Alaafin  for this festival , we make more sales, and enjoy good patronage, even some of us make what they’ve never make before “

  Alhaja  AAdewale a food vendor at Bashorun  junction  at  Oyo  also confirmed that  she enjoy  more patronage that before according to her, “ we use to kill one or two Ogunfe   before but  just for this festival  alone  we killed  six goat today, we sell more that 40 bag of pure water as to  less than five   before, in fact people  patronise  us very well, some people  even requested for more gbegiri because of the delicacies and local  flavour.

 Also  some commercial motorcyclists  and  Taxi driver who spoke  with feedback  disclose that  though  they did not increase transport fare because of the festival but the  event afforded them to make more money . one of them  Tajudeen Adio   said “  the traffic was very heavy  around the place  so most of us  drop passengers from a  little far distance to the palace , we enjoy good patronage  since  from Wednesday”

Companies like  Nigeria Brewery, International  brewery, intercontinental distillers limited,  bond chemicals  and others also  display their product and offer free gift  to the people  while some said their product at a subsidies  rate  for instance, Representatives of intercontinental  distillers limited who spoke with Feedback  said “ We are here to showcase  our brand and  contribute to the promotion of Yoruba  culture, it has  been a very wonderful  experience , we  are  quite sure that  such programme of this magnitude cannot be  run by the Kabiesi alone  a lot of companies and industries  need to come on board to support and we are part of the support. This is done in passion to contribute to the rejuvenation of   culture and traditions not only in Yorubaland, but also in other tribes, we use to do it in Osun Osogbo and we are here at Oranyan festival too”.