Disturbed by alleged invasion of Igbotako community in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State by suspected criminals, its residents have urged the police and other security agencies in the state to bail them out of the menace.
Already, the community has organised a security summit with the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adeyanju, with other stakeholders.
The law enforcement officer canvassed the support of residents in tackling the security challenge facing the community.
The CP described criminal activities in the area as disturbing, saying his command was battle-ready to fortify the community and the whole state.
He warned the youths in the area and other neighbouring towns that his command was battle-ready to deal with anyone found culpable.
The summit was organised by Igbotako Community Development Council (ICDC) to tackle security threats in the community.
The protracted legal battle over the Alale stool in the University community of Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State will soon be resolved as the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the state capital has reserved judgement to determine the rightful ruling house to produce the new monarch.
The Alale stool became vacant following the death of late Oba Adekanye Omosowon who joined his ancestors in December, 2003.
For many years, Princess Toyin Omosowon served as the regent for the community.
However, efforts to install the new Alale had resorted into legal battle two royal families of Agure Mokun and Ajimoh lineage of Ole Ruling House.
After the adoption of written addresses by Counsel to Agure Mokun family, Gani Ashiru and lawyer to Ajimoh Family, from Oba Adegbite Adedoyin’s chamber, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Danjuma said date for the Appeal Court’s judgment would be communicated to the parties in the suit.
It would be recalled that Justice B.F Adeyeye of Ondo State High Court sitting in Ikare-Akoko had on December 20,2013 upheld kingmakers’ selection of Prince Oseni Isiaka Adu as the Alale-Elect from Agure Mokun branch of the Ole Ruling House.
Not satisfied with the judgment, Ajimoh branch of Ole Ruling House approached the appellate court to upturned the verdict claiming that Agure Mokun family was not entitled to the stool.
While awaiting the verdict of the appellate court, at the twilight of the former governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration early this year, Prince Sunday Ajimoh was installed as the new Alale of Akungba Akoko who was never a party to the legal battle.
The Ondo State government had recently suspended the coronation of the new Alale, Oba Sunday Isaac Ajimoh indefinitely.
In a letter to the monarch, the state government noted that the coronation slated for Saturday July, 29,would lead to breach of the prevailing peace in the town that play host to the state owned-Adekunle Ajasin University(AAU).
In the letter dated July, 19 and signed by the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Adeyemi Adeyemo, the government directed all security agencies to enforce the suspension of the coronation appropriately.
Residents of Ayede Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday protested the arrest of an inhabitant, Adebo Ademola by the Police.
The development caused uproar with protesters, mainly youths, blocking all major roads in the town including the Owo-Abuja road.
They caused traffic gridlock on the high way.
Sources said the mob also made attempts to set the police
post in the town ablaze, which were foiled.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Mrs. Hilda Harrison deployed anti-riot police men to restore normalcy in the community.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the protesters were acting in error.
He said the arrest was in compliance with the order of the Commissioner of Police for arrest of a ‘notorious’ thug in the town who also specialises in selling Indian hemp.
He stated the suspect was caught with various incriminating objects during a search of his residence.
The PPRO said residents of the town made attempts to prevent arrest of the suspect but failed.
He said the suspect and one other person were caught with weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
Joseph said residents of the town resolved to protest when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, Akeem Adedeji resisted their moves.
He said: “What the people of Ayede Ogbese did was not a protest but an illegal show of ignorance.
“They were protesting that the Police arrested one of their kinsmen. This is a display of ignorance.”
The PPRO informed peace has returned to the town, stating anti-riot police officers deployed to the town have been instructed to remain till normalcy returns fully.
The Ogeloyinbo and Spiritual head of Holy Apostolic Church Ayetoro Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo, has raised the alarm over the growing cases of religious extremism in the community.
Ayetoro in Ilaje Local Government is the only community in Ondo state with a theocratic form of government.
The community with a single church “Holy Apostolic” is also under the sole authority of the monarch, Ogeloyinbo who was installed on the 17th of August 2015.
Oba Ajijo, spoke with reporters, following an unending religious crisis that has rocked the 70- year old costal community since he came into the throne.
He alleged that one prophet Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi has been fanning ember of discord through different strange doctrines brought to the community.
