By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Aare Onakankafo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has appealed to the Osun government to protect the Osun river from the illegal activities of artisanal miners.
Adams, who used the occasion of the grand finale of the Osun- Festival ro speak on miners activities in the state, called on the government to put an end to the activities of the artisanal miners in order to preserve the sanctity of the sacred grove.
” I want to appeal to the state government to put a stop to the activities of the artisanal miners so as to protect our heritage.
” These artisanal miners are contaminating our heritage and this is dangerous, highly ridiculous and a threat to our tourism and cultural potential,” he said.
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Adams, however, expressed the belief that the Osun goddess would protect those who drank the contaminated water during the festival.
“I believe by the power of Osun, anybody that drank the contaminated water will not be affected,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu also advised tourists and devotees to the grand finale of the festival to refrain from drinking the water from the river.
He said government embarked on sensitisation to discourage people from drinking the water during the festival as it had been contaminated by the activities of artisanal miners
But in spite of government’s warning, many devotees and visitors were sighted on Friday defying the warning.
