Ojude Oba celebration, a cultural festival that has flourished in national influence, significance and appeal over the years, has again assumed the front burner of public discourse just as the 2023 edition of the annual event beckons.
Findings by Ijebu News Xtra magazine revealed that businessmen and women, artisans, textile merchants etc are already cashing out several weeks ahead of the event which has become a tourist attraction.
It was gathered that despite the high prices of hotel accommodation in the Ijebu axis, virtually all the top hotels where the rich dudes and international tourists usually lodge during the festival are now fully booked.
Grand Inn Hotel and Suites, Conference Hotel and Suites, Equity Hotel and Resorts, Grand Honours Hotel and a lot of others, we understand, no longer have spaces to meet up with the demands of customers who are longing to be part of the annual celebration, while some others like Equity Resort Hotel, Rolaks Hotel, GV Hotels also with serene environment have limited rooms for lodgers ahead of the festival.
A top hotelier in the town, Mr Kolawole Olaniyi Pascal, told Ijebu News Xtra magazine that, lack of accomodation in choice hotels have always been a normal development, adding that many guests are usually left in the cold during the festive time.
It was gathered that, Grand Inn Hotel and Suites and Conference Hotel both located inside the GRA, are the two most well-furnished, secured, serene hospitality havens in Ijebu-Ode. Apart from the tastefully-furnished rooms, quality customer service, swimming pool, clean and tidy rooms, both hotels also have free internet access.
Ijebu News Xtra finding revealed that all the hotels in the town do not accept payment for daily accomodation but for three consecutive days starting from Ileya day till Ojude Oba day.
Interestingly enough, a manager in one of the top hotels who does not want his name in print, disclosed that some of the lodgers even pay for their accommodation one year ahead of Ojude Oba day.
Presently, in Ijebu-Ode, we learnt that some lodgers are even making a brisk business by negotiating to sell their rooms in the top hotels to those desperate for accomodation twice the price they paid for them.
