Member representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abass Adigun, popularly known as Agboworin, on Saturday, lauded the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, for placing value on culture and tradition in the state.
Agboworin, who is a two-term lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, stated this on Saturday, while speaking at the annual World Twins Festival, themed; “Twinning for Love, Unity and National Economic Reorientation,” held at the Methodist Grammar School, Igbo Ora.
The lawmaker, who was also the chairman of the occasion, lauded the governor’s effort at putting the Festival on a global world map, thereby attracting tourists and investors to develop the economy of the state.
He said: “I am happy that Oyo State, under the leadership of my Principal, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, has been able to put the festival on a global map by attracting tourists from far and wide.
“This annual festival does not only showcase the premium placed on culture and tradition by the Oyo State Government but also shows the values and the uniqueness of Igbo Ora Community in the state and all over the African continent.
“However, the most important tale is that this ancient town, which is a melting pot of twins birth, is not only reputable among neighboring towns in Oyo State, Yorubaland, Nigeria but also in the Africa continent because of multiple birth record of twins in virtually every household.”
He, however, urged the people of the town to continue to strengthen family bonds, community ties, cultural heritage and support initiatives that promote unity and understanding.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Barr. Bayo Lawal, pledged his government’s continuous support for the festival to attract more investors, stating that this would be achieved through improvement of facilities and creation of an enabling environment needed for tourism to thrive in the state.
He expressed hope that in line with his administration’s zeal to expand the state’s economy through tourism, the Igbo Ora Festival of Twins and Multiple Births will be promoted to gain world acclaim as a UNESCO World Heritage.
The governor said that his government would continue to promote the festival because of its uniqueness and importance to Ibarapaland and Oyo State in general.
He added that his government would also accelerate efforts on developing necessary infrastructure to support the drive, stating that the government would double its efforts to ensure that the ongoing rehabilitation of Ido/Eruwa road is completed.
He said: “What we are doing today is something that is worth celebrating. You can see that we have a lot of people who came here from far and wide for this event.
“Research has shown that 10 per cent of births in Igbo Ora are twins. We should ask ourselves why it is like that. But if we know that such is what God has blessed this town with, we are supposed to guard that uniqueness jealously.
“We should also know that twins are special children from God. It is the same foods they eat here that are being eaten in other places but they have their uniqueness of multiple births in Ibarapaland.
“The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism has said a lot about this event and I want to tell you that Oyo State government is making efforts to upgrade the celebration of this event to UNESCO standard, which will make people come all the way from America, Asia and other continents of the world. So, the arrangement is ongoing.”
Speaking further, the governor charged parents of twins and multiple births to guide and take care of them well towards attaining their goals in life, while he also encouraged the immediate community to embrace and celebrate the festival by creating a permanent venue that would serve as a monument for the important festival.
Also in his address, the Olu of Igbo Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, appreciated Governor Makinde for promoting the twins festival as a platform for tourism and an avenue for the expansion of the state’s economy.
Oyo State’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the festival is unique, as it has incorporated twins from all the geopolitical zones in the state, with the target of entering the Guinness Book of World Records and also being enlisted by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
The event was organised by the Igbo Ora Community Foundation and Ibarapa Central Local Government in conjunction with Oyo State Government and the Twins World Creation Intercontinental.
Highlights of the event include unveiling of twins’ statue at Igbotikale Roundabout; Igbo Ora Twins’ Parade; Twins’ Talent Show and Twins’ Appellation, among others.
The event had in attendance traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and top government functionaries, among others.
