As all Ijesa people in the State Osun are getting ready to hold their annual Iwude Ijesa Festival, the grand finale coming up on the Saturday the 21st of December, 2019, to this end, the planning committee for the socio-cultural event took time to visit the state’s Governor Gboyega Oyetola in his office in Osogbo yesterday. 11th December as representatives of Oba Adimula and the entire Ijesa Kingdom to inform the governor officially and also to invite him for this year's celebration of Iwude Ijesa festival which has since taken taken off.
Governor Oyetola was delighted to welcome the members led the Vice-Chairman of the committee, Chief Afolabi Igbaroola and the Olumobi of Imobi-Ijesa, Oba Adetayo Haastrup.
In the words of the governor, "Iwude Ijesa festival has come to stay, it is an annual event that we all have being looking forward to. The usual way, we will support the event to make it an event that will be so recognized. We will do whatever we need to do to make it a memorable and wonderful event."
Governor Oyetola further said that the Iwude Ijesa festival is an event that people have always being looking forward to, as it gives the opportunity forva lot of people that have not seen or interacted for a while to meet and celebrate and "the joyful mood of Ilesa city and her people is always a good thing to behold". The governor also expressed that the popular Ijesa people's festival is actually competing with the "Ojude Oba" that is celebrated in Ijebu-Ode as it gives a sense of ownership and people even in the diaspora come around and celebrate a festival they call their own.
Governor Oyetola while promising that he will again be physically present at this year's grand finale of the festival prayed that the celebration will come peacefully and people that come around will enjoy.
The governor was presented with the scheduled programme of events and the ankara uniform for the grand finale.
Earlier the committee members were in the office of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Semeon Obawale Adebisi who also promised the active participation of his ministry, pointing out that culture and tourism enterprise is one of the key areas that the current administration of governor Oyetola is looking forward to generate revenue internally. He also mentioned that measures will be put in place to introduce innovative ideas into the celebration of the festival so as to increase tourist participation as from next year.
The commissioner, who later led the committee members to the governor's office was surrounded by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi, the Director General of Ileri-Oluwa Campaign Organization, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Binuyo, the Head of Service, Mr. Olowogboyega .... ,the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health, Pharm. Siji Olamiju, Comrade Amitolu Shitu, Comrade Richard Tinubu.
Three Local Government Chairmen were also in attendance; Hon. Femi Kujembola of Atakumosa East, Hon. Folarin Fafowora of Ilesa West Central and Hon. Adesoji Olowoopejobori of Ilesa East.
The delegation of the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee, members at the meeting were Chief Afolabi Igbaroola, the Olumobi of Imobi-Ijesa, Oba Dr. Adetayo Haastrup, Mr. Akin Ajayi-Obe, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, Mr. Oladimeji Lasore, Prince Isaac Haastrup, Mrs. Victoria Oluwaseun, Mr. Wale Idowu and Mrs. Oluwabunmi Ogunniyi.
More photos:
(All photos credit: Oladimeji Lasore)
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The Roots Club and Ijesa Felates's Can were two of the prominent clubs which added colour to Iwude,when I was part of the inaugural planning committee.
ReplyDeleteThe rowdiness of the social aspect of the programme where prominent Ijesa from the diaspora are seated should be secured and accessible only to invited groups as in Ojude Oba.
The masses should only be part of the day-long tour of the city by Owa,up to the Ogun rituals
-Tunde Awobiyi-FNGE