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Tag: Ibarapa

  • Ibarapa agitates for Oyo Speaker

    The Ibarapa Youths’ Vanguard has appealed to newly elected members into the Oyo State House of Assembly to zone the Speaker speakership to Ibarapa zone.

    The Youths, in  a statement by its Coordinator, Ojebola Opeoluwa Matthew, and its General Secretary, Ogunjimi Sunday, also called on  stakeholders, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reward the zone for its massive support with the position,  stressing the zone has been committed to the party since 1999.

    The group said it current member, who was re-elected, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, representing Ibarapa East Local Government, has the leadership qualities for a vibrant legislative arm.

    “Adebo Ogundoyin is the only returning PDP member in the state legislative chamber and its not only appropriate to support his emergence as the Speaker of the Nineth Assembly, but to also make  Our state sets the pace of a new generation leaders by having the youngest Speaker in the history of Nigeria.

    “Politically, Oyo state has always set pace for good things in the Nigeria, the era of the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo can attest to this fact. Today with the clamour  for a new set of young leaders, we are extremely confident that Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin would raise the bar of quality representation of the people,” Ojebola said.

    The group is also  seeking the support of the Governor-elect, Engr. Seyi Makinde and all stakeholders in the state for the only PDP returning member, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin representing Ibarapa East constituency.

    According to the statement, being a reward for the overwhelming support and loyalty given to PDP in Ibarapaland, it will also be a record breaking achievement having the first young speaker in Nigeria, as the pace setter state.

    It added: “We are not in doubt of our son (Adebo Ogundoyin) capability and credibility to lead the Oyo State 9th house of Assembly, because we are proud of what he has done so far despite joining the 8th Assembly barely eight months ago.

    “We believe his political records can also speak for him, as the only PDP Assembly Member in the State in this outgoing dispensation, he did not only deliver his ward and local government to PDP and Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, he equally delivered the zone, this is a tastement of how connected he is with his people” the statement added.

    The group said that zoning the  seat to Ibarapaland will make the ruling party stronger for rewarding loyal and hardworking Debo Ogundoyin, adding that it will  guarantee a cordial and progressive relationship between the executive and legislature.

  • Twins Festival: Great tourism potential in Igboora

    Certain peculiarities make some communities different from others. Some communities have a record of multiple births, especially twins or triplets, which, in the yesteryear, was regarded as taboo.

    However, multiple births prevalent in one community than others, gives room for curiosity.

    In the sleepy town of Igboora in the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State, it has become a source of interest. This is so because almost every household has at least a set of twins.

     

    The town Igboora

     

    Sandwiched between Eruwa and Igangan towns in the Ibarapa area of the state, Igboora has six distinct ethnic communities with the Olu of Igboora as the head and permanent member of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The town is about 80 kilometres north of Lagos.

    Igboora’s economy is sustained by subsistence farming. Obasanjo Farm is one of the mechanised farms in the community. The town is the headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local Government Area, which comprised Igboora and Idere.

    The town is called “Land of Twins”, which possibly explains the effigy of a mother carrying a baby on her chest with another strapped on her back, conspicuously erected at a junction at the entrance of the town.

    More twins are said to be born in Igboora community than anywhere else in the world, because almost every home is said to have at least one set of twins.

     

    Science and researches on twins

     

    A research carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) suggests that a high level of certain chemical found in the Yoruba women and the peels of yam tubers could account for the high level of multiple births. Multiple births, the report maintains, may be related to the eating habits of the women. But in the same community, some women who spoke with Southwest Report said they have been eating the yam peels and other kinds of foods, yet they have not been delivered of a set of twins.

    In line with the above, some experts are of the view that there is no direct relationship between dietary intake and multiple births.

    A Consultant Gynaecologist at the hospital said: “These substances are usually linked to the release of more than one egg, which usually leads to twin pregnancies. That means there is the possibility that an environmental factor that encourages the high level of this chemical substance do exist.”

    A study conducted by a British Gynaecologist, Patrick Nylander between 1972 and 1982 recorded an average of 45 to 50 set of twins born in Southwestern Nigeria while there are about 30 times in Igboora than there are in the whole of Europe. The scientific researches and findings so far advanced are not enough to justify why Igboora women are delivered of twin babies.

     

    Facts, beliefs

     

    Members of Igboora community regard multiple births as one of their industries. Some years ago, the belief was that twin births ýresulted from constant consumption of okra leaves otherwise called ‘ewe ilasa’. It is also their view that being delivered of twin babies is part of the community’s age-old tradition that has existed for centuries.

