By Oluwaseun Sonde
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his counterpart from Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and other special guests joined the multitudes of well-wishers to celebrate grand annual occasion of Ojude Oba Festival on Monday in Ijebuland, Ogun State.
This annual festival usually takes place on the third day after Eid al-Kabir (Ileya), to pay homage and show respect to the Royal Majesty, the Awujale of Ijebuland. It is one of the most spiritual and glamorous festivals celebrated in Ijebuland and generally in Ogun State as a whole.
Sanwo-Olu on his official social media platform who said it was indeed a great privilege to be invited as a Special Guest of Honour at the 2022 Ojude Oba Festival, expressed his gratitude to His Majesty, Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
While appreciated the Monarch under whose watch the Ojude Oba Festival has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming one of the most important cultural and religious events in Nigeria today.
The Governor hailed Dapo Abiodun whom in 2021, "I established the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission, to collaborate on key areas of mutual benefit and development, and accelerate socio-economic growth for all our communities and our people".
According to him, "As a proud son of Lagos, it is personally very pleasing to have been part of the colourful ceremony amongst my Ijebu brothers and sisters.
"We the people of Lagos and Ogun share a long historical and cultural bond, shaped by the same forces and experiences, nourished by the same waterways, and living up to the same Omoluabi standards and ideals".
Lagos Governor prayed that the Almighty God will continue to keep everyone in good health and sound mind, to see many more celebrations of Sallah and Ojude Oba in the land of the living.
Ojude Oba is the only festival where Ijebu people redefine the beauty of Yoruba culture, fashion, glamour, candour, beauty and royalty as sons and daughters of Ijebuland. This ancient festival yearly celebrated by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.
It is a festival whereby different cultural age groups are known as regberegbe, indigenes, their friends, and associates far and near parades at the front of the king's palace on the third day of Eid al Kabir festival popularly referred to as "Ileya" in Yoruba language.
Oba Adetona was the one that brought back the age groups in the 18th century into the general acceptable phenomenon that is found among today's Ijebus, and this has become an integral part of the yearly Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu. The reason for the age groups was to bring development and progress to the community.
Ojude Oba which means king's fore-court in Yoruba language is usually celebrated with Pomp and pageantry by about One million people from different parts of the world and Nigeria, especially those from Yoruba origin and most especially by people of Ijebu descent all over the world.
Ojude oba is being celebrated in Ijebu Igbo too, not only in Ijebu ode.
I will personally invite bypassnews for coverage of next year's event at Ijebu Igbo inshallah.