Devotees, Tourists Celebrate Yet Another Osun Festival

The celebration of the Osun festival dates back to the 13th century and has grown to become the most famous of all traditional festivals in the South-Western part of the country.

As early as 7am the major streets leading to the groove from the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo land, had been taken over by large crowd positioned to have a clear view of the Votary maid (Arugba).

The grand finale of the annual  Festival came to an end amid funfair with masquerades, traditional religion heads and royal fathers, paying homage to the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun at the Osun-Osogbo groove.

CityMirrorNews reports that the grand final of the festival had a lot of cultural/traditional colourations with foreign and local tourists, government and political figures in attendance.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola who’s is the grand patron of the ocassion, in his remarks said, his state was a state blessed with different tourism sites pointing out that the Osun-Osogbo festival was a festival that stands out among others, as it attracts tourists within and outside the state and country annually.

The governor who was represented by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Simeon Obawale, said the event brings out the rich culture of the Osogbo people and Osun as a whole.

He therefore felicitate with the Ataoja of Osogboland, Obanipekun for a successfully hosting this year’s festival and equally appreciating residents of Osogbo for creating an atmosphere of peace which allows for the hosting of the festival.

The host of the festival, Oba Olaonipekun, in his appreciation remark said he was happy for the honour done on him, by the large turnout of dignitaries, both from Nigeria and abroad.

He specially thanked the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Babajide Omoworare, the senator representing Osun-East, for their immense support towards the success of the festival, in their capacity as the grand patron and chairman of the occasion.

He thanked everybody that came to celebrate the festival with him with special appreciation to all the security agents who provided security; praying that they all have a safe return to their individual destinations.

In his own remarks, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, the Chairman of the occasion, said  the law establishing the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) would be reviewed so that the tourism potentials in the state and country at large could be developed.

Omoworare said Osun government had laid a solid foundation by investing so much to develop the more than 200 tourism sites in the state, and that with the review of the laws establishing the NTDC, the state will reap the rewards of its investment.

He said countries like Ghana and South Africa had been reaping form their tourism sector and said Nigeria, which has a population of 170 million people, should also develop the tourism sector to serve as good source of foreign currency generation.

CityMirrorNews reports that the grand finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival was attended by royal fathers within and outside the state, Political office holders, residents of the state and lovers of the traditional festival