The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has inaugurated a new hall of fame/museum to celebrate the exploits of heroes and heroines of Ikere-Ekiti. The museum will also showcase works of art. The ceremony attracted personalities who came to celebrate the bravery, industry and excellence of Ikere indigenes. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports
Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, came alive recently when the Ikere Hall of Fame/Museum was opened.
The edifice was inaugurated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, whose presence added colour and glamour to the occasion.
The foremost traditional ruler in Yoruba land was hosted by the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, who led a team of other obas in Ife land to witness the occcasion.
Ikere Anthem, a common official song rendered at public functions in the town, was also launched. Copies of the CDs of the anthem were distributed.
The event had the Asiwaju of Ikere and eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as Chairman while a chartered accountant, Mrs. Bisi Ogunleye, was the Chairperson.
Pastor Bolu Alabi was the Chief Launcher.To ensure the functioning of the hall, a consultant from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, was secured for its management. The hall was bankrolled by a friend of the Ogoga and businessman Chief Dimeji Isiaka, the Bobagunwa of Ikere. The complex consists of historical museum and royal court, showcasing the portraits of the past kings of the town.
Pictures of Ikere greats, who had scored firsts in their chosen fields include the first Senior Advocate from the town, Olanipekun; the first Supreme Court judge, the late Justice Ekundayo Ogundare; literary giant, Prof. Niyi Osundare, among others.
It also exhibits men, including non-indigenes, who have contributed to the development of Ikere town. The museum, according to Ooni and Ogoga, would preserve the historical heritage of the town and facilitate learning and research.
Oba Ogunwusi has urged the people of Ikere to support their monarch, the Ogoga, Oba Alagbado, for the development of the town.
The Arole Oodua, who expressed satisfaction with development witnessed in the community since Oba Alagbado, mounted the throne in 2015 said his ascension to the Ogoga stool was divine and never a mistake.
According to him, Oba Alagbado has made history by building a new palace and mobilised philanthropists to construction an Administrative Building and Hall of Fame under two years of his ascension to the throne.
The Ooni said Ikere sons and daughters are making progress in many fields of human endeavour urging them to come home and join their king to take the development of the community to higher pedestal.
Oba Ogunwusi said: “When you have a good leader, there will be peace, there will be progress, there will be development and God has given you a new king in Ikere who is humble, progressive and handsome.
“God has blessed Ikere with illustrious sons and daughters and God has blessed Ogoga with brain and his choice as king was not a mistake. You have not seen anything yet in terms of development.
“I want to urge you to support your Kabiyesi because I am impressed with what he is doing. This magnificent Hall of Fame was not in Ikere before and the Ikere Anthem was not in existence before and all these have become history.
“God himself has chosen a king for you and I want to urge you to support him, his chiefs and your leaders to take this town to greater heights. Allow peace to reign for his town to develop.”
Earlier, Olanipekun said the Ogoga had ordered that the Ikere Anthem be sung in all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the town.
The frontline lawyer described Oba Alagbado as “the anointed of God and a prophet of God who should not be plotted against”. Olanipekun said the Hall of Fame was constructed to celebrate achievements of Ikere indigenes all over the world where their pictures and exploits will be showcased for generations to come.
He revealed that Ikere has produced not no fewer than 86 professors and other accomplished individuals enjoining indigenes to rally round their monarch to develop their hometown.
Olanipekun said: “We thank you our father, the Ooni; you have come to celebrate Ikere here today, may your reign be long and you will lead all of us in Yoruba land for a long time.
“When I was young about 60 years ago, my mother used to take me along to this palace here and I never remember an Ooni coming to Ikere to honour us as you have done today.
“I am happy my elder brother, Dr Kunle Olajide, Secretary-general of Yoruba Council of Elders is here. We are one in Yoruba land because we came from the same source, Ile-Ife.
“The inauguration of this Hall of Fame is a great milestone in the history of Ikere and wonderful things are happening since this Ogoga mounted the throne.
“Our Kabiyesi single-handedly built a new ultra-modern palace, which has become a cynosure of all eyes and he motivated his friends to build an Administrative Block and now the Hall of Fame in this palace.
“I want to urge all Ikere sons and daughters to support our king. No more rancour, no more disunity and no more acrimony.”
