The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun, Toyin Taiwo, says the death of the custodian of Olumo Rock, Sinatu Aduke Sanni, popularly known as Mama Olumo, will propel more tourists to the site.

The commissioner said that tourists who visited the site had always sought Mama Olumo to get facts and history about the rock and Egbaland.

“And as such, she had become a tourist site herself,” Mr Taiwo said in Abeokuta when he visited the family house of Mrs Sanni to deliver a letter of condolence from Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The custodian of the popular Olumo Rock died on June 1 at 137.

However, the governor, in his letter to the deceased family, as read by Mr Taiwo, expressed the compassion of the state government toward the demise of “Mama Olumo.”

Mr Abiodun, in the letter, said that many of the histories heard from “Mama” had been documented and available at the ministry for reference.

“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 terms of the tourism.

“This is because mama herself has become a tourist centre, in view of the way people justle to see and heard from her,” he said.

On immortalising mama, Mr Abiodun said, “you should be sure that if somebody has made an impact on humanity, the government is going to do the needful.”

Commenting on her mother’s death, Mama Olumo’s first child, Mosinat Amusa, said though her mother died at a ripe age, she was still saddened by her passing.

Also, Mama Olumo’s grandson, Samad Sanni, told journalists that mama was buried on Thursday night according to Orisa Egun’s traditional rites.

Mr Sanni noted that her family is not from Orisa Egun, but her barrenness took her to the deity, which she served for the rest of her life.

“Anyone who is an Orisa Egun cannot be buried outside, they are buried inside their houses, so mama was buried inside her room. All other activities will follow after the burial rite,” he said. 

(NAN)