Kwara community seeks national monument status for Aise Falls

Residents of Isanlu-Isin Community in the Isin Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State have appealed to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Tourism, and Creative Economy, led by Honourable, to name Ijoko and Aise Falls as national monuments.

Towards this end, the LGA has inaugurated a committee to help fast-track the endorsement of the falls for tourism purposes and income generation, barely two weeks before its annual Akogun Day celebration, which normally takes place on December 30th at Isanlu-Isin.

Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin on Friday, the community spokesperson, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, described Ijoko and Aise Falls as alluring features perfect for tourism, comparable to many existing falls in the country and beyond.

Akogun said the community would be elated if its request could be met ahead of this year’s celebration of Ajokogun Day, an annual event celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the people.
“The program will create opportunities to showcase abundant tourist sites in the community. We have the Ijoko Falls, Aise Falls, and various historical artefacts that could be of immense value to tourists.

“For years, we had been silent on these falls, but in the last few months, we have discovered their potential.

“But we are appealing to the Federal Government to declare them national monuments to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of our people.”

He noted that tourism has assumed great economic value for those who have keyed into it over the years. He therefore encouraged the state and the Federal Governments to harness all the tourism potential in Nigeria and turn it into money-spinning ventures.

“We want to place Isanlu-Isin on the world map. Some of our history has gone into extinction. We want our children to know about our past and understand what our community can offer,” he said.
According to Oyedepo, a museum would soon be established in the town and dedicated to the collection of artefacts, stressing that a standing committee had commenced gathering materials to ensure the prompt take-off of the museum.

“Ajokogun brings to memory how our people valiantly danced to meet invaders and not only drove them away but also conquered them. This was not an ordinary march to the war front but rather dancing to meet the invaders. The appellation was indeed given to us by enemies that incessantly faced defeat at the hands of our dancing army.

“The community then created fear among warmongers to the extent that they told one another not to go to Isanlu-Isin, which has the Iyeye tree where the people danced to capture their attackers.
“That is why it is often said that Isanlu-Isin was never conquered in any war. It is part of our history that ‘ogun ko jaja ko kowa lode Isanlu ri’ (we have never lost a war in Isanlu). That explains why our annual gathering to celebrate our culture and history is called AJOKOGUN FIESTA,” he said.