Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that its government will develop the site of the Kiriji War to a world class.

The governor stated this recently while hosting engineers who came to present to him the design of the Kiriji War Site Road Networks in Igbajo and Imesi-Ile respectively.

The Chairman, Committee on the Design of Kiriji Road Networks, Mr. David Oni (an engineer), said that the site was the scene of the signing of a war treaty in September 23, 1886 between Ibadan and its affiliates and Ekiti Parapo and its affiliates on the other hand.



Some of the components of the site, he said, included the Okuta Orunorunga, Latoosa stool, Fejeboju Stream, Latoosa Groove and the Peace Treaty site.

Commending the efforts of the committee, Aregbesola said the current global economic situation was a constant reminder of the need for massive diversifications while looking beyond crude oil revenues.

Describing the Kiriji War site as a significant and historic one for the Yoruba race, Aregbesola said his government would do all it could to position the site to a world-class recreation centre.

He described the site as a cultural repository, stressing that his government would not hesitate to invest in bringing back to life, the Yoruba socio-cultural and ethnical legacies.

In a statement from the government, Aregbesola explained that tourism, as a lucrative sector, had a limitless number of potentialities to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and as well place the state on a viable position.

He said the time had come to promote tourism as a realistic means to revenues from federation accounts, reiterating that no stone would be left unturned to ensure its total realisation.

Aregbesola commended the committee for coming up with such a brilliant idea, which he described as laudable initiative, saying the essence is not only to jerk up the state’s economic values, but to improve the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race.

He urged the state Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture to facilitate the project, promising that his government would ensure all round revival of the historic Kiriji War site to attract the deserved economic values.

Aregbesola said, “I am fully impressed on this well-thought out proposal to improve our cultural heritage. Though our government has been very undaunted, resilient and steadfast in rehabilitating, enhancing and improving the tourism sector, nevertheless, much still needs to be done to ensure that all the tourist sites in the state are revamped for the betterment of our people.

“Although implementing a project like this takes much in terms of resources and timing that cannot be completed or finished in a short period, but notwithstanding, we will commit necessary human and material resources to ensure that the good gestures are realised.”

Oga work on our roads first.

Oga, work on our roads first.

MISPLACED WISDOM LEADS TO MISPLACED PRIORITY

Dear governor, please prioritize things.

Another white elephant project