The Aseyin of Iseyin, HRM Oba Dr. Abdul-Ganiy Adekunle Salaudeen Oloogunebi (Ajinese 1), alongside his High Chiefs and members of the ruling houses in the Iseyin, has announced that the 2020 Oro Festival would commence in the evening of Saturday 19th September, 2020.
Oba Oloogunebi, in a Press Statement made available to newsmen at the weekend declared that the festival would take three days only for the purpose of making appeasements and rituals for the progress of the leadership of Nigeria, Oyo State as well as sons and daughters of the ancient town at home in diaspora.
Apart from the September 19th commencement day, the statement further highlighted that Saturday 26th, 2020 would be the ‘Ije’ (Seventh) Day while Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 would be the 15th (Itadogun) Day, when specific rituals and prayers would be made at strategic points and areas of the town.
He declared that except for the three days, every other day within the stated periods were free for males and females in the town and travellers to move and do their businesses.
Aseyin used the opportunity to appreciate the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and members of his cabinet as well as security agencies in the State for their support towards the success of the festival in the past, saying the community looked forward to more collaboration.
“We are using this opportunity to call on all sons and daughters of the town and travelers to note the dates of the three days and tell others, Oro festival is strictly to appease our gods and make rituals for the progress of our country, State and community, we use the period to pray for our political leaders for better guidance from God and our sons and daughters at home and abroad to continue to thrive in their endeavors.
“We appreciate the support we annually get from the State government and all the security agencies in the State, we look forward to having the same gesture this year.
“On security of lives and properties, we heard of the arrest of some young kidnappers in Oke-Ogun here about yesterday, it is our prayer that this case will not be swept under the carpet, we do not want Oke-Ogun to be the hotbed of kidnapping and sundry vices, they should be prosecuted accordingly to serve as deterrent to others that might want to tread the same path,” the king advised.
