Ekiti Parapo to honour warlords, others at festival, promotes unity

From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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The pioneer General Manager of Owena Press Limited (OPL) publisher of The Hope Newspaper, Prince Kayode Oni, has disclosed that the forthcoming celebration of the Ekiti Parapo festival will further promote the rich culture and tradition of the people of the state.

Oni, who is also the chairman, Okemesi Cultural Heritage and Tourism Committee, made the disclosure  while addressing a press conference organised to sensitise the public on the celebration of the 2019 Ekiti Parapo festival, held at the Secretariat of Ekiti State Arts and Culture, Ado-Ekiti.

 According to him, the festival which will hold at Okemesi Ekiti will begin from Wednesday October 2 to Saturday October 5, 2019.

Describing the festival as an avenue to commemorate and honour some war heroes who gallantly fought during the Ekiti Parapo War Liberation from 1877 to 1886 and freed Ekiti people from the shackles of foreign imperialists.

He said the festival is a memorial package of events targeted to honour what the Ijesha and Ekiti warlords, led by Fabumbi and Ogedengbe did at the Ekiti Parapo War of freedom.

“Ekiti Parapo festival is an eponymous commemoration of the collective resistance, human rights and freedom war of the Ekitis and Ijeshas against the initrant Ibadan war Proffesionals who were riding roughshod over them”

“If we have not joined forces, the Ekiti nation would have become non-existent. Hence, the need to celebrate and promote unity, courage, and patriotism and also to plant those virtues and make them an undying tradition with a view to evolving a society of courageous and selfless people”.

Among the eminent personalities to be honoured at the event, according to Prince Oni are: the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) the late Governor of the old Western region, Major Gen Adeyinka Adebayo, his predecessor, the late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture, Mr. Segun Runsewe, among others.

Also speaking the Director General , Ekiti State Council of Arts and Culture, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, said Fayemi is committed to revamping the arts and culture through supports for town’s festivals.