Tourism
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, July 12, 2018 (NAN) Mr Adekunle Oladeji, the Chairman, Aare Latoosa Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has pledged to ensure that the tomb of the late Obadoke Latoosa was upgraded to an international tourist centre.
He made the pledge during an official visit to the tomb of Latoosa, the ninth Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, located at Aare Avenue in Bodija, Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Yoruba general and king of Ibadanland reigned from 1871 to 1885.
“ Let me say it loud and clear that my administration will take over the renovation work and ensure its completion as soon as possible.
“Culture is the totality of our existence. It involves the clothes we wear, food we eat, drum we dance to, our language and other daily activities as well as our culture and identity,” he said.
He stated that government would also ensure that it harnessed the revenue generation potentials in tourism.
“We commend High Chief Lekan Alabi, the Agbaakin-Olubadan of Ibadanland, for jointly renovating the late Aare Latoosa tomb.
“It is interesting to note that Oloye Alabi last Saturday marked the first anniversary of his investiture as Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum and Monuments, Ile-Ife, with a visit to the tomb,” he said.
Oladeji appealed to the people to always promote their culture wherever they found themselves.
Earlier, Alabi had described Latoosa as a gallant general of the variant Ibadan warriors of the 19th century and for the upgrade of the tomb to an international tourists centre.
The Ibadan chief also called on the three tiers of government to exploit the potentials in tourism, adding that many countries of the world generate huge income from the sector.
“Tourism is an invisible revenue generating sector and untapped goldmine for any government. There are lots of tourist sites in Ibadan that must be exploited.
“Among them is the palace of Olubadan Irefin, Aleshinloye and Oyewole-Foko. We also have Chief Adebisi Idikan and Chief Salami Agbaje,” he said.
He urged the people to always propagate Yoruba culture and ideals which he said had been acknowledged as very rich across the world.
“The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, installed me as the cultural ambassador of the Museum and Monuments in Ile-Ife on July 7, 2017.
“ Last Saturday, I celebrated the first year by visiting this tomb.
“The reason was to honour a great Ibadan hero, promote Yoruba cultural values and trace my maternal root to the Latoosa dynasty,” he said.
Alabi also described religion and culture as two parallel lines, adding religion was a thing of the heart.
Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi-Balogun of Ibadanland, also called on the people to promote Yoruba culture and celebrate their heroes. (NAN)
TAA/FF/OJO
===========
(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Mufutau Ojo)