Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun has hinted that the rise in cases of insecurity in Nigeria was caused by loss of cultural values as laid down by the country’s forefathers.
Olatubosun said this at the second edition of the Culture and Award Day ceremony, organized by the Arewa Foundation at Oyo township.
The Commissioner related the loss of basic value for human lives and communal love and respect to the cause of banditry, robbery, kidnappings and other vices in Nigeria, urging parents and guardians to take the responsibility of inculcating cultural values, as taught by their forebearers, on their own children.
“No Nigerian that was taught the true culture of his forefathers, either as Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo will hurt or kill another Nigerian if he or she was well cultured.
“What we are witnessing today is not ordinary or natural phenomenon, it is an aggregate of loss of our value system, parenting has been outsourced, communal love is no more as it used to be, siblings do not eat together again, these are the major cause of crisis in Nigeria and in each tribe.
“While appreciating the organizers of this event which I will say is timely, I want to urge all parents to look back at what used to be and what is now, let us embrace our culture, it is our identity, it is what make the Yoruba people unique as well as the Hausa and the Igbo.”
Hon. Olatubosun informed the audience about the preparation of the State government and other stakeholders on the 2021 Cultural-Tourism Festival, which he said would showcase the State’s potentials in culture and tourism, as well as increase the revenue base of the government.
The Ekeefa Olubadan of Ibadan, Chief Lekan Alabi who also spoke at the event, charged all and sundry to make the Yoruba culture a way of life, especially in their relationship with fellow workers, in matrimony and in whatever human endeavors.
The President of Arewa Foundation, who is also the organizer of the event, Miss Adebola Adegbola in an interview with journalists, advised the people to teach their children the indigenous language so as to prevent the white countries from hijacking African cultural heritage from them.
She urged those people with genuine interest in Yoruba culture to feel free in displaying the interest.
Among the dignitaries present at the event are Mogaji Agbojo of Ibadan, Chief Kola Akintayo, Agbongbon Awo of Okinni, Chief Falowo Fakayode, Akogun Baale Afijagba of Ibadan , Chief Samuel Egbedokun and a hosts of others.
