YOMI AYELESO writes on the beauty, glitz and glamour witnessed last week during the 2024 Udiroko festival in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, where deep cultural values and tradition of the community were showcased.
From the honorary and traditional chiefs, to groups, associations, invited guests and the residents, the 2024 Udiroko festival dominated discussions for many weeks ahead of the event and gathered a huge crowd due to the uniqueness and ultimately glamour associated with the annual festival in Ado-Ekiti.
In recent times, communities and towns in the Southwest region have made their festivals and celebrations more colourful by devising several measures to flaunt the culture and tradition of those communities.
This year’s Udiroko festival was the talk of the town not only because of the array of guests from far and near who graced the event, but the manner in which the event was organised. This made it unique and colourfully outstanding compared to the previous years.
Few of those things which stood out during the festival were the beautifully sown traditional attires known as ‘Aso Oke’ with vibrant colours, the energetic and cultural dances and the array of guests and dignitaries that stormed the event.
Among the guests were the Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Jibril Barau; the senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; former governor, Ayodele Fayose and the deputy governor of Ekiti, Chief Monisade Afuye and other personalities.
At the event, the quartet of Senators Akpabio, his deputy, Senator Barau, Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele and the senator representing Ogun West, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, donated a sum of N110 million to support the development of Ado Ekiti capital city.
While Akpabio was installed as an honorary traditional chief of Ado-Ekiti, called ‘Agbaakin of Ado-Ekiti’, Senator Adeola was given the honorary title of ‘Aare Akorode of Ado-Ekiti.’
In addition, top Yoruba Nollywood actors and actresses, including Muyiwa Ademola, Laide Bakare, Yomi Fash Lanso, Shola Kosoko, Foluke Daramola, Muyiwa Adegoke (Londoner), among others added glamour to the event with their presence.
Speaking on the origin and significance of the festival, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe said that the Udiroko festival marked the first day of the traditional calendar in Ado-Ekiti to celebrate the rich history, culture and tradition of the community.
He said, “The celebration of this tripod of our collective existence as Ado people every year provides ample opportunity to all Ado sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora to come together to appreciate God and pray for continuous peace and progress in the coming year.
“The celebration is a pride to our cultural togetherness as a people and a by-product of the aja ewi, ‘the ewi supernatural power of conquest’ inherited from the House of Oduduwa. The Udiroko yearly celebration is always accompanied with feasting, dancing and merry making throughout the length and breadth of Ado Kingdom and its environs.
“Through this festival, we constantly celebrate our ancient past and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ado people in ways that give currency to the past and precisely situate the present for a productive future. Concretely put, Udiroko festival is a cultural celebration that showcases the historical, cultural and traditional wherewithal of Ado people as a collective entity.
“The deep-seated history of this critical cultural festival vis-à-vis the existence of Ado Kingdom and its people over the years and, the need to continually cherish it as the foundation of the said existence amongst other factors dictated the theme of the 2024 Udiroko Festival: Sustaining the celebrations of our historical heritage and cultural essence as a collective.”
Oba Adejugbe appealed to indigenes of Ado-Ekiti, to embrace peace and be united for the progress and development of the community.
On the current economic challenges in the country, the traditional ruler urged the people to show more understanding with the government and its policies and plans to address the situation.
He, however, advised President Bola Tinubu and the government at all levels to be decisive and proactive in tackling the increasing hunger and harsh economic situation in the interest of the masses.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to all and sundry to sacrificially endure the current pains associated with the bold critical economic initiatives of President Tinubu. These pains shall soon be decimated and eclipsed by requisite policy attention of the governments at all the strata of the governance process.
“Notwithstanding, I hereby call on the government to put, in its policy agenda, requisite measures targeting the current trauma of the citizenry. This call, I am sure and certain shall definitely receive the critical attention it deserves given the physical presence of the nation’s frontline legislators here in our midst today.
“This call itself, is in addition to the envisaged committed implementations of the various palliative measures it has put in place. I am urging the government to get all the critical stakeholders, particularly labour leaders and employers on board in its quest to assuage the feelings of the populace.
“With patience and commitment on the parts of the government and the citizenry, Nigeria will come out of the challenges associated with the current socio-political and economic policy drives and Nigerians shall be better for it.”
Akpabio, represented by Senator Barau, saluted the contributions of Oba Adejugbe to nation-building, branding him as one of the most development-driven and respectable monarchs in the country who has made a surfeit of contributions to national cohesion.
He promised the National Assembly’s commitment to give Ekiti State favourable attention in the 2025 budgetary provisions to attract federal presence to the state in terms of developmental projects.
According to him, “We are assuring you that the Senators will work hard to give Ekiti favourable attention in terms of project allotments in the 2025 budgetary provision. The mission is to support Governor Oyebanji, who is today one of the respected leaders of this country because he maintains cordial relationships with all the people.
“The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, is one of the foremost traditional rulers in Nigeria. With what I have seen here today, the Udiroko festival is a wonderful event. It is a wonderful tourism virtue. We will draw the attention of other prominent Nigerians to this festival.”
Akpabio commended the electorate in Ekiti Central Senatorial District for electing Senator Bamidele, saying: “We are proud of him because he is doing well at the national level. We are going to do everything possible to join him in attracting federal projects to Ekiti State through favourable budgetary allocations.”
Speaking, Governor Oyebanji called on all Ado-Ekiti descendants home and in the Diaspora to use the platform provided by the Udiroko festival to strengthen the bond of love, empathy and brotherhood that binds them together, stressing that these values are essential for the unity and progress of the community.
He urged the people to see the festival as a reminder of the enduring cultural legacy of the Ekiti people and the importance of coming together to build a brighter future for the state.
Oyebanji described the Ado-Ekiti monarch as a beacon of wisdom and leadership, whose influence has significantly contributed to the peace and stability of the town.
Highlighting the monarch’s role in fostering unity among diverse groups within the community and ensuring that Ado Ekiti remains a centre of cultural heritage, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting cultural values and supporting initiatives that would enhance the socio-economic development of the state.
He said, “I congratulate you Kabiyesi. This is extremely beautiful and I thank God I am here today. Your time is good for us in Ekiti and in Ado Ekiti and it will continue to please us, I pray for long life for you on the throne. You have toiled for this state; the state will serve you and this state will make you proud. I am so happy that Udiroko is taking an international dimension during your time.”
The governor urged the people of the state to continue to live in peace and show love to one another. “Please, as we celebrate, let’s love one another. Those that have enough should share with others. To all of us that God has blessed, let’s help the less privileged. I urge us, let’s show love to one another; don’t let the love end at the Udiroko festival,” he added.
On his part, Senator Bamidele described Udiroko as a huge cultural carnival, promising to join the state government in expanding the scope of the cultural fiesta and make it a veritable source of tourism in the state.
The senate leader said, “I am happy with the development I am seeing today. Udiroko has become a household name in Ekiti. We have Odun Oba in Ikere and Ita Ijero festival in Ijero Ekiti. Kabiyesi, you have been blazing the trail, God will help you to succeed.
“I don’t joke with the promotion of Ekiti’s cultural heritage. I appreciate your support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Tinubu. With all of us working together, Nigeria and Ekiti shall be great.
“Those of us who are your representatives in Abuja won’t disappoint you. We value your support and we won’t take it for granted. I will personally ask the Senate President and other committed senators to tell me the projects they will sponsor and bring to Ekiti in the 2025 budget.”
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