Hot Gists From 2023 Ojude Oba Festival

• How Awujale Dazzled Everybody For 7 Hours

On Friday 30th, June 2023 Ijebu-Ode came alive, as many sons and daughters converged on the city for this year’s Ojude-Oba. It was held at the Royal Pavillion, opposite Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode. All the streets in Ijebu Ode were full of young and old  people gaily dressed celebrating Ojude Oba.

Two weeks before, all the hotels and guests houses in Ijebu-Ode and its environs had been fully booked, as many Ijebu indigenes flew in from London, the US, Canada and other parts of the world  to celebrate. There was so much drinking and eating. There was so much merriment as many rams and cows were slaughtered on the D-Day. On that day, the streets of Ijebu Ode came agog as men and women who are members of the various Regberegbe (age grade groups) turned out looking respledent in their Aso Ebi, made out  of Aso Oke, Lace, Damask and other expensive fabrics. For the men it was Agbada galore with expensive shoes and wristwatches. And the women appeared in Iro & Buba with similar handbags and shoes to match. It was a colourful sight to behold. Many of the age grade members, both men and women who came were adorned in neck and hand beads.

As  early as 8.30am, all the Regberegbe members had taken their seats in the main bowl of the  Royal Pavilion, according to the agreed sitting arrangements.

All the banners and flexis of the sponsors adorned both inside and outside the venue and their billboards could be seen all over the streets of Ijebu-Ode. The major partners like Glo  (Main Partner), FCMB, BIGI, Goldberg, Promasidor all were very visible. On the bandstand were 2 leading indigenous Apala bands. Alhaji Musiliu Haruna  Ishola kicked off and Alhaji Saheed Ligali-Mukaiba took over at some point.

Members of the Ojude Oba Festival Organising Committee were fully in charge, from the Chairman, Otunba Wahab Osinusi, Chief Oluneye Okuboyejo (Vice Chairman), Chief Dr. Fassy Yusuf (Co-ordinator), Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Osibogun (Iyalode & Omeso of Ijebu), Giwa Odutayo (President Regberegbe Council), Chief M.A. Oreagba (Secretary, Regberegbe Council), Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun Ijebu), Chief Alade Shote (Otun Balogun of Ijebu), Gbimo Alhaji Bashiru Alli (Chairman Regberegbe Planning Committee), Gunte (Alhaji) Kamorudeen Olatunde Alaga (Director of Programme) and Lase Ope Oluwa Osisanwo (Asst Secretary).

The Chief Host, the Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, dazzled everyone. He got there on time. He was on his Royal seat by 8.30am.  That is quite commendable  for an 85 years old man, who has seen it all. He sat for the entire duration of about 8 hours. This year’s event will go down in history as one of the best organised Ojude Oba, with time alotted to each activity. The event kicked off with National Anthem/State Anthem, Awujale’s Anthem/Oriki Ogbagba. The Opening Prayer was by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland. Then began the parade of Regberegbe  & Homage of Awujale. Each Regberegbe (Age Grade) was given 3 minutes each.

Then came the Equiestarian display by Balogun families and Horse Riders (Elesin) who came to pay homage to Alaiyeluwa. The sponsors also came to pay homage. After that, came the Glo Awards to the Best Regberegbe, 1st Runner Up & 2nd Runner Up in the Male & Female category. This was followed by the Glo Awards to the Best Balogun Horse Rider, 1st  Runner Up & 2nd Runner Up. What added Glitz & Glamour to the event were  the dignitaries who looked Glamorous in their various outfits. Some arrivals were also colourful.

Sir Olu Okeowo, of course, arrived in his latest Rolls Royce Limousine with a back up Jeep. He came with his wife lovely Lady Adejoke. She is a lawyer, but sells her own brand of Gele called Adejoke Gele. Chief Olusegun Osoba dressed well always. Every year, many look forward to what he will wear to Ojude Oba. He looked Glam in his white Buba & Sokoto with his Aso Oke Iro.

Cash Madam Princess Kadijat Kuburat Adebisi Edionseri was there with 2 of her sons: Otunba Yomi Odunowo who is the Obalewu of Ijebuland and his brother, Otunba Abdulrahman Abiola Odunowo, Olatuneso of Ijebuland. Cash Madam is the new Bobare of Ijebuland. Papa Okuboyejo at 90 looked good. Otunba Segun Runsewe stood tall at the event. Man of style Chief Funlola Okunowo was there. Senator Kaka was there. So also Chief Adefunwa, Senator Lekan Mustapha looked good. Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa (OFR) the Chairman of Rite Foods Ltd was there. And his company Rite Foods Limited, the leading indigenous manufacturer of wide range of beverages and confectionery products did well. They gave out free variety of BIGI Drinks & Sausage Rolls.

Goldberg Beer dazzled everybody. It was the official beer of the Ojude Festival. Goldberg is making its 8th appearance as an Associate  Sponsor.

FCMB was also very visible. Members of Awujale’s age grade group called Egbe Mafowoku Ijebu were also in attendance. Its also called Egbe Oba. Chief Olu Okuboyejo is the Giwa Egbe and Chief Idowu Osifodunrin is the Akowe Egbe.

Chief Lekan Osifeso was there looking very stylish, so also Otunba Oscar Ibru. He is the Otunba Boyejo. He came with his wife Wanda, Yeye Otunba Boyejo. Otunba Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru (the Otunba Moyegeso) was there. He  is the Publicity/Social Secretary of the Council of Otunbas  of Ijebuland.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun thanked the Awujale and Ijebu people for his 2nd term victory at the polls and promised to fix all the roads in Ogun East and other parts of the State before his tenure ends.

Sir Olu Okeowo, the Chairman of Gibraltar Construction  called for a quick rehabilitation of the Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu interchange expressway which is currently pothole ridden.

Shortly before the end of the event, winners were announced. In the Regberegbe Female Category. Egbe Gbobaniyi Olori Olori Obinrin came 1st. Egbe Obaneye Obinrin came 2nd and, Egbe Bobamayegun Asiwaju Obinrin came 3rd.

In the Male Category, 1st was Egbe Obaneye Okunrin, 2nd Egbe Bobagunwa Okunrin and 3rd was Egbe Tobalase Okunrin. In the Balogun  Eleshin category, Balogun Kuku family came 1st, Balogun Odunuga family came 2nd and Balogun Soye family came 3rd.