Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has urged Kwara State Governor, Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq, to make the Oya Grove in Ira a tourist destination that could add to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
Aare made the call at the weekend, while speaking at the 2023 edition of Oya Festival held at Ira Grammar School, Kwara state, Iba Gani Adams, even as he noted that the state was blessed with many sites that could be transformed into a global tourist destination.
The Yoruba generalissimo, while making the call, maintained that the state government should construct a road leading to the groove, insisting that Oya remained the great deities and goddess of Yoruba race.
“Yoruba land is blessed with great ancestors, deities and goddesses that are very important to the progress and development of the South West.
“For instance, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, we have the Olumo rock. In Osun State, we have Osun river goddess in Osogbo. In Oyo, we have the Oranmiyan and in Ibadan, there is Okebadan. In Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, we have Okota River goddess and several others.
“In Nigeria today, Osun Osogbo Festival remains one of the most celebrated festivals in the country.
“We must commend the Osun State government’s giant strides in renovating the Osun Osogbo grove.The new facelift of the grove is a good development that will help in boosting the state’s tourism potentials. And the state will be better for it,” Iba Adams said.
“I am appealing to Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq to work on giving the Oya grove a new look, making it retain the respect as an historical site,” he said.
Speaking further, Iba Adams described Oya goddess as a global deity that needed to be rebranded and well-packaged, saying that the Kwara State government should create a myth that showcases the history and facts about Oya goddess which he noted the popular Santos Football Club of Brazil adopted as their deity.
“The Kwara State government should create a myth that showcases the history and facts about Oya Oyetoro,” he said.
“Oya goddess is a global deity that needs to be rebranded and well-packaged. In Brazil, the popular Santos Football Club of the legendary Pele adopts Oya as their deity.
“Her image and myth can be seen around the Santos Football Club Stadium/Arena and every other historical place in Brazil.
“If the Brazilians can appreciate our goddess and deity to that extent, it is a big challenge for us to come to terms with the spiritual importance and value of promoting our deities and ancestors,” Adams stated.
The Onira of Ira, Oba Abdul Wahab Oyetoro, in his remark, expressed great appreciation to the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, for his efforts in pushing the Oya Festival to the global state.
He assured that efforts would be made to reposition the festival and make it the most celebrated in the town.
The monarch, however, urged the Ira Progressive Union to work with Aare Adams and his team in ensuring that the coming edition of Oya Festival enjoyed the best publicity and standard.
“We are happy that Aare is doing this in Ira.The most important thing for us is to support his efforts and we will do everything that is possible to support the initiative,” Oba Oyetoro said.
The Guest Lecturer, Makanjuola Zacchaeus Abiodun from Kwara State College of Education, said Yoruba can only be liberated if they continue to promote the culture of the race.
The Guest Lecturer, while urging the Yoruba generalissimo to continue his cultural promotion activities, stated further that Iba Adams remained the torchbearer in cultural promotion activities across Yoruba land and beyond, adding that the best the Yoruba could do is to support his activities.
Other royal fathers present at the event include the Arigbamu of Agbamu Kingdom, Oba Olushola Dare and members of the Ira Chiefs in Council; the National Executive Council (NEC) and National Coordinating
Council (NCC) of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), all prominent sons and daughters of Ira town, amongst others.
. TheWitness
