There are mild reactions following the just concluded 2026 edition of the Igbo-Ora twins festival as observers identified that the event might have been hijacked by government in power in recent years.
The event which was borne out of dire need to bring unity and development into IGBOORA communities tend to have been hijacked by politicians especially the government in power in the state.
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Igboora Twins festival…..more of politics than festival
According to a reliable source, since the state government took up major financing of the event, it has always been an avenue to mouth-paint the government in power even when there are areas where they need to make amendments. For example, bad roads and unavailability of electricity in some parts of Ibarapa especially Igboora down to Igangan had raised serious concerns in recent years. Observers lamented how (around 2020 celebration of the event), there will be light in Igboora a day to the grand finale, while it will be cut off immediately after the event. This happened for two consecutive years.
The road linking Ibarapa to Eruwa, and even township roads from Igboora to Igangan were typically an eye sore, making the two local government looks like an inferior part of Ibarapa. It took years of complaints and agitations before the present administration returned contractors to Ido-Eruwa road. It was even learnt that one of the prominent politician in ibarapa was rumored to have been given the road contract at the initial stage, but was revoked after public outcry over abandoning.
Lamented by a participant at this year Twins festival, “I see no reason why we should be kept silent on things that matters, and we gather to catch fun every year. Igboora stadium, Fire service station and acclaimed Waste management office in Ayete, were all nowhere to be found as we speak. Yet, all we do is to come here and be chanting slogans of political party especially those in power. Does that mean we bring this festive idea to promote politics? Are we just here to listen to donations and go back to the normal situation after the donation might have been fulfilled or even forgotten? This is not the Twins festival we dream of!!!
According to a popular radio icon- Tunji Ajibade in response to a social media complaints by some youths in the town. AJibade who has been the official M.C of the event for years and also happened to be the composer of Igboora Anthem was shown the way out of the event in a disgraceful manner, as he was said to have been replaced by the organizers of the event.
On a similar note, Adetona Adeboye popularly known as Circular was also shown reward for his efforts towards bringing Igboora on the global limelight (through his track “Ta lo fee bi ibeji”) was also said to have been schemed out of the event. When contacted by our correspondence, Adeboye confirmed that though he has another event to attend as a Musician on that day, but for the love he has for his hometown, he tried to show up and chip in some entertainment funfair before going to the second event. Unfortunately, he was kept looking like a stranger when he attempted to hold the Mic.
Another attendee who spoke with us said, when glanced through the programme of events sold at a thousand naira (#1,000) at the event, he found out that all the committees are elderly people across the communities. Youths were totally excluded from serving at the committee levels. However, from the published magazine, submissions from youths were published. This is not enough justification for youth inclusion and participation. The organizers should have incorporate younger people into the organizing and planning committees. ” Oro ta a ba soju omode se, kii parun” that is a ritual witnessed by young people will not perish.
The much celebrated Igboora Twins festival was identified and planned after series of meetings by Igboora Progress Union (IPU) in 2017. The first and second edition was jointly coordinated by IPU and the local government. However, investigations revealed that some people felt uncomfortable with the arrangements, and went behind to eventually hand over the coordination of the event to the state government. Ever since then, the state has been using the influence to market government in power, instead of pursuing the essence, aims and objectives for which the event was established.