    In the main, the people attribute the frequency of twin-bearing to the consumption of Amala and Ilasa meal which is believed to contain some kind of ingredient that boosts production of eggs in women’s ovaries to facilitate the conception of twins and triplets.

    According to them, Amala (a popular morsel meal made from yam powder within the Southwest of Nigeria) and Ilasa (vegetable soups made from dried shredded okra leaves) are largely responsible for the multiple pregnancies. The natives of Igboora also have the feeling that the consumption of a particular vegetable is majorly responsible for their natural ability to conceive and be delivered of twin babies.

    Another belief is that giving birth to twins could be genetic. The facts available clearly reveal that there is hardly a family in Igboora that has no set of twins. The reproduction of twins in the town has become interesting to the extent that people from different parts of the country who are not privileged to have twins or children may have clamoured that they would prefer to visit and stay in the enclave to enable them to conceive and have twin babies.

     

    Changing faces of belief

     

    Currently, beliefs among many residents of the agrarian town might be changing. In a chat with a cab operator who identified himself as Tunde said: “Let no one be deceived. It is a fact that women in Igboora deliver twins in large number, but saying it is as a result of consumption of okra and its leaves has no meaning.

    “There is no scientific proof to support the claim. As if it is only women in Igboora that eat okra leaves or Ilasa as Yoruba call it! Neighbouring towns such as Eruwa, Lanlate, Igangan, Oke Ogun and other parts of the Oyo North or even Ibadan also eat okra.

    “God knows how He does His things in miraculous ways. The issue of multiple births is God’s gift to the people of this town. It is part of the mysteries of God and nothing more. Aside this, many women and men still consume okra leaves in Igboora but do not have twins. So, how do you explain that?”

    Two residents of the community, Mulikat and Munirat are in their late 40s and had married a year ahead of each other. They had lived all their lives in Igboora and ate all the delicacies like every other indigene. Despite their desire for twins, they were not so fortunate to be called mothers of twins.

     

    Delicacies and dietary

     

    In his opinion, the Olu-Aso of Iberekodo (one of the six communities in Igboora), His Royal Highness, Oba Jamiu Adedamola Badmus, Ayeleso III, “giving birth to twins in Igboora is a special gift from God.

    “One astonishing thing in this phenomenon is, however, that unlike in other towns and communities that I know, twins here don’t die at infancy or at youthful age as in other places. Irrespective of the kind of financial status, they always survive.

    “Curiously also, many that have twins are the peasants who don’t have much financial ability to take proper care of them. You can see the work of God in that. It is miraculous like I said. It is our natural gift from God. I also want twins.”

    Oba Badmus, however, introduced another unverifiable dimension to the issue of twins. According to him, people of Igboora add so much quantity of potassium or sodium nitrate (called kaun in Yoruba) into the cooking of ilasa. They believe that the leaves don’t get very soft and slimy unless much kaun is added to it while being cooked.

     

    Beliefs of twins as deities

     

    Virtually every household that has a set of twins still believe that twins are deities.

    On this, Chief Balogun said: “I cook beans for them during annual festivals, but if I don’t feel like, I don’t and nothing happens. I don’t so much hold the superstitious belief just like many others do. As some in other communities dance around or beg for money with the twins, such is not done here because if any woman does so, she will have to meet many other women who are Iya ibeji (mothers of twins) and many Baba ibeji (fathers of twins) who also have their own twins at home. So, such practice is not popular here.

    A carpenter and a bricklayer in their early 60s are identical twinsý in Igboora. They are Hassan (Taiwo) and Hussein (Kehinde) Dahunsi. To them, the phenomenon of twins in Igboora is “God’s gift to us here. Just as gold is deposited in some places without the contribution of the residents there, same is the gift of twins to us in this community. It is our own natural endowment. We believe God wants us to be well populated, reason many of us have twins in our families. But the theory that we have twins because we eat ilasa is not sacrosanct to me”, Hussein said.

     

    Twins celebration

     

    To underscore the appreciation for this gift of life, the state government, with the support of other stakeholders, facilitated the maiden “Twins Festival” which brought together twins from all ages, genders, families, young and old ýto be honoured.

    After years of planning, strategising and leg works, the Oyo State Government, through its Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in conjunction with Ibarapa Central Local Government Area, Igboora Progressive Union, Twins World Creation and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation organised the maiden “Twins Festival” at Methodist Grammar School Playing Ground, Igboora Oyo State.

    No fewer than 2,500 sets of twins were present at the elaborate event. The festival attracted participants from within and outside the country to celebrate the multiple births in the community.

    Dignitaries at the event included community and religious leaders, traditional rulers, vendors, government officials, tourists, schools and people from all walks of life.

