Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed on Saturday that traditional institutions and their leaders are high on the list of priorities for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Shettima made this known during the 37th Annual Akesan Day celebration 2023 in Iperu community, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun.
The vice president expressed delight in how the nation’s noble traditions serve as poignant reminders of the origins and identities of its people.
He emphasized that the nation’s diversity should be a source of strength and not division, urging Nigerians to continue imbibing the lessons firmly woven into the country’s cultural tapestry.
In his address titled “Learning from the Past: Unity and Tradition in the Akesan Festival,” Shettima expressed his delight in the significance that the Akesan festival has achieved.
He commended the festival for serving as an opportunity to reinforce President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to giving priority to traditional leaders in navigating the intricacies of Nigeria’s diversity.
Shettima stated, “The commitments articulated by our administration stand firm, and we pledge to honor these assurances, ensuring positive transformations in the lives of our people.”
He described the 37th edition of the Akesan festival as imbued with the essence of the unity Nigerians have forged as a nation, further highlighting Ogun as a template for the complexities of the nation’s cultural practices.
“It (Akesan Festival) symbolizes the heartbeat of our nation, and Ogun has long become the template for the resilience of our cultural practices as vehicles for progress,” Shettima remarked, acknowledging the state’s role in nurturing industries and cultivating a rich cultural heritage.
He applauded the state for investing time and resources to establish Iperu Remo on the global map and encouraged Nigerians to draw inspiration from the spirit of unity, cooperation, and determination in the community.
Shettima also urged other communities to actively engage in the beauty of the country’s traditions, as he noted that by celebrating their culture, Nigerians are showcasing the richness of their values to the world.
In his welcome address, the Akarigbo/Paramount ruler of Remo Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, commended the policies and programmes of Tinubu’s administration, expressing confidence that they would steer the country out of its current challenges.
Furthermore, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, representing the Chairman of the occasion, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, called on the people of Ogun State to continue their peaceful coexistence and cohabitation.
