As this year's Osun/Osogbo festival gradually draws near, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun has allayed fear on the security of participants at the international festival, saying the community has put necessary measures in place to ensure a hitch free festival.
Mr Olanipekun, who is currently facing serious battle over appointment as the traditional ruler of Osogbo, said Thursday at a forum where the 2011 Osun Osogbo festival was unveiled, that the organisers of the festival have put maximum security in place to ensure safety of lives and property during the festival which holds on August 26.
Some groups in Osogbo have threatened to cause violence in the town during the Osun festival should Mr Olanipekun preside over this year's festival.
This follows the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, which nullified the appointment of Mr Olanipekun as the Ataoja of Osogbo on the grounds that his selection did not follow proper norms and culture of the ancient town.
But the traditional ruler insisted that he‘s still in control of the town and would preside over every traditional festival that demands the presence of the Ataoja by the culture and tradition of Osogbo, adding that he had appealed against the judgment of the court.
Mr Olanipekun also urged the people of the town to co-operate with the traditionalists during the festival, just as he maintained that all arrangements have been concluded by both the community and the sponsors of the festival to make this year's festival a unique and historic one.
No stopping the festival
While praying for continuous peace in the town, Mr Olanipekun urged the people to work in unity to ensure total victory over those he called ‘enemies of progress and development in Osogbo land.' "Either they like it or not, the festival would hold and it will be a successful one," he said.
The permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Folorunsho Alao disclosed that the state government is committed to the development of the Osun groove, adding that not less than 5,000 tourists from all parts of the world would converge on Osogbo during the Osun festival.
He said all necessary arrangements have been made for the tourists to enjoy the rich cultural heritage of the state.
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