    The festival is in anticipation of the proposed Oyo State Guinness World Record Twins Event to be held next year.

     

    Significance of the celebration

     

    Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun said: “The state is “celebrating the grace and glory of God in Igboora. God has uniquely blessed Igboora as a world headquarters of twins because in every household in Igboora, you have a set of twins, at least. “This is very unique to Igboora and indeed Oyo State, all over the world. So we are celebrating the glory of God and the blessing that God has bestowed on Igboora.

    “The second thing is that we are now beaming searchlight and spotlight on Igboora as a tourism destination for people to come and witness what God has done here. All the people you have seen here today are those that have the sense of history, sense of heritage and sense of culture. They came from all the local governments in Ibarapa. I am overwhelmed by what I have seen here today.

    “It beats my imagination and the dreams that we had. When I got down and saw gaily-dressed young girls and boys as well as elderly ones, I was happy that this portends a great future for Igboora, and indeed Oyo State. This celebration has great tourism potential.

    “What we have tried to do in this first instance is to do it within Oyo State. Our initial plan was to do it all over Nigeria. We shall take it to the next level since this is a huge success. Next time, we are going to extend it to the whole of Southwest region. We are going to do it from West Africa and all over the world. In the past, they were killing twins, but today, we are celebrating them.

    “Our Twin Ambassadors have been going all over the world for this kind of event. We engage them to partner with us so that they can also bring their colleagues from elsewhere. It also portends a great economic development for the people of Igboora. As at yesterday (Friday), the hotels in this town and the neighbouring communities had been fully booked. Whether we like it or not, the economy of those towns would have been impacted positively today.”

     

    Side attractions

     

    The festival was a huge success. Aside from the usual celebration which witnessed the trooping out of twins in their droves to showcase their similarities and uniqueness, some other side attractions that added glamour to the event included twins’ parade, talent hunt, musical show and acrobatic displays.

    More so, the twins’ effigy of over 300 years on display also caught the fancy of those who attended the festival. Many visitors also tasted some of the delicacies believed to be peculiar to twins. Some of the food items on display at the food tour were special bean cake (akara ‘beji), palm wine and beans, among others.

    Students from various institutions also attended in their numbers, asking questions to satisfy their curiosity.

    International media teams from different continents were also on hand in their good numbers to capture the festival and give it wider projection while photographers had a busy day.

     

    Economic boom

     

    Three days ahead of the event, all hotels and guest houses within the vicinity had been fully booked, especially by visitors and tourists. This, surely, was a boost to the economy of the communities.

    Traders, commercial motorcyclists, taxi drivers, food vendors, petty traders and people with different business interests were also seen smiling as people patronise their wares maximally. One of the traders told Southwest Report that “it is like this festival should not just end. We are already feeling the positive impact and we are already looking forward to another celebration.”

  • Ibarapa land not for cattle ranching

    SIR: From time immemorial, the people of Ibarapa land have lived with the Fulani herdsmen in peace. Even though the herdsmen have destroyed many farms in different parts of the seven towns that make up Ibarapa, we still allow peace to reign. Today, out of the five regions in Oyo State, Ibarapa is relatively more peaceful.

    However, the Oyo State government in close collaboration with the federal government is working assiduously to kill the peace in Ibarapa land and create pandemonium. This can be seen in the state government’s alleged plan to cede hectares of land in Ibarapa for the cattle ranching project of the federal government. Without consultation with the people, Oyo State government has chosen Okolo – Temidire in Eruwa for the establishment of a cattle ranch. Ibarapa people are vehemently against this.

    Our land is not for cattle ranching and any attempt to do anything that is against the will of the people may lead to a serious crisis. If the government is primarily for the interest of the people, it must defend the cause of the people at all times. Unfortunately, with this latest development, the state government is positioning itself as the architect of crisis.

    As peace-loving people, we can’t allow killer herdsmen to take over our land. They kill, rape, burn houses and carry out other terror activities; not in our land. We ask the state government to jettison any plan of using Ibarapa land for cattle ranching. Otherwise, it means the government is swimming in the pool of desperation in order to destabilize Ibarapa towns. We will not allow this to happen. From Eruwa to Lanlate, Igboora to Idere, Tapa to Ayete to Igangan, our people are on standby. Therefore, the state government should think again and put the interest of the people first.

    Ibarapa towns do not need a cattle ranch. We only need good roads, hospitals, electricity and other reasonable projects that will promote our land, not the one that will destroy the peace in our land.

    Therefore, we say to the Oyo State government, leave our land alone so we may continue to live in peace.

     

    • Jamiu Idowu Esho, Eruwa, Oyo State.