The monarch accused Ojagbohunmi of leading some youngsters on a pretence of “prayer warriors” to destroy private and public properties in the community.
Oba Ajijo expressed surprise on why Ojagbohunmi would also declared himself as ‘Baba Alakoso and General Overseer’ of the Holy Apostles Church.
He disclosed that the position was alien to the customa, traditions and religion of the community since its inception in April 14, 1943.
The Monarch, however, said since Prophet Ojagbohunmi is also one of his subjects; he is ready to accommodate him with his followers despite their atrocities.
He urged the government to be decisive in curtailing the violent disposition of Ojagbohunmi and his prayer warrior group who operate under the guise of preaching religion.
A group “Peace of Jerusalem’ berated Ojagbohunmi for running a parallel government and introducing ‘strange doctrines and traditions under the guise of religion.
Speaking through the former Chairman of Ilaje Council Area,Tola Alabere said there was no longer peace among the people since the prophet stepped into the community.
Alabere said efforts by the community leaders, local government and the immediate past state government to ensure peace reign was dashed by fanatic attitude of the prophet.
He said efforts by the Olugbo in Council under the leadership of Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan(Obat) and the Police to ensure peace had been futile leading to the closure of the Holy Apostolic Church.
The ex-council boss showed support for the church’s closure, despite been the only place of worship in the local to forestall break down of law and order.
He reiterated that the installation of Ambassador Olaseni Ajijo as the 6th Ogeloyinbo followed established processes including consultations and ratification by the Ogeloyinbo-in-Council including spiritual revelations.
He, however, promised to peacefully resist any attempt by Ojagbohunmi to usurp Ogeloyinbo’s throne through religious fanaticism.
Ojagbohunmi did not pick his calls or return the text message sent to his two mobile numbers.
The Spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command,Femi Joseph said the police has waded into the matter to ensure peaceful resolution soon.
Crisis is brewing in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko Southwest Local Government Area of Ondo State over the selection of candidate for the community’s vacant stool.
Already, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been urged to intervene into the chieftaincy tussle.
It was learnt that few days to the exit of the immediate past administration, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko announced Prince Isaac Adeyeye as the Alale-elect.
However, another contender to the throne, who was confirmed as Oba-elect, through an Ikare High Court judgement, Prince Oseni Adu said the only solution to the problem is his installation by the governor.
According to Adu “My attention has been drawn to rumours about the purported recognition of one Adeyeye Ajimoh as the Alale of Akungba-Akoko few hours to the exit of former governor Mimiko’s administration.
“As a matter of fact,the latest dispute as regards Alale’s stool is still before the appellate court with suit No CA/AK/72/14 and yet to be decided”.
He said the High Court, sitting in Ikare-Akoko in a suit no Ak/195/2007 had in a judgement on December 20 2013, delivered by Justice B.S Adeyeye confirmed him as the Alale- elect of Akungba Akoko.
The people of Atijire community in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State have called on the federal government to urgently intervene in the boundary dispute between them and the Imakun-Omi community of Waterside Local Government, Ogun state, before it escalates into a major war.
The aggrieved Atijire indigenes expressed their displeasure at the weekend when staging a peaceful protest at the boundary of their community with Imakun-Omi. The protesters, who were in their thousands, including the old and the young ones, armed themselves with placards.
The placards read “we say no to the infamous Bromage report orchestrated by Ogun State government to annex our land”, “we call on FG to urgently intervene to prevent further crisis”, “Ogun targets Ilaje land because of oil mineral and bitumen deposits.”
Addressing reporters, ?the Secretary of Atijire community, Mr. Messiah Ayejuni, said apart from the fact that the Ilajes are not Ijebus, the community was the first District Council of Ilaje local government between 1952-1976, before it was moved to Igbokoda. He wondered when the Ijebus now become the landlord of such land.
Two siblings, Dapo and Olajuwon Babatobi, have been reportedly declared missing in Ilara-Mokin community, Ifedore local government area of Ondo state. Dapo, who is nine year-old and Olajuwon, seven year-old, were declared missing last Wednesday by their grandmother, Mrs. Fadekemi Falodun.
