An industrialist, Chief Yinka Kufile, on Monday, sued for peace among Nigerians, over a nationwide planned protest against economic crises by some groups billed for August.
Kufile who is the Oluwo of Ijemo and Aro of Egbaland, stated this during a press conference to herald the 110th commemoration of the Ijemo Massacre and the Celebration of Ijemo History, Culture and Heritage, held at the Ijemo Town Hall, in Abeokuta.
He noted that the planned protest would further worsen the woes of Nigerians and that such moves might lead to wanton destruction of lives and property.
The Egba High Chief said, “In an environment where there is an issue or conflict it should be resolved amicably. Here in Abeokuta, I will not direct my children to go and be involved in violent protests. Because it doesn’t resolve any issue.
“It is important to have dialogue and talk out any issue without violence, so I will advise those planning protest to calm down.
“The people of Ijemo have had their own share. Our progenitors suffered a bloodbath, extermination, annihilation, decimation, and depopulation in the course of the massacre of August 8, 1914, which sad event stemmed from several factors, remote and immediate, arising from the lack of trust and the suspicion between the then ruling Egba Oligarchy, the over-zealous Colonial officials, on one hand, and the townships’ Chiefs and the people in general.”
Kufile narrated that the Ijemo township massacre of August 8, 1914, by the British colonial government was a result of distrust and resistance of the people to the divisive rule of the colonial government.
The Chairman Planning Committee of the anniversary, Chief Anthony Oyero, said that the Ijemo people and other Egba groups were unhappy with the colonial government over impositions of alien obligations, disruptions of social order and pressures on the Egba United Government headed by the Alake of Egbaland.
Oyero noted that the arrest of Chief Sobiye Ponlade, an Ijemo chieftain was the beginning of the civil unrest that culminated into strife which led to the massacre.
He said, “Ponlade was an activist of some sort; he led the opposition against the draconian measures adopted by the Colonial Government to compel forced labour. This led to his arrest, detention and eventual death at the hands of the British oppressors. The British colonial officials could not stand Chief Ponlade’s opposition and activism against the meddlesomeness of the colonial government.
“The civil unrest broke out, the then rapidly developing Abeokuta Township became embroiled in civil strife with the civil unrest and the masses in open protest and the Ogboni groups were not left out with other townships in alignment with the Ijemo people and their leadership. The Egba United Government had its greatest challenge at hands. The Ijemos believed that Ponlade was not treated fairly, he was not given a fair hearing. The principle of natural justice, nemo judex in causa sua was utterly breached in the handling of the case of Chief Ponlade. The Egba United Government with limited experience at managing social unrest of such magnitude did all to avert the crisis but to no avail, the ill-fated result was the Ijemo Massacre which saw the gruelling killing of many Ijemo people and their Leader, Oluwo Arinmokunrin and several households razed down in the inferno caused by arsonists who set dwelling houses on fire and people in their hundreds lost their homes. The Ijemo people retreated to their outpost or satellite villages to live there. Much was the suspicion of the Ijemos for the Egba Leadership for many years. Now it is gratifying that Ijemo has renewed its alliance and cooperation with the Egba nation.”
Highlights of the celebration scheduled to start from August 3 through 10 included medical outreach; woro dance; educational empowerment among others.
Oyero said that there will also be the presentation of awards to a few eminently deserving personalities who had contributed to the development of the Ijemo community in the course of their trajectories as public officials, community leaders and business and industrial leaders.
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