From John Adeleke, Ado Ekiti
As the indigenes of Ado Ekiti celebrate the Udiroko cultural festival, on Sunday, the Chairman of the Ado Central Local Council Development Area, Engr Toyin Ojo, has assured the residents of adequate security to guarantee a hitch-free celebration.
The LCDA boss felicitated the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe(Aladesanmi III), the Eyesorun of Ado Ekiti, Olori Bosede Adejugbe, the Ewi-in-Council, and the entire Ado Ekiti indigenes for witnessing the celebration that symbolises the unification of the kingdom and giant strides toward its development.
Engr Ojo said this in his congratulatory message released to journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, marking the 2023 Udiroko festival slated for Sunday, August 27.
The Local government boss described Udiroko as a festival that had united the Ado Ekiti kingdom for ages, saying the sustenance of the cultural fiesta since inception, signposted how dogged and unique the indigenes of the metropolitan city are in their dispositions to arts, tradition and culture .
The Local government chairman saluted Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his friendly disposition towards the radical development of arts culture and tourism potentials of the state to.make Ekiti an epicentre in the sector.
Hon. Ojo specifically commended Oba Adejugbe and members of his council for elevating the festival to a national status through their consistency , innovations and investment that had garnered national attention.
The LCDA Chairman appealed to the indigenes and the populace that would be coming to grace the occasion to embrace peace and cooperate with security agencies to add panache and flamboyance to the cultural festival.
He added that with the huge investments and innovations being introduced by Governor Oyebanji to the development of arts , culture and tourism, that the festival would soon be listed by the Federal Government as a National Festival.
“Let me congratulate our revered Ewi of Ado Ekiti and the custodian of Ado Ekiti’s tradition, HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe(Aladesanmi III) on this year’s celebration of Udiroko Festival.
“It is not gainsaying the fact that the cultural fiesta stands as the bond of unity among Ado Ekiti indigenes and the uniqueness of the kingdom. It is one event that is widely venerated even across the state because of the huge investment and interest that are accorded the festival.
“I want to assure our people, particularly the participants and tourists that the LCDA under my watch will work with agencies of local and state governments as well as the security agencies to safeguard their lives as the festival lasted.
“I want to urge our people to approach the celebration with caution and civility for the kernel behind the staging of the annual festival and efforts being contrived by Governor Biodun Oyebanji to develop Ekiti’s potentials in the sector not to be truncated.
“On behalf of the LCDA and the residents, we wish all and sundry a fruitful and happy celebration”, Ojo said.
