Awujale skips Ojude-Oba as Ijebu-Ode agog for historic festival

For the very first time in decades, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona yesterday was absent at the age-long Ojude-Oba festival.

Ojude-Oba, “the king’s fore-court”, is a century -old festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and it’s  known to the Ijebus as a major annual festival that brings them together.

The festival is celebrated on the third day after Id-El-Kabir. The festival has its traditional, cultural, religious and social military significance.

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The Awujale is the symbol of the festival and during the yearly event, participants otherwise known as Regberegbes, the age-groups, usually parade at the venue and pay home to the highly reverred monarch who has been on the throne for more than six decades.

Except the interruption between 2020 and 2021 due to the outbreak of the covid-19 which held the world by the storm, and prevented large gathering, Oba Adetona, often referred to as the spirt of Ijebuland has always graced the festival.

But the 91-year-old monarch was conspicuously absent as this year’s event held on Sunday, but represented by his Queen, Olori Kemi Adetona.

It was gathered that Awujale’s absence was due to his health status and old age.

The event attracted the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr Hanatu Musawa, Governor Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa represented by his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, Former governor of Ogun state and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu and the deputy governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele among others.

Speaking at the event, the minister expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to tap into culture and tourism for the economic expansion.

Musawa said “President Bola Tinubu is strongly committed to making us  the greatest black nation on earth, to making us one of the strongest economies. One of the ways he wants to do it is for us to leverage and tap into the opportunities that’s abound in the cultural and creative landscape.

“Recently, President Bola Tinubu announced a collaboration between the federal and subnationals whereby we will do a collaboration and partnership so that… we will also work with the private sector to tap into the unique peculiarities of every single state.

The minister noted that Ojude Oba is a huge economic expansion, applauding the collaboration between the FG and Ogun State.

She said “We can increase our visibility, we can bring job creation by looking at what the culture and tradition have to offer.This culture is your ideal, it’s your tradition, it’s who we are as a people and we are extremely proud.

“This is a beautiful culture. This is a culture that we must continue to export and use as a form of economic expansion

“For me as a Nigerian, I’m proud to be part of this community. I feel honoured to be here and I am looking forward to enacting that important vision that President Bola Tinubu has by tapping into the rich resource of Ogun State”

Abiodun said the state aligns with Tinubu’s mission on inclusive growth, empowerment and cultural preservation.

He described this year’s edition of the festival as outstanding and the mother of all Ojude-Obas, saying festival has continued to witness progress and improvements.

The governor said “Ojude Oba is more than a festival, it’s a living heritage. It connects us to our roots and offers direction in a rapidly changing world.

“In an area marked by social fragmentations, this festival stands as a symbol of communal harmony where religion, tradition and modernity co-exist beautifully under the banner of a shared identity.

“From regal parades of the regberegbes to the majestic displays, Ojude Oba is a beautiful culture, our pride, our values and our continuity.”