The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has unveiled the intention of his government pertaining to the infrastructural upliftment of the state particularly Osogbo in relation to sustainable tourism development.
In a brief encounter with Tribune Tourism Magazine in Osogbo while conducting journalists on tour of a socio- cultural entertainment park named after the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Governor Aregbesola said “Our economic blue print for the state is majorly predicated on the presence and availability of pristine historical cultural heritage and ecotourism assets which God Almighty has blessed the state of Osun with. We had taken a cultural-tourism inventory of the state and devised strategy of not only enhancing them, but branding them properly for economic emancipation of the people. He disclosed “We knew and understood the import of tourism as a powerful economic tool and a potent instrument to fight poverty. We have studied and known how countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Jordan, even Ghana have been able to utilise their tourism assets not only in effecting economic blessing on their people, but on the countries”.
Governor Aregbesola said “Yes, we have the tourism assets, the people, the culture, we have Osun Osogbo, we have the festivals, we even have the Water falls two of such in a town called Oke-Ila Orangun, another one in Erin Oke called Olumirin with seven falls, spectacular, the drums, the arts, you remember the impact of Ulli Bier and late Susan Wenger, the Mbari Mbayo Art movement, and the festivals, Osun Osogbo, Sango in Ede, Oya, Ogiyan, But we realised for all these to grow beyond the primordial level, we must put in place the fundamental facilities and infrastructure even if we cannot at once rehabilitate, uplift and directly enhance these sites”.
He revealed “We agreed that we shall develop and enhance these centres. But we must do the fundamentals, first, creating a conducive atmosphere of peace where security of lives and property is guaranteed. We are happy that we achieved this through the grace of almighty Allah. We agreed also that for tourism to blossom, the people and particularly the stakeholders should not only understand the import of tourism as an economic activity, but must also appreciate that they have roles to play. We did this as we successfully mobilised tourism stakeholders in the state both traditional religion practitioners, tourism agents and promoters, arts, artistes and artist connoisseurs who were exposed to seminar, talks and enlightenment engagement on the their relation to cultural tourism in the state. It is in furtherance of this that we trained some citizens in the art of tour and tour guiding”.
Aregbesola added “It may interest you to know that one of the propellers and what actually actuated our propensity at embarking on massive infrastructural development in the state is our desire to make Osun State the most desirable destination in Nigeria. You will definitely agree with me that availability of good road network is essential for cultural tourism development. You should also know that apart from information network, majority of investors to a state or country visit the state or country first as a visitor and one of the first amenities they consider is the road network and security. Thus our resolve to ensure that peace and tranquillity reign in the state and embarking on road construction and rehabilitation is primarily economic and lubrication of the tourism sector .We are happy that these two are being achieved and we have been witnessing the planting of new hotels of intercontinental rating, restaurants, the numbers of bank branches are swelling in the state, good bukas are springing up, tourists are daily flocking to Osun State and my people are making more money”. These are testimonies of the effect of what we have been able to do”.
Ogbeni Aregbesola who conducted Mrs Egbemode and her entourage round some of the projects explained at the “the November 27 Bridge’ that the bridge was purposely planted there first to prevent the loss of lives occasioned by motorists approaching the highway directly not through interchange and also as a tourist delight.
“Everything which we are implementing in the State of Osun is centred and situated in the people, the masses and their economic growth”.
He disclosed that the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park is to serve as a platform for educational, socio-cultural, tourism, entertainment, historical melting pot for visitors and indigenes.
While taking the NGE delegation to the historical part of the park where the statutes of eminent Nigerians who have contributed to the development of Yoruba land and Osun State are mounted, the entourage saw a young man who sat on one of the park’s benches reading a book and this ensued:
Governor Aregbesola; Young man, how are you? What are you doing here?
The boy was calm, cool and collected and did not even stand up.
“I am ok sir. I am here to read.”
Governor: I am sorry to disturb you. I am only curious to find out your mission here.
“I find this place good enough for me to read. And I have to commend your government for this. At least, I am a benefactor of this park”.
Getting to the historical arcade, where the busts of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are mounted. Governor Aregbesola said, “We are immortalising these personalities based on their immeasurable contribution to the development of Osun State in particular and Yoruba race in general .”
He hinted ‘‘we are not only planting their busts, we are also going to plant beside the busts in scrolls some of their notable achievements for posterity”.
Governor Aregbesola who said that his coming into the history of the state of Osun is neither by accident nor chance pointed out that it was a deliberate act borne out of conviction that he must add value to his state, his people and its resources. ‘‘Hence, I do what I do with the best intention and for the best interest of the people”.
He revealed “I am a bird of passage who realised the import of history and posterity on my acts, deeds and action. I have the mandate of changing the socio-political, economic and educational face of the state of Osun from a parlous state to an exemplary status enviable by other states of the Federation. This is the task that is being done. Will be done and shall be done”.
and then