Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has said there is the need for the continued preservation of the country’s cultural values and heritage.
Abatemi-Usman made the remark at this year’s edition of Ovia-Osese, an agelong annual festival of the people of Ogoriland, which is one of the five local government areas within the central senatorial district of Kogi State.
The senator, who added colour to the occasion as the Special Guest of Honour by dancing with virtually all the cultural groups that took part in the event, maintained that such festivals must be supported to showcase the country’s culture to the outside world.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Michael Jegede, the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta, was quoted as saying: “It is gratifying for me to be in your midst today for this year’s Ovia-Osese festival.
“It is even more gratifying to see our cultural values being jealously guarded by the good people of Ogoriland.
“It is indeed important that we must continue as much as possible to preserve our cultural values and heritage.”
The senator used the occasion to once again assure the people of his commitment towards alleviating their sufferings, particularly in the area of water supply.
Thanking the Ogori/Mangogo people for the role they played in his electoral victory last year, Abatemi-Usman vowed that unlike in the past, they will be accorded their dues in the scheme of things despite the relatively low population of the area.
This, according to him, informed his decision to appoint one of their sons as the second highest legislative aide in his office at the National Assembly.