By Seyi Babalola
Vice President Kashim Shettima is slated to attend the 2024 Ojude Oba festival as the distinguished guest of honor of the event.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, and the Minister of Culture, Art and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa are also anticipated to join thousands of Ijebu indigenes from home and abroad to celebrate this year’s Ojude-Oba festival.
Chief Olu Okuboyejo, Chairman of the Celebration Planning Committee, said this on Tuesday during a news conference at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
Okuboyejo said the vice president, at the festival, will be ranked in the league of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Bola Tinubu, former Senate President David Mark and other eminent Nigerians.
Okuboyejo disclosed that over 100 female and male age-grade groups (Regberegbes), would pay homage to the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
“Every edition of the festival necessitates the choice of a distinguished Nigerian as the Special Guest of Honour. The Festival Committee is pleased to inform you that we expect to host the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima as the Special Guest of Honour, alongside the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and his amiable consort, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun.
“We are also expecting the attendance of the Honourable Minister of Culture, Art and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa-Musawa, among others. His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON will now be ranked in the league of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Senate President David Mark, Senator (Alhaji) Aminu Tmbuwal, former Governor Seriake Dickson, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Sanwoolu, and other eminent Nigerians who were at one other, Special Guests of Honour” he said.
The celebration with the theme, OJUDE OBA: Unity and Harmony, Our Gifts is slated for Tuesday, June 18, 2024, two days after the Eid-El-Kabir.
The chairman planning committee noted that the theme is apt and relevant to the intent and purpose of the modern-day Ojude Oba proudly reinvented, re-engineered and internationalised by the Orisa ljebu, Kabiyesi Oba Adetona.
He said the avenue gives the Ijebu visitors and relatives the chance to make amends with the all-powerful God and reunite with loved ones.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Olusesan Fabayi, in his address noted that the state government is co-sponsoring the annual celebrations and assured the celebration will not be an exemption as it promises to be more ostentatious, elegant and exciting.
He called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the Ogun State Government to promote the state’s festivals and cultural legacy.
