The Soun of Ogbomoso, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, has expressed optimism that the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival, scheduled to hold between December 19 and 24 this year, will be the biggest culture and tourism event in Nigeria.
Speaking during a private dinner and fundraising event for the coming carnival at the Imperial Heritage Hotel, Ogbomoso, on Sunday, Oba Olaoye said carnival activities will be events everyone, including culture and tourism enthusiasts, will look forward to.
The 21st Soun of Ogbomoso said the event forms part of his 25-Year Development Plan for Ogbonoso, adding that the carnival represents one of his plans to bring the people of Ogbomoso together and love their town and king.
He said the upcoming Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival would contribute to the commerce and economic development of the Ogbomoso zone and beyond.
“The potential in Ogbomoso is enormous, and my vision as a king is to inspire the sons and daughters of Ogbomoso to turn our communities around and make Ogbomosoland a model city.
“We want our people to love Ogbomoso because if they love their town, they will want to develop it. We want our people to love their king because if they do, they will want the community to develop and invest in their communities.
“And that is why I have my 25-Year Development Plan. I want to sacrifice anything humanly possible to ensure that Ogbomosoland becomes a development model in Nigeria.
“Tonight, we have come here to demonstrate our love for this land. Ogbomoso people are everywhere in the world. One of the things God has put in my heart is to create an environment where our people will come and be proud of Ogbomoso. The light has come to Ogbomoso.”
Speaking on some of the foci of the December carnival, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye said, “We know that masquerades do their exhibition in July. We have chosen December for this carnival, and it will also involve masquerades. We have also decided to bring the Oole Oba Festival from January to December. There are a lot of events lined up for the carnival.
“This is an annual programme that we want everybody to key into and showcase the beauty of our culture and tradition. The golf tournament is also part of it. This will also develop our commerce and economy. I just want to inspire the sons and daughters of this land.
“The Obas in the five local government areas of Ogbomoso Zone love this lofty idea, and what we have been doing is for the sons and daughters of the land. There will be other phases, including the one for traditional institutions in Ogbomosoland.
“We want to return Ogbomoso to the rightful position it deserves among the comity of cities in Nigeria.
“In the area of Egungun, we want our people to eschew violence that used to be the order of the day during the Egungun festival in Ogbomoso. You all will soon begin to see masquerades that appear to have gone to extinction.”
He, however, called for the cooperation of Ogbomoso indigenes, at home and in the Diaspora, to support the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival morally and financially.
Dr Oladejo Akanni, chairman of the planning committee, said in his welcome address that the six-day event aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ogbomosland and promote tourism potential for economic development
He added that the committee has lined up robust and all-encompassing events that will make people, visitors and residents always look forward to them.
The fundraising, which had eminent people of Ogbomoso origin and beyond, was the third fundraising, after the two that were earlier held in Abuja and Lagos.
Businessmen from all social strata, people of different ethnicities, proponents of culture, people in the entertainment industry, culture enthusiasts, and a host of other people too numerous to mention attended the event.