  • INEC fixes June 2 for Ibarapa bye-election

    Following the untimely death of the Ex-speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly, late Michael Adeyemo, who represented the Ibarapa state Constituency, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday fixed Saturday, June 2nd for the bye-election to fill the vacant seat at the hallowed chamber.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State, Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure at the Agodi, Ibadan, state headquarters of the Commission during a press briefing, on Tuesday.

    Michael Adeyemo died on Friday, April 27. He was aged 47.

    Agboke, a lawyer, called on political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election to ensure they conduct their primaries between Wednesday and Saturday 19, May, just as he assured voters in the area of conducting a credible election.

    He said the Commission arrived on the date after putting all legal and administrative tendencies into considerations.

    The REC, who remarked that the election would be conducted in 140 polling units of the constituency, said political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders had been invited to discuss the timetable and activities that would lead to the election.

    He said machinery was set in motion to fulfil extant laws as soon as the House of Assembly informed the commission formally of the death of Speaker Adeyemo and the consequent vacancy of his position as a lawmaker.

    Read Also: INEC to redistribute 1.4m unclaimed PVCs in Lagos

    He disclosed that the permanent voter cards (PVCs) for those who freshly registered in the 2017 continuous voter registration had been produced and were ready for collection from Monday next week.

    However, he added that the PVCs for those who registered in 2018 had not been produced, explaining that they would be ready for use in the 2019 elections.

    He said, 630, 853 PVCs were yet to be collected in the state, disclosing that the commission had embarked on a series of advocacy campaign and engagement with stakeholders to ensure make the owners of the cards claim them.

    He said, “The total number of new registrants under CVR is 290, 960 comprising 149, 554 males and 141, 406 females. Incidentally and quite disturbing as at today, 630,853 Permanent Voters Cards are yet to be collected by their owners.”

    He explained further that the commission had taken the campaign to churches and mosques, urging those yet to collect their PVCs to do so at the INEC local government offices in the 33 local government areas of the state.

  • Panic as police, students clash in Oyo

    There was panic in Eruwa, headquarters of Ibarapa East Local Government as Police and  students of Eruwa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo state clashed , following their protest against the management of the school, on Tuesday.

    It was learnt that the students were protesting the dismissal of students of Higher National Diploma (HND) Business Administration and hike in fees charged for late registration by the management.

    The source within the campus who confirmed the development said “the students are protesting the introduction of late registration fees and dismissal of HND one students of Business Administration.”

    The protest, it was gathered did not go down with the management which called in members of the state police force in the town.

    This, according to sources led  to alleged gun shot on a student and another, a female student, also alleged to be asthmatic was tear gassed.

    The two students were said to be undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    Explaining further, the source said “the affected HND one students of Business Administration were told to go home after being admitted, paid their school fees and had even been receiving lectures. The school now said they cannot admit them again, telling them to go home and come back next session.”

    The source hinted that the school management hinged their excuse on the fact that the affected  students studied Public Administration for their National Diploma (ND) courses.

    It added that the students insisted that the management gave them go ahead to apply for Business Administration for their HND programme which they complied.

    On this premise, according to our source, the students were admitted but were surprised when the management made a U-turn and sent them packing through a notice on the board.

    As if that was not enough, while the students were making appeal against the decision, the source noted that the students requested that the management return all monies, especially school fees paid into the coffers of the management.

    But they were shocked as the  management told them that when they return for their course next session, it will be sorted out.”

    The second reason for their protest centred on payment of late registration fees for both the Daily Part Time (DPP) and full time students.

    It was gathered that the students were appealing to the management on the basis that most of their parents who work as civil servants under the state government are being owed several months of salary.

    The two sections of students affected under this category are DPP students who pay N37,500  and their full time counterparts who are currently paying N28,250 as their school fees were billed additional N2,500 as late registration fees and N300 as bank charges.

    It was also gathered that students were forced to remain indoor till around 5.00pm on Tuesday for fear of arrest while some others were at the time being detained at Sango police station, Eruwa.

    All efforts to reach the management for their reaction on the development proved abortive.

    One of the principal officers who spoke with newsmen  under condition of anonymity confirmed the protest but declined to comment on the reason for the protest .

  • Lawmaker’s scorecard thrills Ibadan, Ibarapa people

    Lawmaker’s scorecard thrills Ibadan, Ibarapa people

    Three and half years after his election into the House of Representatives by the people of Ibarapa/Ido Federal Constituency, Honourable Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given account of his stewardship in the National Assembly to his constituents and they are happy with him. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU was there.

