Eighteen years ago, OPC used Osun Osogbo to flag off promotion of cultural festival- Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland

Oredola Adeola|

The  Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land, who doubles as the Convener of  Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) Worldwide, Iba  Gani Adams, disclosed that the Osun Osogbo festival was the pioneer cultural festival to be promoted by the pan-Yoruba group.

He made this statement on Friday at the grand finale of the Osun Osogbo festival 2018, at an event  organized by the Oodua People’s Congress ( OPC) at Laaro Primary School , Asubiaro Area, Osogbo in commemoration of the festival.

The National Coordinator of OPC while addressing members of the group and other dignitaries present at the event, reaffirmed the commitment of his group towards promoting the Culture of Yoruba race across the World.

He further disclosed that promotion of cultural events has transformed the entire concept of the Oodua People’s Congress, adding that since 2001 when the group started participating in the festival, the group has been promoting the consciousness of the Yoruba tradition, identity and culture.

He said, “ the commitment of the congress to promoting Yoruba’s festival was borne of out the resolve to bring back the lost glory of the Yoruba race. In 2001, when we started doing this , we were faced with severe challenges, backlash and discouragement, but like every successful people, we were focused and determined to succeed.

“ We knew what we were doing despite the antagonism towards our organisation. Today those who were mocking us are shocked at how far we have transformed and the impact we have made promoting the uniqueness of the Yoruba race. We are grateful to God that we have evolved into a group posterity will forever be grateful for all we have done.

“During this year, we lost many of our members to vehicular accident, Ten years ago, we 20 of our vehicles conveying of members from Lagos had accident in Ibadan. In that incident, we lost two of our members, but my people showed great commitment to our loyal course, and I am indeed grateful for the loyalty and trust of the members,” Iba Gani said.

He further revealed that the OPC members have been contributing so much into the economy of the state, especially during the week of the festival. The Aare said the future of the Yoruba race is guaranteed and the increasing rate of cultural festival being championed by monarchs across the land, have revamped the  cultural values and orientation of the entire Yoruba race.

He however urged all the traditional and political leaders in Yoruba land to join hands together with well meaning organisations to earn more tourism revenues for the geopolitical region through well articulated tourism programme and regional development.