By Ayodele Abere
The Imperial Majesty, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, Aladesanmi 111, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, has called on Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters, as well as the political actors in Ekiti State to avoid movements against the peoples’ preference for their expedient ends.
The monarch made the call while delivering his speech during the 2025 Udiroko Festival tagged: “Celebrating the Solid Reference of Our Cultural Heritage with Love and Pride”, held in Ewi’s Palace, Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
Ewi, who urged them to imbibe the spirit of fairness and decent political solicitation in ways that do not forsake the peoples’ interest through which the State and Nigeria as a country will know peace and be stable, prayed that the far-reaching steps being taken by President Bola Tinubu would bring the intended balm and prosperity to Nigeria.
The royal father also commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji for his unwavering focus in governance with visible impact in the socio-politcal, economic and cultural life of the State.
According to Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji is living up to the expectations of the founding fathers of the State through responsive service delivery to the people and patriotic commitment to the values of OMOLUABI of the Land of Honour and Fountain of Knowledge.
“As a divinely chosen governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has constantly shown genuine love and regard for the sustenance of our cultural values and tradition prior to his election.
“Since the commencement of his tenure as the Peoples’ Governor in Ekiti State, to say the least, he has been completely remarkable and worthy of emulation by all the forward-looking and people-oriented political actors in all the strata of our federal political space and its landscapes”. The monarch remarked.
Speaking on Udiroko, Oba Adejugbe explained that the festival which is deeply rooted in the town’s ancestry and cultural identity, marks the beginning of Ado-Ekiti traditional calendar year, and serves as the foundation of the Ado-Ekiti existence as a community.
While congratulating the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe for the 2025 Udiroko festival, the Governor, who lauded the monarch’s efforts in fostering peace, unity and cultural heritage of Ado Ekiti, described the royal father as a symbol of wisdom and an embodiment of Ekiti rich cultural heritage.
Oyebanji noted that the reign of the monarch has brought remarkable progress to Ado-Ekiti and the state at large, emphasizing that Udiroko festival remains a testament to the monarch’s visionary leadership, which has sustained the Ekiti tradition in a modern society.
Highlight of the event attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; former Governor Niyi Adebayo, Former Governor Ayodele Fayose, former and serving members of the National Assembly, former and serving members of the state house of assembly, members of the state Executive Council, among others were homages to the monarch by various groups.
