…as monarch laments deplorable state of roads in Ekiti
This year annual celebration of Ado Ekiti known as “udiroko festiveal” will hold next week Wednesday.
The celebration marks the first day of the year in Ado Ekiti calender.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe who stated these during a press briefing in Ado Ekiti explained that the period of the festival is a time for the indigenes of the town to come together and thank God for His protection and guidiance over them.
According to Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the festival has been gaining popularity for thirty years and is expected to grow into an international event.
Oba Adejugbe noted that the festival is not to worship idol but for the ancient town to deliberate on progress and development of the town.
The first class traditional ruler who urged sons and daughters both home and abroad to come and grace the festival, adding that important diginitaries both home and abroad would attend the udiroko festival.
According to the Ewi, the festival has been gaining popularity for 30 years and is expected to grow into an international event.
“Every year, we thank God for bringing our forefathers here. It’s an opportunity for us to thank God, just as Christians thank God on Christmas Day,” he said.
As the community prepares for the festival, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti urged everyone to come out and celebrate, dressed in their best attire. “It’s time for us to come together and thank God for our blessings,” he said.
However, Oba Adejugbe also used the opportunity to express concerns over the deplorable state of roads in Ekiti State, stressing that good roads are essential for societal development.
He called on the government to pay attention to the issue, citing his previous efforts to bring the matter to the attention of the previous regime.
“There is no befitting road leading to Ado. I raised this issue when President Buhari visited and also when Fashola came, which led to some attention being paid to the Ado-Akure road.”
In an interview, the Eyebga of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Bolanle Aderoju, said that ahead of the festival, the women’s wing had engaged in charity activities for the homeless and needy.