•Aremo Osoba, Gov Abiodun & Oba Adetona
It was all glamour, wealth, success from an enterprising spirit and sophistication rolled into one on Friday as the Ogun State Assembly Minority Leader, joined other members of his Egbe Bobagunwa Okunrin Akile Ijebu to pay a deserving homage to their revered traditional ruler, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba 11, who is often referred to as Orisa Ijebu(the god of the Ijebu ethnic group home and abroad).
It was also an exciting moment as members of this Egbe Bobagunwa Okunrin age grade called Regberegbe in Ijebu parlance, dressed in unique way to distinguish themselves from others, joyously took rhythmic dance steps in unison up the sitting position of Oba Adetona to do an obeisance to him, who in turn, poured his royal blessings upon them without measures.
This year edition of the Ojude Oba which was held in Ijebu Ode, the traditional headquarters of Ijebuland and which also doubles as the administrative headquarters of the Ijebu – Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, showcased dozens of Regberegbes, the eleshins (horse riders) and the Balogun families (the Ijebu warlords) in their triumphant entry to the celebration arena one after the another on horse back.
There was a staccato booming of Dane guns at noon time, depicting a scene akin to that of soldiers returning home triumphantly from a successful military campaign in foreign lands.
An estimated over 15,000 people physically participated in the 2023 Ojude Oba cultural carnival beside those who watched it live terrestrially. It had in attendance, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, ex – governor Aremo Osoba, Senator Lekan Mustapha among others.
Speaking to The Daily Crucible during the celebration, the excited Ogun Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Lukmon Adeleye, urged Government at all levels and Nigerians home and abroad to embrace as well as promote the rich cultural values of the Nation, towards making such a means of foreign exchange earner for the Country.
The minority leader, who doubled as the Otun Egbe Bobagunwa Okunrin Akile Ijebu said, “if well harnessed, the Ojude Oba festival should be a major source of income for the country.”
Hon. Adeleye described the event as a cultural festival that brings all ethnic groups together, saying ” it is a festival that gives room for everyone to show their talents in one way or the other, while displaying the rich cultural values of the Ijebu people.”
According to him, “the State government should look inwards to promote the annual festival beyond the shores of Nigeria and add more values to it.”
“Private organisations and well spirited individuals should also come together to make it a world class carnival to showcase the beauty of our cultural heritage to the world.”
Hon Adeleye who thanked the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona for creating such a rallying point for the Ijebus, said the festival has enhanced development in Ijebu land.
He prayed that God would continue to sustain peace and harmony in Ijebuland and Ogun State, as more age groups are welcomed to join the regberegbes.
