•City People Reveals A Lot About The 175 Members Of The Club
The Ijebus take the issue of age grade group very serious. In local parlance it is called Regberegbe. That is why many male and female Ijebu indigenes belong to the regberegbe (age grade groups) in Ijebuland.
One of these popular age grade group is Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu.
Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu is an age group meant for the sons of Ijebu-Ode and its environs born between 1st January, 1953 – 31st December, 1955. This age group is the birth right of all sons of Ijebu land born between the aforementioned age bracket. However, any intending member has to meet some terms and conditions attached to the membership of the Egbe as dictated by the constitution guiding the Egbe.
Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu is one of the numerous age group created by the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona. These age groups have been created as far back in 18th century. The activities of the age groups got moribund at a stage due to the dominant presence of OBANTA DAY CELEBRATION. It was the incumbent Awujale, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona (CFR) that resuscitated the age long group and added the much needed colour to its activities thus making it an envious outing to other towns and villages.
However, the idea to put Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) in place was actually mooted by a group of friends less than 20 in 1996. They held their first meeting at ROTAKS CLUB, Abeokuta Road, Ijebu-Ode where it was decided by the few of them to start inviting people of like minds having known ourselves from our Primary/Secondary School days. Along the line, meetings are held at both Ijebu-Ode Club and Canny Hotel, Mushin, Lagos for those residing in Ijebu-Ode and Lagos respectively.
In October, 1999, the first ever election of the Egbe came to life during which Late Alhaji Abdul Lateef Abayomi Alli-Oke emerged as the 1st Giwa Egbe, ably assisted by Chief (Dr) Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf (Ph.D) and Engr. Fatai Olaitan Odumosu as Otun and Osi Giwa respectively. The first elected General Secretary of the Egbe is Gbimo ‘Kunle Ashiru. Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu formally received its royal blessing and recognition from the Awujale & Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona (CFR) on Saturday, 20th December, 1999 with a membership strength of over One Hundred (100)
Along the line, the Egbe was faced with some challenges in 2001 which later resulted in the Egbe replacing its Giwa Egbe during which Otunba Fredrick Ayodeji Osibogun was unanimously elected in April, 2004.
Todate, membership of the Egbe stands at 175.
According to the General Secretary, Gbimo Aare Bayo Hassan “We have a vision that our Egbe shall excel and that Ijebu land shall continue to set the pace for other ethnic groups in Nigeria. Above all, we believe our Grand Patron being a Royal Role Model shall continue to be a source of inspiration and the grand custodian of our cultural heritage.”
“We see success on our path-indeed, we anticipate success all through, with a combination of positive efforts.”
What is the mission of the Egbe? He says, “We, sons of Ijebuland born between 1st of January, 1953 and 31st of December, 1955 otherwise known and addressed as EGBE BOBAGBIMO (OKUNRIN), AKILE IJEBU with the Royal Blessing & Traditional Recognition of our Grand Patron, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona, CFT, JP, set for ourselves, the following MISSION: •To promote mutual relationship among members •To promote and sustain the tradition, customs, culture and identity of Ijebu. •To give succour to each other as much as possible when in need and to rejoice with each other when there is cause to do so. •To promote economic, social and education development of the people of Ijebuland and Nigeria in general in concert with other age groups, societies, clubs and bodies with similar aims and objectives.
Since the age grade group was set up it has given back to society. It rehabilitated the Etitale Police Station in Ijebu-Ode. The Etihale Police Station was vadalised and abandoned following the fracas occasioned by the unjust annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential efficient and effective policing of the community. The idea to rehabilitate the Police Station by Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu was mooted by Gbimo Fatai Banjo (Koleru) having listened to the yearnings and aspirations of the people on the urgent need to rehabilitate the police post; and being the eyes and ears of the Egbe.
He approached the then Ag. Giwa of Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin), Akile Ijebu, Gbimo (Chief) Fassy Yusuf in August 2003, who bought the idea but cautioned that the Awujale of Ijebu-Land, Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona, J.P. CFR, must be consulted with a view to receiving his blessing before embarking on the project. The Ag. Giwa, Chief Fassy Yusuf, thereafter visited the Awujale and discussed the issue with him.
The Awujale promptly gave his blessings for the commencement of the project. Egbe Bobangbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu then went into consulation with the Police authorities with a view to briefing them on our level of commitment to the proposed project.
