...... Just As Biodun Omoleye Becomes The Rallying Point of "Ijurin Day" Annual Celebration .
Written By Daniel Abe
Home town-based organizations are crucial in the variety of local development. Infact, some would argue that the hometown is even more important in the current social, political and economic environment of Nigeria. Hometown has long been a source of social and cultural identity. Building a house in one's hometown has long been viewed as the mark of success for a Yoruba man. Today, display of success involves a range of participation in hometown activities- participation in community organisations, donation to community activities, sponsoring of indigent students, scholarship and so on. It is in this context that the community day celebrations which have become a feature on the landscape of Yorubaland provide a new means of demonstrating identity and solidarity with one's community.
Often time, we hears comments from both government officials and individual that "government cannot provide everything needed by the people". And as a corollary to that one finds an enormous number of activities being organised, primarily by different communities organisations, with the primary aim of developing their community. One common form that those activities are currently taking is the setting aside a community "day" for fund-raising and other events, which encourage community members residents outside their hometown to come around and contribute to the development of their place of birth.
The community day celebrations have been developed in a desire to recreate a community solidarity which is believed to have existed in the past. The organizers of these celebrations are drawing on models and ideas from the past, or what they conceive of as having existed in the past. In their view, the traditional religious festival of the past brought people home for annual celebrations and created community solidarity. But these traditional religious festival like Egungun, yam festival,Ogun, Osun, Elero and so on are being considered fetish by the new generation due to their new religious believe - Christianity and Islam. Therefore, they have established a new form of celebration, a civic ceremony which is basically non-religious.
For people of ijurin-Ekiti, they have every reason to celebrate. Ijurin is one of the 6 communities that made up Irewolede Local Council Development Area and one of the 16 towns in Ijero local government of Ekiti State. The town is blessed with many illustrious sons and daughters who are excelling in their various field of endeavours.
The "Ijurin Day" celebration started in 1989 under the rulership of late Oba Emmanuel Afolabi Ajibola Aniyeloye II. We must commend the Ojurin-in-council of that era, the Kingmakers- late high Chief Adeoye (Eesa),late high Chief Abe(Aro),late high Chief Teniola (Eesaba),late high Chief Ogunyebi (Asa),late high Chief Oderinde Aluko(Esinkin) and late high Chief Ojo Awe(Sajuku) as well as late high Chief Ogidiolu who was the Chairman of Ijurin Town Council in 1989. The 32nd edition was held last Saturday at the Ijurin Comprehensive High School play field where many indegenes of the town,home and abroad, friends, dignataries and well wishers gathered to thank God for witnessing another Ijurin Day celebration and to also contribute their own quota for the development of the town.
Kudos must be given to the prominent indegenes of the town, dead or alive, who have made Ijurin Day a memorable event since the maiden edition in the late 80's- Chief L.O Akinbode, Chief D.F Ogidiolu, Chief Kayode Adewale, Chief Ojinni (Composer of Ijurin anthem), Chief G.A Ayeoba, Mr Sunday Abe(Adarabioyo), Dr. Kola Olufemi, Chief (Mrs) Abigail Ajayi(Iya Abiye), Mr Rufus Arabi, Mr Awe Adelabu, Mr Ebenezer Kolwawole, Chief S.B. Omotoso,all of blessed memories, were some of the "Ijurinmojes" who have made meaningful impacts for the development of the town during their lifetime. The Ijurin Day of 80's and early 90's cannot be completed without the contributions of late High Chief L.O Akinbode. He invited many of his colleagues at Nigerrite Company like late C.A William to Ijurin who donated hugely for the progress of the town. For those that are still alive, we cannot forget the contributions of our illustrious sons and daughters to yearly Ijurin Day celebration like Prince Sunday Adebayo (Sunday mi o), Mr. Kole Fagade (Fakoil), Hon. Obafemi Adewale (SAN), Prince Simeon Ajibola (Top Crown), Chief Alfred Ikulayo (Baba jiiiiii), Chief Awogbola, (Mrs) C.O Fareo, Engr. T.J Omoleye, Hon. Ekundayo Akinleye (Maxima), Evang. (Mrs) Felicia Arabi, Elder O.P Omoleye, Prof. Ayodele Omotoso, Mr. Femi Boyede, Mr. Thomas Arabi, Mr Kayode Jogbodo and Chief George Asebiode who entertained the people with traditional "Apiri" music,Mr Kelvin Teniola, Mr Kunle Adewale and a host of others.
