…Over N100m Donated for Town’s Development
By Editor
Arguably one of the best organized events in recent time, the 2024 Udiroko Festival, the annual traditional fiesta of Ado Ekiti people yesterday came to a glorious end with much pomp, celebration and panache.
The week-long traditional festival was a showcase of cultural heritage of Ado people at home and in the diaspora who trooped out in their numbers at the beautifully decorated Palace of the town’s reverred monarch, HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, C.O.N JP, Aladesanmi 111. the Ewi of Ado Ekiti.
The beauty of the carnival- like event was intensified by favourable weather and peaceful atmosphere while the celebration lasted.
The Special Guest of Honour and Senate President Godswill Akpabio ably represented by his Deputy, Senator, Jibrin Barau in his keynote address, dropped the hint that the Federal Government will inject in next year’s budget that would bring about economic and meaningful development across the state.
He acknowledged Ekiti’s consistent support for the current administration’s policies.
Senator Akpabio explained that such support informed the federal government’s decision for the proposed projects to be sited in the state while assuring that all abandoned federal projects would be completed.
The Senate president also highlighted the Udiroko Festival as a unique event which deserved national recognition and pledged to advocate for the presence of prominent Nigerian political leaders at the subsequent festivals to enhance its visibility and prestige.
Speaking in similar vein, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the National Assembly, through the 2025 budget appropriation act, will bring more federal developmental projects to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District emphasized the significance of the festival, noting that it reflects the true culture of Ekiti indigenes and residents.
He commended the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, for his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) government at both the state and federal levels.
His words, “Udiroko is now popular across Ekiti. We thank God that our Kabiyesi is doing well as a leader.
“I thank our Kabiyesi for his support of the government at the federal and especially our state here, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“We will reciprocate with developmental projects in Ado Kingdom. Both the Deputy Senate President and I will ask the Senate President to be specific about which projects will he brought to Ado-Ekiti in the 2025 budget allocation.
“We will also ask our colleagues, whom are being honored here, about the projects they are bringing to this place.”
In his address, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, expressed joy that the festival was taking an international dimension and called for love among the people to shun acts that could breed disaffection in Ekiti, especially among the Stakeholders.
The Governor pledged to make Udiroko 2025 edition more colourful and exciting.
The Ewi in a prepared speech, used the occasion to call on Nigerians to endure the current government policies aimed at repositioning the country.
Oba Adejugbe, however stressed the need for the Federal Government to address some of the challenges facing the country, particularly in the area of security, economy and infrastructure.
The monarch used the forum to announce October eightheen as Aare Afe Babalola day, saying would create opportunities to appreciate the contributions of the legal icon to society development in the area of Agriculture, Education, legal profession, infrastructural development among others.
Dignitaries at the high octane event include; Deputy Senate president, Jibrin Barau, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, former, Ekiti State Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Ekiti State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Monisade AFUYE, Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Mrs Olayemi Olagbaju, former Governor Ayo Fayose, Hon. Olusola Fatoba, Sen. Bode Ola, Ado Local Governments chairmen amongst others.
