Ijebu sons and daughters troop in from far and near to converge annually at Ijebu-Ode township to celebrate the Ojude Oba festival.
The celebration of this year’s edition registered a mark in the hearts of the people which may be difficult to erase in years to come.
This is because of two special events that occured during the celebration, which have direct bearing on the festival. First was the new and unexplained political dimension that is gradually creeping into the festival, for which many of the Ijebus would not have hesitated at spending their last savings.
The enthusiasm was high across the state, particularly when the news was rife that the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly referred to as “Yayi” was to chair this year’s celebration before what many described as “unexplained political interference”, reversed the arrangement.
The second occurrence was the conspicuous absence of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Adetona; the Ogbagba II of Ijebu-Ode.
He could not attend the event he has so faithfully preserved and promoted for several decades on the ground of old age.
In their characteristic manner, the Ijebu people flagged-off the 2025 edition of the cultural festival of glamour, class and elegance on Sunday, June 8, 2025, amid pump and pageantry to the delight of spectators.
As stated earlier, the festival had for over a century, symbolised an accomplishment, the enterprising spirit, unity and religious harmony of the Ijebu people, who see their revered traditional ruler; the Awujale as the rallying point and an embodiment of what the Ijebu speaking tribe in Yorubaland represents.
Not only the admiring sights of gorgeously dressed Ijebu sons and daughters in the classes of over 75 different age grades commonly referred as “regberegbes”, would adorn the Oba Sikiru Adetona pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode local government area of the state; venue of the celebration, but also the booming of dane guns from the plethora of horse riders provided the needed flavour for the event.
These Ijebu sons and daughters, clad in different expensive traditional attires to show class, would take turn amid rhythmic dance steps to pay homage to Oba Adetona, who is generally acknowledged as the
“Orisa” Ijebu (the Ijebu deity) who in turn, would pour prayers of prosperity and other royal blessings on each of the age grades (regberegbes).
Meanwhile, seated in the parvilion was the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was joined by the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami; former governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel; the senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu and the deputy governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele
Others were the wife of the state governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Asiwaju of Ijebuland and chairman of Rite Foods, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr Sunny Kuku; speaker of the state House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide, among others.
These were in addition to an estimated 25,000 people that included friends, tourists and well-wishers, who all trooped to Ijebu-Ode and participated in the festival.
As early as 7:30 on Sunday morning, the mini stadium-like-arcade built by the Ijebu people for the festival had stern-looking security operatives manning the gate, while the venue began to witness massive influx of celebrants of various age grades before it reached its peak at noon. Spectators who could not access the main venue for lack of space, took their positions at the appian Awujale archway, Folagbade Street and the adjoining ones as well as the Itoro Headquarters of Ijebu-Ode LGA.
On that particular day in Ijebu-Ode, whichever way one turned, it was the sight and sound of drum beats by Ijebus in festive mood. Freelance local drummers and entertainers in their various groups entertained guests for no fixed price.
At 10am, the “regberegbes” started taking turn to pay homage to the Awujale, Oba Adetona, who would not be on his seat.
But the glamour and carnival in the Ojude-Oba festival has always being the gallant parade of the Baloguns and Eleshins (head of the warriors and horse riders) in Ijebuland. These are the descendants of Ijebu war heroes and horse riders that executed wars and gained major victories for the Ijebu ethnic group during the Yoruba civil wars.
In no specific order of colourful parade were the Baloguns, whose processions were accompanied by staccato booming of dane guns.
Historical Background Of Ojude Oba Festival
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the Ojude-Oba festival has its root in Ijebuland with the settlement of the first convert to Islam in Ijebu Ode during the reign of Awujale Adesimbo Tunwase around 1889 and until the period of Oba Adeona Fusigboye in 1906, horse riding was never part of the celebration.
The festival was regarded as an avenue for the people of Ijebu, particularly those residents doing businesses in Ijebuland, to pay homage to the traditional ruler for accommodating them. But the horse riding aspect of it came into being during the reign of the duo of Oba Adenuga Folagbade before it assumed a glamorous dimension when Oba Sikiru Adetona came to the throne over six decades now.
In an interview, the head of the Kuku family in Ijebu-Ode and head of all the Ijebu Warriors, Chief Sunny Folorunsho Kuku, said the festival has a history deep in religion, politics and affluence.
Kuku explained that the originator, Chief Gbadamosi Bello, was an influential and wealthy trader and warrior, who, after accepting the Islamic religion, came up with the idea of celebrating the annual Ojude Oba on every 3rd day after the Eid-el-Abha Salah.