One noticeable thing about the modern community day celebrations was that their indegenes who are in government either as appointees or elected have become the centre of attraction during the celebration. We can still recalled vividly the contributions of Hon Obafemi Adewale to Ijurin Day celebration between 1999-2003 when he was the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General. Infact, Ijurin Day of the year 2000 was one of the best of that era. The occasion was graced by the first executive governor of Ekiti State,Otunba Niyi Adebayo,his deputy, chief Paul Alabi, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kola Adefemi, Secretary to the state government, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, Commissioners, local government Chairmen, led by the ALGON Chairman, Hon Odunayo Ategbero,then executive Chairman of Efon local government among others. A popular radio presenter and On-Air Personality, Mrs Christianah Ademulegun (Eye Opitan) anchored the programme that day.
Today, the face of modern Ijurin Day is Hon. Biodun Omoleye, former Chief of Staff and APC House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II. For over four years now, he has become the rallying point for Ijurin Day celebration. He served as the Chairman of the occasion in 2017. He has been the Chief Host of the event for four consecutive time now. In 2019, his wife, Mrs Olusola Omoleye was the Chairperson of the event. The event then was attended by governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by the then Secretary to the state government, now governor-elect, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji, members of Ekiti State House of Assembly led by the speaker, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, Commissioners, local government Chairmen, members of E-eleven, friends and numerous political associates of Hon. Biodun Omoleye.
This year edition of Ijurin Day was not an exemption as Hon. Biodun Omoleye again was the face of the occasion. His arrival at the venue of the event aroused wide jubilation as youths, Chiefs and traditional rulers present welcomed him with all enthusiasm as he moved round the field to greet the people.
Omoleye,while speaking at the event,congratulated Kabiyesi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Joachim Adeyemi Afolabi Ajibola Agungesoye II,the Ojurin of Ijurin-Ekiti, Chiefs, sons and daughters of Ijurin for witnessing the 32nd edition of Ijurin Day celebration. The former Chief of Staff said the event is not only for fund-raising activities but a need for a community-based celebration to bring community members together. He however emphasized the need for the indegenes of the town,home and abroad to contribute to the development of their place of birth.
Hon. Omoleye also harped on peace and unity as vital ingredients for development.
He used the occasion to highlight various achievements of APC government both in the first and second tenure of Governor Fayemi as well as the federal government intervention in the infrastructural development of the town. Some of the projects mentioned by Omoleye included the face-lift of Ijurin primary health centre, equiped with modern medical facilities which was commissioned last year by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), HE, Mrs Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire, renovation and construction of classrooms in all the public primary schools in the town, complete renovation and fencing of Ijurin's palace, renovation of Ijurin Comprehensive High School, extension of rural electricity, installation of 300KVA Transformer, provision of a motorised borehole and V.I.P toilets at St. Paul's Catholic Primary School, on going construction of Iloro-Ijurin-Temidire-Ayegunle roads and human capital development as many indegenes of the town both youg and old have benefited from various government empowerment programmes, while some of the Youths were gainfully employed into the State Civil Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission,SUBEB and Local Government Service Commission.
Omoleye also informed the gathering of the ongoing construction of an international market along Ipoti road, sponsored by the World Bank and federal government. This according to him will assist the farmers and also boost the socio-economic activities of the town.
Omoleye has also made it a yearly obligation to be providing cash gift with bags of rice to all the 15 quarters in the town in order to take care of their feeding during the celebration.
The former Council Boss while rounding up his speech at the event said, " I came from a background of service and I will continue to facilitate development to this community either in my personal or official capacity".
Kabiyesi Ojurin in his speech expressed deep appreciation to Ijurin Development Union of various branches, union groups and clubs and prominent indegenes of the town like Elder O.P. Omoleye, Hon Obafemi Adewale and Hon Biodun Omoleye for their tremendous contributions to the development of the town.
Kabiyesi also used the opportunity to appeal to members of all political parties in the town to exercise caution in their electioneering campaign in order to avoid irrevocable damages to the unity and peaceful co-existence of the town. " We are one big family and should desist from politicising sensitive issues that bind us together".
Omoleye's residence at Temidire street later turned to the second venue of Ijurin Day as his friends, political associates and different groups in the town gathered to wine and dine.
The Chairman of this year Ijurin Day was Omoleye's predecessor in office and serving member, house of Representatives, Hon Adeyemi Adaramodu while the Chief launcher was the Special Asviser on Social Investment to Ekiti state governor, Hon. Barr. Victor Kolade and the Executive Director, Finance & Account,FERMA,Hon Dapo Kolwawole as Special Guest of honour.
Other dignataries at the event included the state Commissioner for Budget & Economic Planning, Mr Femi Ajayi, the executive Chairperson, Irewolede LCDA Hon (Mrs) Dupe Bakare, executive Chairman, Ijero local government,Hon. Adeola Adeyemo, executive chairman, Irede LCDA, Hon Gbenga Bobade, APC House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency II,Hon Akinlayo Davidson Kolwawole and a host of others.
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