In Ondo, Ekimogun festival unites friends, relatives

The Ekimogun celebration in Ondo State is an annual event during which indigenes of Ondo and their friends from far and near celebrate unity, love, culture and tradition of the ancient town turned city. Hakeem Gbadamosi captures the mood of the people during the festival.

For sons and daughters on Ondo State, the annual “Ekimogun Day” ever since it was first held almost three decades ago, is an event much anticipated. It comes up in the first week December and is an opportunity for people of Ondo kingdom to come together to display their cultural heritage and tradition. The people also use the period to pray for the Osemawe for long life and good health and the progress and prosperity of Ondo in general.

This year’s colourful celebration of “Ekimogun day” was a two-in-one event as it featured the homecoming of several sons and daughters of Ondo kingdom across the globe as the 2016 edition of Ekimogun Day coincided with the tenth year anniversary of the Osemawe of Ondo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Victor Adesinmbo Kiladejo, Jilo III, the Paramount ruler of Ondo kingdom, on the throne.

The celebration saw the Osemawe and his wife, the Ondo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his wife, High Chiefs, Ukules, Elegbes, Opojis, Ujamas, Olojas, and the entire people of Ondo Development Committee (ODC), decked in traditional outfits symbolic of the Ondo heritage, in a colourful procession to the Oba Adesanoye Civic Centre in Ondo town, the venue of the event.

This year’s Ekimogun day was also witnessed by dignitaries who came from far and wide, some of which included, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Oguwusi, former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, among others.

Also, ten distinguished Nigerians were awarded with honorary chieftaincy titles by Oba  Kiladejo, who stated that the event would “re-enact the love, oneness and cordial relationship that will enhance steady growth as well as the development of the community.”

Speaking on the importance of the day, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, High Chief Johnson Adeduro, said the Ekimogun Day was designed to celebrate togetherness and  a confirmation of unity among the people and leadership of the town. He specifically noted that the 2016 edition of the celebration remained a remarkable one in the annals of history of the people of the kingdom.

According to the High Chief, the people of the town have so much to celebrate in the leadership provided by the Osemawe, whom he described as a visionary monarch with unassailable mission and action, who had tansformed the kingdom into a place of pride compared to other places in the country within his first ten years on the throne.

High Chief Adeduro said: “through his ingenuity, Oba Kiladejo created an atmosphere of peace, harmony and reconciliation among chiefs and other traditional rulers in his domain. There is also not forgetting his simplicity, humility, and the friendly disposition of his wife, Olori Olayinka.”

Adeduro said within the first ten years of Oba Kiladejo’s reign, Ondo kingdom had been blessed with two universities, with the third in view, four community radio stations, construction of dualised roads, establishment of a medical village, and also exposed the kingdom to a fair share of infrastructural projects through the government of Dr. Mimiko who is also an indigene of the town.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in his address  acknowledged the fact that Ondo Kingdom was blessed with illustrious sons and daughters who had made marks in their various fields of endeavours.

He also commended the self developmental efforts of the town and appreciated the Osemawe for the invitation extended to him and promised to continue to work for the interest of Ondo  Kingdom.

Obasanjo, who harped on the need to focus more attention on agriculture as it remained the only way out of the nation’s current economic situation, stated that “what is needed now is to diversify the nation’s economy in agricultural sector to fast track the national  growth and development of our dear country.”

He praised Oba Kiladejo for the progress made  so far and urged him to continue to chart a new chapter of development for the town. He pointed out that he had in the past worked hard to ensure that the Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo was upgraded to a university of education before it was later reversed but  assured that the re-upgrading of the institution would soon be effected, despite the establishment of two other universities in the town.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, while speaking,  congratulated the Osemawe in council and the entire people of the community on the tenth anniversary of the Osemaee and  called for a harmonious relationship among traditional rulers in Yorubaland for more development and indivisible progress.

According to Oba Adewusi, development can only come in the face of unity, just as he states that his reign as the Ooni of Ife  would be dedicated to the cultural renaissance and development of Yorubaland.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, also felicitated with the Osemawe on the auspicious occasion, saying he was honoured to witness the celebration of love, culture and tradition of the ancient town and called for the promotion of cultures and values among the different ethnic in the country.

The Sultan of Sokoto noted that the community had witnessed tremendous progress in the last 10 years under the reign of Oba Victor Kiladejo and emphasised the need for traditional rulers to do more in propagating unity, love and peace in Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity and religious differences.

According to him, Nigerians should always synergise and corporate with security agencies to enable them  tackle  headlong  the nation’s  security challenges.

He further appealed to all sons and daughters of the land to join hands  to advance the course of development of  Ondo city.

He described the achievements of the Mimiko-led administration in the state as one that history will never forget in a hurry and also commended his spirit of sportsmanship displayed in the just-concluded election in the state.

The Ondo State governor, Dr  Mimiko, in his address, charged the people of Ondo kingdom on unity of purpose and dedication to fasttrack  more development of the kingdom.  Mimiko said that the reign of Oba Victor Kiladejo in the last 10 years had brought visible and enlightened  progress to Ondo kingdom and charged all the indigenes of Ondo community on collective effort to drive the needed development in the land.

Also speaking, the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  candidate in the just-concluded  governorship  election in the state, Eyitayo Jegede, at the event, thanked the people of Ondo for their support and solidarity extended to him ‎during his  governorship campaign, stressing that such gesture in less than 48 hours to an election was unprecedented and commendable.

Jedege said though he lost the election, all hope was not lost with assurances of better days ahead. He promised not to distance himself from the people who believed and shared in his vision to lead Ondo State to greater heights by building on Governor  Mimiko’s legacies  across the state.

Earlier, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo who commended the turnout of the people  for the Ekimogun day, lauded the achievements of the Mimiko-led administration in the last 7 and half years, urging all sons and daughters of the land to partner Ondo kingdom for more progress.

It would be recalled that as a prelude to the Ekimogun day, Oba  Kiladejo bestowed royal awards on some eminent and distinguished citizens of the country including, Senator David Mark, Sir Adebutu Kessington, Mrs Tinuade Tubo, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, Dr. Oladele Fajemiroku, Professor Friday Okonofua, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru, among others.

The event also witnessed cultural entertainment, featuring sonorous renditions of songs and beautiful dance moves by the Obitun Dance Group of Ondo, which kept the audience entertained throughout the event.