“The Police Station was in a critical and acute state of vandalisation and abandonment. We had to commence the rehabilitation from the scratch with the reordering and replacement of virtually all items just like commencing the building of a new Police Station. In all, we have expended to date, a total sum of N3.5m on the rehabilitation of the Etitale Police Station which we are now privileged to witness its commissioning today”.
“We have also donated a complete set of Computer with Printer to the Police Station for the upkeep of Police records. Meanwhile, efforts are still in top gear to provide more facilities to the Police Station including a Borehole, Communication Gadgets and office furniture Distinguished audience, this is just the beginning of our commitment and contributions to the socio-economic and cultural development of Ijebuland. Indeed, the commissioning/handling over of the Police Station was meant to coincide with Kabiyesi, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona’s 70th birthday anniversary. Unfortunately, this was not to be. We however give gratitude to the Almighty God that Kabiyesi is physically present today to preside over the handing over ceremony. To God be the honour and glory”.
“We, the entire members of Egbe Bobagbimo (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu at Home and in Diaspora Dedicate this project to our grand patron, Kabiyesi, Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru, Kayode Adetona, Justice of the Peace (J.P) and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), the Awujale of Ijebuland and Paramount Ruler of the Ijebu race.”
The Egbe has very successful Ijebu men as members. They all call themselves Gbimo. They include the following: Giwa ‘Deji Osibogun who is a very successful broadcaster, Otun Giwa Fassy Yusuf, a Lawyer, a University teacher and PR guru. There are others like Osi Giwa ‘Laitan Odumosu, Aare ‘Bayo Hassan Balogun ‘Lekan Belo, Otun Balogun Ade Osikoya, Osi Balogun Alaba Maselugbo, Babalaje ‘Lekan Sebioniga (Shebo), Ajagungbade (Gen) ‘Biodun Role (Rtd), Parakoyi ‘Seyi Oduntan, Agbaakin ‘Labi Adeyemi, Seriki Bola Dongo, Bashorun Kole Bashorun, Akogun ‘Sesan Alatishe (Babita), Jagunmolu ‘Bosun Okuboyejo, Olotu-ona ‘Toyin Ajenifuja, Aro Tunji Akinsanya, Kakanfo ‘Kayode Otukoya, Akile Rotimi Adebisi, Basewa Deji Bello, Egbo ‘Tunde Adeniji, Omoluwabi ‘Ladipo Salako, Baameto Akinola Odedina, Otun Parakoyi Taiwo Bakare-tobe, Otun Akogun Basheer Alli, Amuludun Mayungbe Majekodunmi, Otun Jagunmolu ‘Tope Ogunnowo, Bada ‘Yomi Otufale, Odofin ‘Kunle Onafeko, Prof. Adeniyi Ogundipe, Gbimo Gani Lamina, Gbimo ‘Muyiwa Ijale, Gbimo Fatai Banjo (Koleru), Gbimo Fatai Odedina, Gbimo ‘Kunle Ashiru, Gbimo ‘Bayo Bello, Gbimo Abeeb Kamoru, Gbimo Lawal Adegboyega, Gbimo Fatai Abdul, Gbimo Adewale Sodiq (Oju-iya), Gbimo Fatai Yisau, Gbimo Ayinde Quadri, Gbimo Tajudeen Odibo, Duke Owodunni, Funsho Ettu, Lai Ogunsola (Arstoff) Suraju Ademolu, Sikiru Ajibola, Omotayo Adejobi, Agboola Kukoyi, Adekoya (Jacuss), Joko Osunbanjo, Kamoru Ikuyajesi, Gbenga Runsewe, Dr. ‘Banji Oluyadi, Laide Ettu, Gani Alade, Rotimi Olukoga, Gani Ajetunmobi, Bolajoko Bamidele, Hakeem Onasanya, Ola. Odutola, Nurudeen Quadri(ayayo), Sarafa Lawal, Biodun Jagun, Gbenga Banjo (Oluban), Bayo Segunmaru, Olatunji Adelowo, Banjo Hassan, Demola Odusanya, Gbenga Akinsanya, Lateef Oresegun, Dokun Durojaiye, Kabiru Shote, Ayodeji Bakare-Tobe, Titilayo Quadri, Ayodele Tekun, Aare Abiodun Odusanwo, Femi Arowosola, Sesan Oduneye, Sunday Okubadejo, Adewale Jadesimi, Owolabi Adekoya (Goodie), Kamaldeen Logunleko, Biodun Odunsi, Owoiya Omotayo, Bayo Salami, Hon. ‘Kunle Dally-Adeokun, Bayo Okanlawon, Gbenga Kaka, Raji Rasaki.
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