By Dada Ahmed in Okene
Thousands of citizens of Ebiraland in the Central Senatorial district from all walks of life, home and abroad have trooped to Okene Local Government Area of kogi state and its environs to celebrate the popular annual Ekuechi festival.
Ourcorrespondent reports that the two-day legendary festival which commenced on Wednesday and end on Thursday, with muscians and masquerades singing and dancing with philosophical songs in the night, is usually held to mark the end of the lunar year.
The crowd pulling event is also a veritable avenue for the sons and daughters of the district to socialise, fraternise and discuss crucial social and economic issues aimed at moving the area forward.
Our correspondent in Okene reports that the ofestival is characterised by peaceful disposition by the celebrants and their friends from other tribes in the country that accompanied them home to celebrate the festival.
Pp
Some of the celebrants who spoke with The Reporters, commended the state, local government, the traditional institution and the people in the district for making the festival a peaceful one, a trend they noted had been on since the inception of the present administration in the state in 2016.
Messrs Aliyu Abukakar, kadiri Ametuo, Isiaka Mohammed, Hajia Amina Anivasa among others, however, urged the state government and other stakeholders in the management of the festival to modernize the event with a view to making it more attractive to more people, especially cultural festival enthusiasts from other parts of the country.
They argued that besides enhancing the positive image of Ebiraland land and its people to the larger society, it would also change the mindset of cynics about the festival and generate tangible revenue to the state government coffer among other advantages.
“When many people come to Ebiraland to celebrate with us during Ekuechi festival, many cultural enthusiasts from other areas will lodge in hotels, operators of external economic activities will sell their products, especially souvenirs such as our weaving clothes and so on.
“This will boost revenue generating efforts of the local and state government, boost social and economic activities of the people and above all, enhance tourism in the state,” Haji Anivasa said.