As a trader, he was dealing in different goods and particularly combined sales of arms and ammunition to it as a warrior. Particularly, as the head of the entire Ijebu Warriors, he had on several occasions, as the representative of the Awujale of Ijebuland, participated in several wars fought in Yorubaland, particularly the Ife-Ijebu Wars and the Ekiti Parapo Wars popularly referred to as the Kiriji Wars of the 18th Century.
As the head of the Ijebu warriors, he would represent the traditional ruler; Awujale at so many functions and was regarded as one of the principal owners of Ijebuland.
Religion
The head of the Kuku family in Ijebu – Ode explained that the late Gbadamosi Bello initially accepted Christianity as his religion because he was in love with it. But as he progressed in the knowledge of Christianity religion, he got to a point when he was to be baptised and was criticised for having four wives, as the religion only admits someone with a wife for the baptismal service.
According to Kuku, the late Gbadamosi Bello connived with his four wives to deceive the white clergyman and members of his church to believe that he had only a wife. But when the delegation knew that his wives were four, they declined at administering him into the baptismal service.
This made him to embrace Islam when the Islamic missioners from the northern part of Nigeria told him that the religion acknowledged having multiple wives beginning from four to eight and more, “provided he could treat them equally.”
This was how the most influential Ijebu warrior became a Muslim.
As a way of showing appreciation to the traditional ruler, horse riding by some traders (aliens) in Ijebu had been in existence prior to Kuku’s acceptance of Islam and so, he joined them.
He, however, changed the period of horse riding to the third day of Ileya Festival when he would have the opportunity of paying homage to the Ijebu king, who till date, is regarded as a deity.
Economic Importance:
The glamour attached to it always takes a toll on the commercial activities and general economic boom for all businessmen and women across the entire Ijebuland each time the Ojude Oba is celebrated.
It begins from clothing. It is a common knowledge that members of the “regbe-regbe” age groups would adorn different and expensive traditional costumes for which textile contractors would have to supply high grade fabrics.
In addition to this, the hospitality business boomed while the celebration lasts. An estimate of over N35 million business opportunities turned up as caterers, printers, rentals, artists, hoteliers, transporters, tailors, hawkers of souvenirs, among others, made brisk businesses.
Corporate organisations like the Globacom Telecommunication also used the avenue to stamp its products and services deeper into the consciousness of the people, especially the grassroots.
The hospitality industry also felt the vibes as hotels provided accommodation for well-wishers and friends of the Ijebu sons and daughters that travelled from far and near, such as the USA, Canada, Asian countries among others, to celebrate with their friends in Ijebu during the festivities.
All these celebrants would definitely wine and dine with their friends and thus also explained why the liquor , beverages industry, the cow dealers, as well as the tomato and pepper sellers would have to ensure enough stocks available for their August customers.
Political Importance:
The role played by Balogun Kuku as the head of all the warriors and traders translated to giving them a say in the Ijebu system of government, which is being modernised today. This is also taking a toll on the political realignment of the Ijebu people in the scheme of things in the Ogun polity. A manifestation of this is their present agitation for the creation of an Ijebu State.
It has become more like a political platform for anyone who wants to become anything in the Nigerian and Ogun polity for campaigns. The modern day example of this was what played out during the celebration when Senator Yayi was denied the opportunity of chairing the 2025 edition of the cultural festival.
Prior to this time, the festival had witnessed the likes of the former Senate president, Bukola Saraki; former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwa, among others, have at one time or the other, chaired the Ojude Oba festival.
Senator Yayi’s anticipated chairmanship was however, not just ceremonial, but a unique symbol of regional inclusivity, cultural respect, and evolving political realignment in Ogun State. But his last minutes’ exclusion was viewed by many as a calculated political manoeuvre
Observers of events, particularly in the polity of the Gateway State, were of the opinion that Yayi’s presence at the Ojude Oba would have amounted to a celebration of unity and mutual recognition between Ijebu sons and their brothers from other zones of the state, no thanks to his removal at the last minute despite public confirmation.
As Social Influencer:
The “regbe-regbe” age-grade system has a great social influence. The convergence of Ijebu sons and daughters, including those in diasporal, always result in exchange of contacts and business ideas, reunion, and northern politicians coming to celebrate with the Ijebus.
The Ojude Oba on yearly basis attracts tourists from within and outside the shores of Nigeria. This year’s edition impacted positively on the socio – economic fortune of Ijebuland.
The state governor, Abiodun said his administration would continue to promote the cultural heritage, not only for the benefit of the Ijebu people but for the enrichment of humanity at large.
He described the Ojude Oba festival as a powerful symbol of communal harmony where religion, tradition and modernity co-exist with the people living under the banner of a shared identity.
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