Arigidi is a sleepy community in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area. It is a community whose locals have held firm to their traditional religious belief despite the advent of Christianity and other religions.
Arigidi is also the country home of the late Prophet Temitope Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church for All Nations, and the Aare Ona Kankafo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams.
Once in a year, the community is opened to the world as visitors from all walks of life throng it on the Okota Day festival to get the water and blessings from Okota stream. The water from the stream is believed to have powers to cure of ailments, drive away evil spirits, boost businesses and many other things.
Pastors and Alfas (Islamic clerics) are among visitors that seek the water. To the natives of Arigidi, Okota Stream could make a barren woman become pregnant after drinking its water.
Besides the visit to the Okota stream, the Okota festival is a day charms, amulets and native bullet proof jackets are sold on the streets of Arigidi.
Events of the festival began with early morning prayers at the palace of the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun. The monarch prayed for his subjects and the development of his town and the Yoruba nation as a whole. It was after the prayers that the residents moved to the Okota stream for prayers and blessings.
Individuals are expected to pass through the entrance with their backs turned. Adherents of the goddess are seen clad in white attires, singing, dancing and offering prayers to those who seek the blessings of Okota.
Tales were told of how women, in the olden days, used to leave their babies by the stream on their way to the farm. They would return to find that no harm had come their babies’ way.
Inside the stream, people were seen drinking from the water while others were standing and bathing inside the water. Those that brought gallons filled it with the water to take home.
Ganiyu Jacob, who spoke in an interview, said they believed in the powers of the Okota stream.
He said: “Okota festival is a good festival. This water is very good for humans. If they have problems, it helped them to solve the problems. Evil will not come near your home if you have the water in it.
“We come here once in a year. It cures all ailments. If they use this water for a pregnant woman finding it difficult to deliver, within hours after drinking the water and bathing with it, the baby will come out.”
Another resident, Olusola Tope, said: “I am from Arigidi. The festival is for peace of the community. People who want good things, if they come to Okota, it will give them what they need.
“The water is peaceful. It is for love and peace. Water is life. The water is not for sale. If you have Okota water at home, evil will not happen to you.
“People come here from across the country including pastors.”
In the streets of Arigidi, various charms and amulets were on display for sale. The sellers said the charms included those that serve as traditional bulletproof even against all sharp objects, warding off evil attacks and danger signals among others.
In his speech, Gani Adams, said the Okota river goddess had always impacted the lives of the people positively, adding that her influence had impacted positively on the progress and development of the town.
Adams, however, lamented that Ondo State has not been doing enough in terms of projecting the unique culture and tradition of its people.
According to him, “the traditional rulers in the state should also step up their roles as custodians of Yoruba culture and tradition.
“The state government and the traditional institution need to do a lot more in promoting the culture and the tradition of the people in order to improve the state economy and further enhance development in the state.
“All over the world, there is obvious difference between religion, culture and tradition. And any race or people that abandon their culture and tradition does so at their own peril.
“Prosperity, wealth and abundance, both social and economic fortunes are all spiritual in nature. They don’t come by accident. It is by promoting our culture and tradition that we can access the spiritual fortunes and be liberated from poverty and misfortunes.”
Oba Olanipekun urged the people to uphold the tradition of Okota festival
