Ogun Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Toyin Taiwo has affirmed that the death of Mrs Sinatu Aduke Sanni popularly known as Mama Olumo would in fact, propel more tourists to visit the site in a bid to confirm the story of her death.
Taiwo said this on Friday evening when he visited the family house of the late Sanni to deliver a letter of condolence from Gov Dapo Abiodun to the family.
Mrs Sanni, the custodian of the popular Olumo rock died on Monday June 1 at the age of 137.
According to the commissioner, tourists who visited the site had always sought her out to get facts and history about the rock and Egbaland as a whole, as such, she had become a tourist site herself.
Reading the letter from the governor, Taiwo expressed the compassion of the state government towards the demise of Mama Olumo while promising to keep supporting the family as it had always done.
He said many of the histories heard from Mama has been documented and available at the ministry for reference.
“When we heard of mama’s passing, as a government, we have to show up here and identify with the family at this moment to condole with them.
“Mama is a custodian of our histories, culture and tradition. We’re going to miss her greatly in terms of the history and truth of Egbaland and in terms of the tourism because mama, herself has become a tourist center because of the way people jostle to see and heard from her,” he said.
On immortalising mama, the commissioner said, “you should be sure that if somebody have made an impact on humanity, the government is going to do the needful”.
Reacting to the death of her mother, Mama Olumo’s first child, Mrs Mosinat Amusa said even though her mother died at a ripe age, she was still saddened by her passing.
Amusa, who said she has passed the age of 90, however expressed satisfaction at the life her mother lived.
She expressed confidence that some her children would continue from where mama stopped.
Mama Olumo’s grandson, Mr Samad Sanni disclosed to journalists that she had since been buried on Thursday night according to Orisa Egun traditional rites.
He said, though her family is not from Orisa Egun but her barreness took her to the deity, which she served for the rest of her life.
According to him, she was buried in her room at the family house behind the Olumo rock.
“We buried her last night, according to Orisa traditional rite. Mama belongs to Orisa Egun, and there is nothing we can do than to bury her in that rite.
“Anyone who is an Orisa Egun cannot be buried outside, they’re buried inside their house, so mama was buried inside her room. All other activities will follow after the burial rite.
“Mama’s family is not from Orisa Egun, but it was when mama was looking for children, that was what brought mama into serving Orisa Egun,” he added.
