In the next few days, the 2022 Annual Ojude Oba festival will hold in Ijebu-Ode. It will hold on Tuesday 12th July 2022 after its absence for the past 2 years (2020 and 2021) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of course, all the various age-grade groups are busy right now preparing for the festival. Below City People Magazine reveals the names of the Big men who will be at this year’s edition of Ojude Oba like they did in previous years.
At every Ojude Oba Festival, one person who usually attends is the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Adetona. He is the Chief Host and the central figure that all the regberegbe come to celebrate with. So, he will be there this year to welcome all the age-grade groups who will pay homage to him one after the other. Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State will also be there. Apart from being an Ijebu indigene, he is a proud son of Ijebuland and a member of the Egbe Bobagunte (Okunrin). He is the Baajipe of Egbe Bobagunte.
Also in attendance will be members of the Ijebu Traditional Council from the 6 local government councils, made up of Ijebu-Ode LG, Ijebu-East LG, Odogbolu LG, Ijebu North LG, Ijebu North East LG and Ogun Waterside LG. So, the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Y.O Adekoya will be there, so also Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa the Alaiye of Odogbolu. The Obiri of Aiyepe, Oba A.R. Okubanjo will be there, so also Oru of Imoru, Oba (Engr) Adeposi Bashorun and Oba Abdul Wasiu Sobowale, the Olowu of Odolowu-Aiyepe.
How about Oba (Dr.) M.A Alatishe, the Gbegende of Ososa? He will certainly be there. So also others like the Moyegeso of Itele, Oba (Dr.) M.A Kasali (MFR), Oba Abdulsamad Olalekan Kasali, the Obelu of Esure, Oba A.A.A. Adenuga, the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye and the Limari of Awa, Oba Abib Amos Awobajo.
Of course Oba Abdulsalami R. Omotayo, the Saderiran of Isoyin will be there, so also Oba J.B. Otukoya, the Oligun of Ilugun-North and Oba Adedotun Odusanya, the Olu of Odosenlu-Alaro. There are other Kabiyeesi like Oba Olusegun Oludolapo Ogunye, the Ojotumoro of Abigi and Oba (Engr) S.A. Salisu, the Lamodi of Isiwo. There are many kings who will be attending either in their capacity as traditional rulers or members of some of the Egbas.
Before every Ojude Oba takes place, the Planning Committee usually holds a Press Conference to brief the Press on the plans for that year’s Ojude Oba. It is at that press briefing that the full details of what to expect at that year’s Ojude Oba will be revealed. It is at that media parley that the major sponsor of the event will be announced, the details of who the Special Guest of Honour will be, the Guest Artistes of the Festival, the sponsors and other details. It is usually held at the Heritage Hall, inside the Awujale Palace in Ijebu-Ode. The last time such a Press Conference was held was in 2019, before the Covid-19 lockdown came in 2020.
Let’s introduce to you members of the Ojude Oba Festival organising Committee who are expected to play key roles at this year’s Ojude Oba Festival. They are Otunba W.O. Osinusi, who is the Otunba Fidipote of Ijebu. He has been the Chairman of the Planning Committee for years. Others to watch out for are Chief Olu B. Okuboyejo (the Obasewa of Ijebu), Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Osibogun (Omeso of Ijebu) member; Giwa M.A Odutayo (President, Ijebu Regberegbe Council) member; Giwa (Chief) M.A Oreagba (Maiyegun Ijebu) member; Chief (Dr) Fassy Yusuf (Baagbimo of Ijebu) Co-ordinator; Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun of Ijebu-Ode|) member; Chief Alade Shote (Otun Balogun of Ijebu) member; Gbimo (Alhaji) Bashiru Alli (Member); Gunte (Alhaji) Kamorudeen Olatunde Alaga, Director of Programme and Mr. Ope Oluwa Osisanwo, Assistant Secretary. These are all some of the big Ijebu men and women to look out for at this year’s Ojude Oba.
