Tourism: Rep criticises Akeredolu’s wife for rating pet project over Idanre Hills

Mr Tajudeen Adefisoye, a member of the House of Representatives, has frowned at a statement credited to Betty Anyanwu, wife of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, rating her pet project over the ancient Idanre Hills.
This was contained in a statement signed by Adefisoye, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), representing Idanre/Ifedore Constituency, and made available to newsmen by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Oluyemi Fasipe, on Tuesday in Akure.
Mrs Akeredolu had on Sunday, posted on her Facebook page, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, “Forget Idanre Hills, BEMORE Summer Bootcamp is set to be the new tourist attraction in Ondo State. Believe it or Not!-Arabinrin,”
The Idanre-born lawmaker said that no human initiative could ever come close to the ancient Idanre Hills, which is a UNESCO world heritage and approved tourist destination for international tourists.
Adefisoye explained that the hills, which is 3, 000 feet above the sea level, had existed for 500 million years, and one of the most beautiful natural landscapes, not only in Nigeria, but in the whole of Africa.
According to the lawmaker, Idanre Hills is a unique ecosystem, upon which the cultural landscape and rare beauty of nature are completely integrated.
“Idanre Hills, which represents a cultural site that encompasses ‘Owa palace’, old court, Belfry, Agbooogun Footprint, Thunder Water, Burial Mounds, among other cultural values, can never be overtaken by any human initiative,” Adefisoye noted.
He added that ‘Mare Festival’ would not have been conceived to attract global tourists if Idanre Hills did not have money spinning tourism capacity in addition to its display of aesthetic beauty of nature.
Adefisoye, therefore, urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to reactivate the yearly ‘Mare Festival’ in order to open the state to global tourists and investors by leveraging on the cultural values embedded in Idanre Hills.
Adefisoye, however, lauded the BEMORE initiative of Mrs Akeredolu, which he described as a good platform for girls to become complete women.
“It is an envisioned preparatory avenue to help girls triumph over intimidations,” he said.