    There is a time appointed for everything under the sun. For the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Ibadan/Ido federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju , it was time recently,  to report to his constituency and showcase all his achievements to the people who elected him to the National Assembly in 2011.

    At the venue of the event, May-Joy Event Centre, Ologun Eru, Eleyele, Ibadan were the aged, artisans, market men and women, members of the various professional bodies, politicians from APC , Accord and Labour parties, students and some members of the business community amongst others.

    Many of them were there to listen to their representative on how he has fared in the past three and half years in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, while others came to drum more support for the second term bid of lawmaker who is hoping to re-contest his seat in the 2015 general election.

    The expansive hall was filled to the brim, with many more staying outside, while supporters of the lawmaker dressed in Ankara uniform with traditional drummers in their tow, relished in entertaining the people who in turn reciprocated by doling out some naira notes to appreciate their unsolicited services.

    Of course, the event was not without the presence of area boys (social miscreants) who boldly held out wraps of Indian hemp and bottles of dry gin, even with the heavy presence of armed policemen and other security operatives.

    Just before the programme proper commenced, the lawmaker provided slides of his various empowerment programmes, ranging from poverty eradication schemes to provision of solar powered street lights, solar powered bore holes, construction of blocks of classrooms, road construction and provisions of 500KVA transformers to the people of his constituency.

    The people who rented the air with songs intermittently, expressed satisfaction on his achievements and commended him for making it possible for them to enjoy some of the dividends of democracy.

    They were moved to rate the lawmaker higher in terms of achievements than the previous people who have occupied the seat in the history of the constituency.

    “I am here today to register my warm appreciation to the lawmaker, our son. I can see that he is not one of those people who will start to mess up after they have been elected into office. You can see what he did within less than four years, whereas we had somebody there before him who did not even care to remember the people who elected him into that office. I will continue to pray that more leaders like him come on board so that we can move from where we are”, Mr Akintade Oluyemisi , a resident of Ido said.

    The Ibarapa /Ido federal constituency of Oyo state comprises mainly locals whose predominant occupation is farming, with little or no presence of major industries in the area.

    Hon. Sunday Adepoju , before mounting the podium  to present his stewardship to the people, gave recognition to the role played by the former governor of Lagos state and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in assisting him to join politics, adding that without that singular opportunity in his life, he would not have been able to stand before the audience to render to the people what he has been able to accomplish in the National Assembly.

    He similarly thanked the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for believing in his ability, and later used the occasion to drum support for a second term for the governor.

    Some leaders of the APC led by the  Senatorial party Chairman, Prince Adefisoye Adekanye, and the

    Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Political Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo described the lawmaker as a man with the love of his people.

    Hon. Adepoju who signified his intention to re-contest the seat he presently occupies, highlighted the achievements of Governor Ajimobi   and asked for the people’s endorsement of the governor to continue his work beyond 2015 and it was greeted with approval and applause.

    In his address Adepoju said he decided to organise the event in fulfillment of his promise to the people of his constituency to present his stewardship.

    The lawmaker who said that his tenure in the House of Representatives has been fulfilling, added that his achievement was devoted to the service of the people his constituency.

    While stating that the dividends of democracy were evenly and fairly distributed among the Ibarapa and Ido areas, he noted that due to his commitment and dedication to the service of the people over 200 MTN double-seater chairs were facilitated for Obaseeku High School, Eruwa and 100 laptop computers donated to The Polytechnic, Eruwa.

    In addition, he listed provision of solar powered street lights, classroom blocks and motorised boreholes for the people of his constituency.

    The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Ajimobi , Dr Ojo who urged the people to ensure that the governor was re-elected in 2015 said:”  We are happy that APC presented competent people for position of authority and not half baked politicians as was witnessed in the past PDP administration in the state.

    “The achievement of Hon.Adepoju has never been known to the people of this area until now. When the PDP was there the people testified that they never witnessed such tremendous projects in the history of the area.”

    He added that despite the short fall in the federal allocation to Oyo State, which he put at over 40 percent, the government of Ajimobi has not borrowed any kobo from the bank.

    “But that was not the case with other state governors who have gone ahead to borrow substantial amount from financial institutions. That is why it is not surprising that people are clamouring for a second term for him,” he said.

    He called for unity and cohesion among party members to ensure progress and peaceful development of the state.

    “ Because of the sterling qualities and performance of Governor Ajimobi the entire state has been transformed and the people indeed appreciated him, and that is why we are saying that he must complete his good works”, he said.

    Other party leaders who spoke at the gathering commended the lawmaker for his true representation in House of Representatives.

    They used the opportunity to urge members of the party to collect their permanent voters registration cards to enable them exercise their civic duty during the forthcoming general election.