FG to support Sango festival

The Federal Government on
Thursday said it would support the
expansion of the Sango festival to boost
tourism.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and
National Orientation, Edem Duke, said this at
the opening ceremony of the festival in Oyo
town
Duke’s address was read by Prof. Akin Alao
of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU),
Ile-Ife.
The minister described Sango as one of the
founding fathers of the ancient Oyo
Kingdom, recalling that “ he left behind an
enduring legacy of constitutional
government, a model yet to be surpassed by
any modern contraption.’’
“Pre-colonial system of government in Oyo
was built on an elaborate system of checks
and balances which made adequate
provisions for and accommodated the
culture and sensibilities of the people.
“In essence, it was a people’s original
design to meet the wishes and aspirations
of the people and their definition of
development.
“When we are looking back, we are trying to
re-define the system of government in order
to establish a responsible and responsive
government,” he said.
He said a thorough study of the knowledge
system and society that produced the
archetypal African system in Oyo would
provide the direction missed in the past.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,
commended dignitaries who turned out for
the event, saying they cut across the South-
West states and Yorubas in the Diaspora.
The monarch urged the people not to mix
religion with culture, noting that “they are
two distinct features of human life and by
allowing one to affect the other is to render
man incomplete.’’
Adeyemi also admonished the people not to
allow the younger generation to discard
Yoruba language and culture. (NAN)