The Special Adviser to the Governor of Oyo State on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ademola Ige has castigated the past administration over its abandonment of cultural centre for complete 8 years.
Ige displayed his unhappiness and grievances on the dilapidated structures and general poor condition of cultural centre while on familiarization tour and and on spot assessment of giant edifice.
Ige who is also Baameto Aare-Onakakanfo of Yorubaland while at Mokola in Ibadan where the cultural centre is sited said that the past administration had no doubt responsible for the current dilapidated structures and deteriorated situation of the cultural centre, following its abandonment for complete 8 years.
While promising on rehabilitation of the giant edifice, the SA on Culture and Tourism promised that the current administration in the pacesetter state ably led by Engr Seyi Makinde would do everything administratively and culturally possible to ensure the cultural centre is rehabilitated and wear a new outlook.
Ige said that culture and tourism was an important ministry in the state that the current administration is highly interested in reforming, rebuilding and restoring so as to make it a source of revenue for the state.
He reiterated that government would leave no stone unturned to makesure that the ministry of culture and tourism is given the needed attention, priority and quick intervention it deserves.
Ige said that having put it in good shape and made it an attractive tourist centre, he would ensure that governments and other individuals who value culture begin to patronize it, stressing that Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja while as a Governor of the state had launched books in the edifice, likewise some Local Government Chairmen had equally held series of executive meetings in it previously.
In her discussion, The General Manager, Cultural Centre, Mrs Olayinka Adedeji lamented that the past administration had for the past 8 years abandoned and kept the cultural centre in a moribund condition, stressing that through out of the last administration, they never participate in any event nor activity that has to do with culture and tourism.
On deteriorated situation of the giant edifice, Adedeji said that the centre needed the government’s quick intervention on renovation and general rehabilitation of the centre, stressing that its proposed new outlook becomes important and necessary because the edifice remains the glory of Ibadanland and Oyo State at large.
She lamented that the edifice remains the current abode of snakes, alligators and other dangerous animals that women might not withstand while coming across them.
She reiterated that government should endeavour to expedite possible actions on renovation and general rehabilitation of the centre which roofs are leaking, deficient of toilet facilities and other attractive structures.
