Nigeria 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.
Mr. Duke’s address was read by
Professor 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, 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.’’
Mr. Adeyemi also admonished the people
not to allow the younger generation to
discard Yoruba language and culture.