STAKEHOLDERS in Osun State have expressed displeasure over an allegation that major contracts pertaining to the 2024 Osun Osogbo Festival were awarded to a firm that belongs to a non-Yoruba person.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that according to the aggrieved stakeholders, some state governments in the South West have been fond of giving out vital contracts to consulting firms and agencies owned by people who are not from the region.
Citing the particular case of the award of marketing rights of the Osun Osogbo festival to a non-indigenous agency, the stakeholders held that the development contradicts the historical dignity of the Yoruba race and sounds sacrilegious.
They, therefore called for the immediate revocation of the contract, saying that the involvement of an Igbo company undermines the festival’s authenticity and values to Yoruba heritage.
But reacting to the development, the Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, described the news linking Governor Adeleke to the award of the contract to a non-indigene as fake.
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“We seek to clarify clearly that neither the governor nor the state government is the organiser of Osun Osogbo festival. Those who need information on Osun Osogbo festival are directed to reach out to the Ataoja in-Council,” he said.
Also, the Osun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Adebisi Olawale, said he did not know the aspect of the festival that was contracted out because there are many aspects to the festival.
He said: “There are never a time other members of ethnic groups partake in any contractual aspect of the festival.”
However, a source within the Ataoja’s palace who craved anonymity in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said the allegation may be the handiwork of mischief makers.
The source said the consultancy application for the Osun Osogbo festival was thrown open for different for firms to apply, saying the qualified one was selected at the end of a thorough process.
“We made the application open for everyone to apply and the one who can offer us the best was selected based on their experience without discriminating. We cannot choose someone who cannot give us the best because he or she is from Osun or Yoruba.
“Those who are aggrieved are the ones who were not selected for the consultancy of the festival,” the source said.
Also, a staff of the Osun/Osogbo grove who do not want his name in print told OSUN DEFENDER that the person handling the project is not an Igbo as being spread in the media.
The staff noted that the consultant handling the project is a half-caste, saying others are furious because they are not favoured for the contract.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
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