HISTORICAL FACTS TO NOTE: I thank the Almighty God for preserving my life till this moment as one of the pioneer organisers of 1st Ekimogun Day Festival from inception in 1988.
I hereby extend my open support to the majority voice who spoke against the costly mistake of the cancellation of 2018 Edition of Ekimogun Day Festival of which the action has not been convincingly adjudged with merit but it could have been better to celebrate and immortalise the late legend.
I will quote from the book ‘Julius Caesar’ by William Shakespeare: “Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come”. No individual is greater than the Town where he or she was born.
It will now forever remain in history that an unnecessary void was created in the celebration of Ekimogun Day Festival which is contrary to the original purpose of the yearly event. It is our hope that such situation will never repeat itself in future.
JUST LIKE YESTERDAY – REPEATED
As an Administrative & General Duties Staff of defunct Ondo Local Government Council (Now Ondo West Local Government), I worked actively with High Chief Ebun Olawoye – Pioneer Chairman, Ondo Development Committee and sitting Odofin of Ondo Kingdom, late Chief S. O. Akinwande of blessed memory – Former Sole Administrator to defunct Ondo Local Government & Pioneer Secretary – Ondo Development Committee, when the idea of Celebrating Ekimogun Day Festival came to lime light in 1987 as mooted by His Eminence, Late High Chief Bayo Akinnola ‘MFR’ Ojo Gbogbo Bi Odun (Then Lotin of Ondo Kingdom and later became Lisa of Ondo Kingdom in year 2001).
The Festival was eventually celebrated on Saturday 3rd December, 1988 in Ondo Kingdom during the reign of late His Royal Majesty Oba Robert Itiade Adekolurejo JISOMOSUN III with his cabinet members, the likes, late High Chief Lisa S. A. Oladapo, late High Chief Jomu W. R. A. Ogunye, High Chief Olabanji Akingbule – Sitting Odunwo of Ondo Kingdom, late High Chief Sasere S. N. Agunbiade, late High Chief Adaja Olaniyan and under the Administration of late Chief Olufemi Kehinde Onajin as Chairman Ondo Local Government Council (Now Ondo West Local Government) charged with the responsibilities for Awareness, Publicity and Mobilization of Ondo sons and daughters from across the World.
Furthermore, as part of 1988 defunct Ondo Local Government Council Team (Now Ondo West Local Government), May I also seize this opportunity to rekindle the selfless service to humanity as rendered during that period by the following personalities namely; Hon. Ambrose Boluwaji Akinsade – Former Vice Chairman & Supervisory Councillor for Works (Now sitting High Chief Jomu of Ondo Kingdom), Hon. J. A. Awosokanre – Former Supervisory Councillor for Education, late Hon. A. A. Akinsemolu – Former Supervisory Councillor for Finance and late Hon. Dr. Gbenga Akinsola of blessed memory – Former Supervisory Councillor for Health, the other entire 10 elected Councillors as at that time covering Ward 1 -14, late Mr. Akin Akinde – Secretary to defunct Ondo Local Government (a. k. a. OKOROMADO) and Mr. Fola Akinsete – Principal Executive Officer, Mr. Remi Oni – Principal Assistant Secretary II, Mr. G.A. Eleyinafe – Principal Assistant Secretary I, Mr. M. O. Ojo – Community Development Inspector I, Mr. Suberu Oni – Community Development Inspector II and other both Community Development Department as well as Administration and General Duties Staff, such as Mr. Buraimoh Oti, Mr. Kunle Adeuga, Mr. Ipoola Oyesiku, Mr Shola Akinmutimi, Mrs Bunmi Kupoluyi, Mr. R. A. Fawehinmi and etc.
May our good gestures to the service of humanity continue to be a source of blessing to each and everyone of us now and forever … Amen.
ONDO ORIGIN ANTHEM: D’Airo kaaa gbe wa o, D’Airo kaaa gbe wa o, Airo yo dudo e ma mu tee ku ona o, Do ka tuba do ka tuse, do ka diwa i se, Da wa ma ma seku, Omo Ondo dede po, Yo gh’uli do gh’ona, O ya daa s’owopo o, Daa ton Ondo se, Da mu s’uli da bo un, Da mu s’ona da bo un, D’Airo kaaa gbe wa o.
Ojo Gbogbo Bi Odun’ll’