There are other big men to look out for like Chief Chris Olufunmilola Okunowo, the Baba Egbe o f Egbe Bobakeye (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu; Otunba Gbenga Daniel who is the Balogun Egbe Bobakeye, Otunba Biodun Onanuga who is the Giwa Bobakeye. There are others who are big men in Egbe Bobakeye, like Otunba Kayode Adedipe (Osi Giwa); Nurudeen Owodunni (the General Secretary), and Prince Bunmi Mebudde (Publicity Secretary), Chief Tubosun Oduwole (Otun Balogun), Alhaji Taofik Agbomabiwon (Osi Balogun), Engr. Dolapo Balogun (Kakanfo) Barrister Rotimi Fabanwo (Bamofin), Dr. Biodun Otusanya (Basegun, Prof Lasun Gbadamosi (Apagunpote), Otunba (Dr.) Olusegun Oshin (Jaguna), Hon. (Arc) Oduwole (Parakoyi), Alhaji (Dr.) Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose (Gbobaniyi), Arc Debo Aina (Apesin), Bayo Onanuga (Akinrogun), Hon. Kayode Amusan (Ponle), Otunba Demola Odutola (Ogbeni Oja), Chief Remi Ogunmefun (Fesogboye), Alhaji Mutiu Olukoga (Fuwagboye), Arc. Tokunbo Fowode (Iroko), Prince Folarin Osinusi (Gbaderokun), Dr. Yomi Adesanya (Borokini), Tunde Adagunduro (Agbaakin), Otunba Olukayode Adesanya (Otun Asiwaju Keye). All these titles are Egbe Bobakeye titles
Also expected at the 2022 Ojude Oba are the Kabiyeesi who are members of Egbe Bobakeye (Okunrin) Akile-Ijebu, like Oba Rasaq Adenugba (Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye), Oba Adetoye Alatishe (Gbegande of Ososa-Ijebu), Oba Cossy Salami (Sadererin of Isonyin, Oba Idowu Basibo (Alaperu of Iperu Remo), Oba Adebisi Okubanjo (Obiri of Idobiri Aiyepe) and Oba Oluremi Obayemi (Elese of Ilese).
We also forgot to tell you about some members of the council of Otunbas in Ijebuland who to watch out for at this year’s Ojude Oba Festival. These are respected men like Otunba Prof. Oladapo Ashiru (Otunba Orodudujoye) Otunba Bushirat Alebiosu (the Otunba Gbelegbuwa), Otunba Akin Osiyemi (Otunba Dedenigbo), Otunba Olalekan Bello (Otunba Atewogbuwa), Otunba F.O. Arowolo (Otunba Afolajoye), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Otunba Adeona Fusigboye) and his brother Otunba Oluwatoyin Ashiru the Otunba Moyegeso. There is also Otunba Babafeni Osoba (DIG Rtd) the Otunba Jagunmolu; Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun (Otunba Obaloya) and Otunba Dr. Adekunle Hassan & his wife Adetola. They are the Otunba Obaruwa-Baamole & Yeye Otunba Obaruwa-Baamole.
Also to watch out for is the Construction giant, Otunba Ademola Odutola (Otunba Fibiwoga), Otunba Dr. Olusegun Oshin (Otunba Omila), Otunba Abiola Odunowo (Otunba Olotuneso) and Otunba Ekundayo Bush-Alebiosu (Otunba Fuwagbuyi).
Also to watch at this years Ojude Oba is Otunba Adegboyega Adesoye (Otunba Gbaderogun) and his beautiful wife Yeye Otunba Folashade Adesoye (Yeye Otunba Gbaderogun. There is also Otunba Adesanya Yusuf (Otunba Bobaseilu) and Otunba Adegboyega Alatishe (Otunba Badero).
Let us also tell you about Cheif Alaji Agboola Alausa (Balogun of Ijebu Ode), Chief (Dr.) Sonny Kuku, (the Olorogun), Chief Duro Onabule (the Jagunmolu), Chief Bisi Rodipe (the Fesogboye & Atunluto), Chief Alade Shote the Otun Balogun of Ijebu-Ode.
To watch out for at this years Ojude Oba is Hon. Kemi Banjo (Eta Giwa of Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin), Asiwaju Taiwo Adeniji (Asiwa Egbe), Gbenga Fetuga (Bobagunwa Egbe), Dr. Adetunji Oredipe (Mayederun Egbe), Otunba Babatunde Rufai-Lariba (Bagbimo Egbe). There are others like Otunba Owolabi Alebiosu and Alhaji Alaga Kamorudeen Olatunde (Akowe Egbe Bobagunte).
Other respected Ijebu Big men that will play a prominent role at this year’s Ojude Oba is Oba Gabriel Adebisi Onafuwa, the Oliworo of Iworo and Oba (Giwa) Adewale Abdul, the Giwa of Egbe Jagunmolu Okunrin Akile Ijebu. He is the Olofin Ajaiye Orugbo Iddo. There are others who are members of Egbe Jagunmolu Okunrin like Awosanya Owolabi (Otun) Olusola Dawodu, (Basorun) Prince Tayo Adumati, (Seriki) Bisi Ariyo, (Akogun) Prince Yemi Odusote (Balogun), Olanrewaju Jamiu Shittu (Asiwaju), Adeniyi Jaji (Otun Balogun), Yinka Komolafe (Lord Mayor), Lookman Bolaji Adeleye (Social), Kayode Badejo (PRO), Omoba Bosun Aroyewumi (Treasurer), Lekan Abiodun (Gen. Secretary), Muyiwa Lekuti, Femi Odulaja, Olasubomi Okunlege, Wale Quadri, Abiodun Yusuf, Wale Adelaja, Muyiwa Lekuti.
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