The National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and founder of Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), Chief Gani Adams, has asked the Federal Government to adopt the celebration of Oke’badan Cultural Festival, refine it and give it the necessary support in order to boost cultural tourism in the country and give it international recognition.
Adams said this at the 2017 Oke’badan festival held at the Cultural Centre, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.
He described Oke’badan as one of the pristine festivals in Yorubaland which Olokun festival foundation holds in high esteem because of its cultural significance to the soul of Ibadan.
According to him, “I must reveal to all that the celebration of Oke’badan festival from time immemorial as empirically proved, accounted for the generational achievement and progress witnessed in the city.
“Any town that remains faithful and steadfast in the celebration of cultural festivals to remember the past, which prays for the well-being of its people and celebrates the feats of past heroes will always witness unprecedented progress and development.
“Oke’badan festival celebration is the key that unlocks the pot of fortunes and clears the road for accelerated development strides in Ibadanland. There is nothing fetish or primitive in Oke’badan festival, it is just a cultural celebration where the efforts of our heroes past are appreciated, evaluated and celebrated.”
He, however, showed special recognition to Aboke of Ibadanland, Chief Ifamapowa Fashola, for keeping faith with tradition and for his observance of rites as laid down by Lagelu in ensuring that Ibadan witnessed and continues to witness growth and socioeconomic stability.