The popular Olumo rock, a tourists attraction centre located in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital is now facing challenges of effective and efficient elevator, as investigation revealed that, the elevators have packed up for months unattended to .
Penpushing reports that, the founding site of Abeokuta has a rich history and great spiritual significance, with guide for tourists to climb the rock, and years after the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel introduced elevator to ease the stress of the tourists.
The tourist centre was equally upgraded with number of facilities which include eatery, art gallery water fountain and a museum, as well as provision of elevator, while some of the tourist attraction centres include hideout under a rock used by people fleeing tribal wars and slave hunters
Penpushing further reports that, ironically, the elevator has not being functional for almost a year, due to what has been described to non-challance of government, as well as lack of maintenance culture.
The entrance of the elevator has been under lock and key for months as clearly seen during a check by Penpushing, which showed cobwebs all over the key and lock used at the entry point of the elevator.
Penpushing reports that, some of the staffers of the centre kept sealed lips over the development, claiming that as civil servants they have no authority to speak to journalists, however, their body language suggest that, they are also bitter about the state of the elevator.
The tourist centre known to be transformed by the Gbenga Daniel administration, has not receive adequate attention by the administrations thereafter, resulting in the bad state of the elevator, which also serve as source of revenue generation for the government.
Penpushing further reports that, there was a move by the authorities to provide palliative measure for the elevator ahead of the proposed Lisabi Day, which was later cancelled, while it was learnt that, the temporary measure was aimed to cover a day when dignitaries will accompany Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo on visit to the rock as part of the programme of event.
The proposed measure was, however, put aside following the indefinite postponement of the ceremony, and the elevator has since remained shut, and it is non functional while the authority is said to be looking other way.
Penpushing also reports that, the tourist centre has number of historical monuments which include: shrines, which opens just one day a year for a festival and a gathering of chiefs, priests, local leaders and townspeople, sacred trees and tribal war-time hideouts among others,.
The city of Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the Egba people who found refuge at the Olumo rock during inter-tribal wars in the 19th century, while the rock acted as sanctuary to the people as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemy’s advance.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, frantic efforts by Penpushing to reach the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Otunba Toyin Taiwo for his reactions and comments on the ugly development proved abortive
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