Sunday Olugbenga Abire
Ilaje Local Government is undoubtedly blessed with people and natural resources. It remains the hen that lays the Golden egg for the entire state. Ilaje is the reason Ondo state is called an oil producing state. It is our bragging right that enables us sit at the table where huge resources are shared.
However, the people of Ilaje have groaned over the years to have a bite at the leadership of Ondo State but without luck. The closest came when Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa emerged as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State. Subsequently, he became Acting Governor and eventually, Governor of Ondo State as a result of the demise of his boss, Aketi.
The gathering of eagles at Igbokoda last week resonated the passion and commitment of the people of Ilaje Local Government to support their son in a bid to continue his purposeful leadership beyond 2025. The people dropped every political garb to queue behind Governor Aiyedatiwa whose leadership has enamored his people.
The Igbokoda meeting had one agenda which was resoundingly echoed in ‘Ule-Nuse’ loosely translated as ‘Home is Important’. If ordinary birds could sing and crave for their nests, Ilaje people are wiser in their Ule-Nuse code. It’s a point where everyone drops personal ambition for community interest. Ule-Nuse conjures a sense of belonging, patriotism, altruism, camaraderie and dutifulness. It evokes collective ownership as against individualism.
The gathering of religious leaders, political leaders, nonpartisan sons and daughters of the soil, students and women to support their son while they counted their blessings cannot be taken for granted. They meant business. They promised to make a loud statement towards cementing the blessings of God through Governor Aiyedatiwa. In fact, those who couldn’t make it sent their apologies and affirmed their total support.
At Obe-Nla, the home of Governor Aiyedatiwa, right from the riverbank, jubilant crowed sang joyous songs. It caught my attention that the Governor was being referred to as Jagunmolu, a man who warred and won.
Governor Aiyedatiwa didn’t even study anything close to war or its strategies. I doubt whether he had romanced the legendary Sun Tzu’s Art of War. While I agree that election is not anything close to war, the people of Obe-Nla knew the import of that appellation.
For a community that has been forgotten, confined to a corner to enjoy the joy and pains of settling beside the water but suddenly remembered by God to sit on the highest throne in the state, Jagunmolu is quite apt not just for Governor Aiyedatiwa or his Obe-Nla clan but for the entire Ilaje people who had tried without being lucky for years. Like the biblical Mount Zion that houses deliverance and is set apart for wonders, the people of Obe-Nla witnessed the fulfillment of the promise of God in their son. I can imagine what it would be when it becomes the turn of Simerin in Akoko South West Local Government. We will roll out drums and command Igbalaye masquerade to take goodwill messages to our ancestors for their benevolence.
The water agreed as it billowed in joyous agreement with the blessings of God in the land. It was a moment of respite in Obe-Nla as OSOPADEC flags off the construction of 1000 metres walkway with jetty. The Governor didn’t just promise to re-write the story of the riverine communities but also vowed to engender development in every part of the state without leaving any behind.
Peoplesmind