* Congratulates Ewi, Ado indigenes on the celebration of rich cultural values, heritage
By John Odunjo
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, on the celebration of this year’s Udiroko Festival holding on Sunday.
Bamidele described the Udiroko cultural Festival being celebrated by Ado Ekiti people as “a symbol of unity and celebration of rich and colourful culture and valuable heritage, which deserves to be accorded national status and recognition”.
The senator, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, spoke in his congratulatory message made available on Saturday.
On the significance of the Udiroko annual festival to the survival of Ado Ekiti people, Bamidele praised the kingdom for placing high regard on culture and tradition despite being a metropolis and capital city of Ekiti State.
Consequently, the Senate Majority Leader described as heartwarming, the sustenance of the cultural fiesta for several centuries to show respect for tradition and culture of the people.
“Let me congratulate our royal father and the embodiment of culture and tradition, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, for adding flamboyance to this annual festival through personal sacrifices, vision and partnership with private sector to launch the event to national stardom.
“I appeal to the people of the Ado metropolis to share the vision and work hard to sustain the essence of the celebration, which is to promote unity, development and patriotism among Ado Ekiti indigenes,” he said.
The Senate Leader said that Nigeria would continue to lose the chunk of its available resources if the cultural sector was not accorded the right attention it deserves.
He said, “Nigeria has a rich and valuable culture and tradition across over the 250 ethnic nationalities that we have, but they remained largely untapped due to poor investment and right economic focus.
“Time has come for the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate a strong relationship with the 36 states of the federation to fully tap these wasting potentials and this can only be achievable through the right investment and partnership with the private sector”.
He, however, pleaded with the security agencies to ensure the provision of security across Ekiti State to protect the celebrants, tourists and investors that will be coming to Ekiti to witness the iconic festival,” the Senate Leader said.
