The sleeping town of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State came alive recently during the celebration of Okota river goddess festival. Thousands of the adherents and members of Oodua People’s Congress throng the agrarian community to celebrate the river goddess and seek solution to their problems through prayers.
The two-day event was a boost to economic and social activities of the community as traders and hotelier used the opportunity to make brisk business from the annual ecotourisms festival. Some other neighboring towns were not left out in the business The Promoter of the festival, Otunba Gani Adam, in his address, said, “as a Yoruba we believe that spirit were creations of Olodumare, they are invisible they dwell in the woods, bush, forest and rivers. “Despite the importance attached to the spirit, sadly their worship were condemned, and those who follow them are often despised and castigated as fetish worshipers”.
He disclosed that “it was as a result of the erroneous impression about the deities that contributed to the value reorientation through change of our social, political and economic life style that informed Olokun festival foundations’ decision to institute the continuous celebration of Okota festival and other annual events. Adams added that the Okota River is located at the foot of a hill in ede-uyo in Ijaja quarters, and every July indigenes of the town gathered to celebrate and honors the river goddess.
“The river goddess possessed great supernatural power, anybody who drink the water will be healed of any illness such a person brought before the water.” According to him, another way of celebrating the river goddess by the indigenes of the town was to “seek for forgiveness for our sins in the past years and asks for favour and blessing from her”.
Adams urged the federal government to lay emphasis on promotion of tourism as it will add to the economic growth of the country. “It is an indisputable that the annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Saudi Arabia and the Christian to Israel has contributed to the economy of both countries.
“It is in line with these realities and need for our country to explore extra and alternative revenue earner for Nigeria and turns the country’s economic fortunes.” Dr. Boluwaji Oshodi, a lecturer in the department of linguistics and Languages, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, who was the guest speaker, spoke on showcasing tradition and preserving inheritance through culture awareness. He said, culture and tradition is a very complex web of expectation acquired by people of a society that dictates human activity.
He added that culture is not static, it involves the social structure and political philosophy, religion, language and education influences to which the society is exposed. On day the of the celebration of the adherents had gone to the river as early as 7am to offer prayer at the groove and make some prayer requests and pledges to the river goddess if their prayers are answered.
Mr. Idowu Olajumoke, one of the adherents who came from Kano, said he came to honour his pledge to the river goddess. “I had an ailment I was nursing for some years, but when I came to Okota River in 2013 I fetched the water and prayed at the shrine I was cured of the sickness. That is why I came this year to fulfill my pledge to the river.” John Idahosa, a tourist from Edo State, said this is not his first time of coming to the festival.
“I prefer to coming to Okota River than going to Osun Osogbo, because whenever I come to Arigidi I was always given access into the grove to pray and made some requests, but the reverse is the case in Osun,” he said. Idahosa called on the Ondo State Government to give the festival prominence like Osun Osogbo, stressing that if promoted it would increase the state’s internally generated revenue.
The beauty pageant which heralds the festival which was keenly contested by 13 young ladies from different tertiary institutions was won by Akinrinmade Abidemi from Ben Carson School of nursing, Edo State. She was crowned with the title of Miss Okota and presented with official car to accompany the office she occupied. The monarch of the town, Oba Yisa Olanipekun called every son and daughter of the town to come home and development the community.
He also used the occasion to pray for the promoter of the festival, Gani Adams and his followers. Oba Olanipekun also prayed for Nigeria. Highlights of the event were performances by popular fuji musician Abass Akande Obesere and Oodua Cultural troupe.
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