Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the traditional institution and its leaders are at the top of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s list of priorities in his administration’s bid to navigate the complexities of Nigeria’s diversity.
He noted that the nation’s diversity should be a source of strength and not of division, just as he urged Nigerians to keep imbibing the lessons firmly fixed in the country’s cultural tapestry.
The vice president who spoke during the 37th Annual Akesan Festival in Iperu Remo, Ogun State yesterday expressed delight with the way Nigeria’s noble traditions that serve as poignant reminders of the origins and identities of its people have endured.
Delivering his address titled, “Learning from the Past: Unity and Tradition in the Akesan Festival,” at the event, Sen. Shettima in a statement by his spokesman. Stanley Nwocha, said; “Your Royal Highness, this festival serves as an opportunity to reinforce President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to giving priority to our traditional leaders in navigating the intricacies of our diversity. The commitments articulated by our administration stand firm, and we pledge to honor these assurances, ensuring positive transformations in the lives of our people”.
He noted that the 37th edition of the Akesan Festival is imbued with the essence of the unity Nigerians have forged as a nation, even as he described Ogun State as a template for the complexities of the nation’s cultural practices.
“It (Akesan Festival) symbolises the heartbeat of our nation, and Ogun State has long become the template for the resilience of our cultural practices as vehicles for progress. From intellectuals and cultural icons to industrialists, Ogun State has been an enduring source of inspiration at the crossroads of culture and modernity.”
Governor of Ogun State, Chief Dapo Abiodun, said Akesan Day was an unending heritage that is fast boosting the tourism potential of the state.
He pledged further commitments to the festival, saying it was fast becoming a uniting event among Ogun people as well as people of its neighbouring states.
