TOURISM & CULTURE: Osun Advocates Cultural Renaissance As Antidote For Corruption

Osun State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mr. Sikiru Adetona Ayedun has attributed the alarming rate of corruption in the country to the insensitivity of Nigerians towards their culture and language.
Ayedun said this while fielding questions from journalists in Osogbo during the News Point programme organised by the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel. He noted that before the emergence of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in the state, tourism and culture had not been given a deserving attention, unlike now that the administration had given due attention to tourism and culture which has been yielding positive results.
He further stressed that thousands of tourists had been visiting the state since 2010 when this administration came on board.
Ayedun highlighted some of the achievements of his ministry to include creation of pavilion and provision of car park at Osun Osogbo Grove; development of tourist sites across the state; erection of stair-case and provision of cultural artifact at Olumirin Water Fall, Erin-Ijesa; cultural design of Oduduwa and Oranmiyan staff at Ile-Ife; provision of fire equipment for the state fire service; unprecedented early hajj lifting and welfare package for hajj pilgrims among others.
The commissioner, while commenting on the recent Anambra gubernatorial election, equally used the medium to advise the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rise up to its responsibility of conducting a free, fair and credible election in the country.
NIGERIAN PILOT