Scores of worshippers and foreign tourists, on Saturday, defied restrictions put in place by the Osun State Government to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state as they stormed the 2021 grand finale of the Osun Osogbo festival.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Obawale Adebisi had announced that the festival will be held virtually and warned devotees, worshippers and foreign tourists not to come to the state for the festival.
However, on Friday, a crowd of worshippers, devotees, and foreign tourists stormed the groove in the euphoria of the celebration, shunning the COVID-19 safety protocols including wearing of facemasks and maintaining social distancing.
AMILOADED gathered through The Nation, how the Arugba (calabash carrier) conveyed the mystical calabash from the Ataoja’s (monarch) palace to the groove around 10:30 am in the company of devotees. Commercial activities were massive as worshippers patronized shops owners, beer joints, hawkers, and others.
Armoured Personnel Carrier and patrol vans of security agencies were stationed at the junction of the road that leads to the groove, with armed police operatives, civil defence personnel, and men of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Security(DSS), Amotekun corps, and other local security men.
The Aare-Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, urged the southwest governors to tackle the security challenges in the southwest region to provide enabling environment for tourism development.
In his remarks, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, said Osogbo town was blessed with the Osun river goddess, declaring that the festival ranks among the best in the world.
The monarch urged the Osun state government to reinvent the glory of the festival by providing the support that is needed to make Osogbo the business hub of the state.
“Tourists from all over the world gather here annually to celebrate the river goddess. Osun Osogbo is also considered as the biggest annual religious event among the Yoruba people”
“The event attracts spectators and worshippers from all over the world. Osun river is a goddess of all things feminine; fertility, spirituality, emotions, sensuality, nurture, and love.”
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