The Nation learnt that the two kids have been living with their grandmother, who is a trader since their parents separated. It was gathered that Dapo and his younger, who did not meet their grandmother at home when they returned from school on the fateful day, informed their neigbours that they were going to their mother’s house, Mrs. Omolola Arijeloye, who is remarried to another man.
A source who does not wants his name mentioned, said the two kids were discovered missing when Omolola visited his mother and she was asked about the whereabout of the kids.
“Since then we have been searching for them. We have reported the matter to the Police at Ila-Mokin but they have transferred the matter to Igbara-Oke,” the source said
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the Police got the tip of the matter on last Friday. Joseph said the parents of the kids are presently in their custody for interrogations in order to help the police in their investigation.
The police image maker said they decided to detain the parents because Omolola’s family accused their former in-law, Alaba Babatobi, of once threatening that he was ready to do anything to ensure the kids are in his custody.
The new Orunja of Odigbo in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade yesterday urged the people in his domain to remain peaceful in order to attract development to the ancient community.
The monarch spoke with reporters shortly after his coronation which attracted eminent personalities within and outside the state.
He said development would thrive in an environment devoid of rancour and acrimony, stressing that indigenes of the community should contribute to the progress of the town.
Oba Akinrinmade noted that because of the economic situation in the country, it is no more realistic to depend on government to develop various communities.
He observed that each community now go on self-help projects, urging his subjects at home and in diaspora to contribute their quota in lifting Odigbo town.
Oba Akinrinmade hailed his subjects, particularly the kingmakers and several other indigenes of the community for their support.
He pledged to sustain the peace in the community, stressing that security of lives and property would be his topmost priority with the assistance of security agencies.
He urged for peace amongst Christians, Muslims and the traditionalists in the community, while advising the state and local government to provide infrastructural facilities for the comfort of the people.
Residents of Amese, in Akure, the Ondo State Capital were Thursday thrown into pandemonium following the discovering of a beheaded body in the community.
Sources said, the yet to be identified body was found by some worshipers on Wednesday morning beside a mountain where they used to pray.
It was gathered that those who reported the matter to the police were allegedly detained at Ijapo Estate Police state.
A resident of the community said “the lifeless body was discovered by those who normally prayed at the mountain.
“Some of the residents who went to police station to report the matter were detained by the police who claimed that it was part of their investigation.
“They later came to our community and started arresting people particularly those with unfriendly appearance.
“They didn’t stop at that, as those who are living in the neighbouring communities are not spare of the harassment.
“As a result of the indiscriminate arrest, many of our people have ran away because they are afraid of being arrest.”
Another resident of the community said; “I am so sure that the deceased was not killed in this community but his remains was dumped here.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident but denied that the security operative arrested the residents indiscriminately
Joseph noted that the police have begun investigation on the matter.
He said “The police did not arrest anybody, when we got information about the incident, we sent our men there to evacuate the body. We were just inviting some of the residents and asking one or two questions from them.
“We did not arrest neither did we detain anybody,” he explained.
Do you desire peace and tranquility, to live life to the fullest in righteousness and holiness? Do you want the gift of the Holy Spirit and all its accompanying miraculous wonders? Then hurry to Aiyetoro, a riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, where the locals follow after the apostolic doctrines and where sin is a taboo. Assistant Editor, Seun AKIOYE reports.
•Broad Street Aiyetoro
IT was late in the evening when the engine-powered boat which had conveyed the passengers arrived at Aiyetoro jetty in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo state. For more than 20 minutes, the boat had laboured through the dirty, stinking river, meandering its way across the Lagoon and swerving dangerously to avoid the waves caused by other speeding boats.
The driver, Daniel, whistled all along as he dangerously climbed over waves and current. If you are a first-timer plying the creeks and had the ‘misfortune’ of being driven by Daniel, prepare for headaches, nausea, stomach upset and a sudden need to use the toilet.
The jetty was quiet as Daniel steered his boat towards the quay and helped his passengers aboard. To the right was a small signboard welcoming the passengers to “Aiyetoro, the happy city.” And as if to demonstrate this appellation of happiness, a group of boys engaged themselves in a loud game of snooker under a canopy by the side of the jetty. Beside the jetty is a restaurant which though has no signboard, is generally called “Aiyetoro Guest House Restaurant.”
The happy city appendage of Aiyetoro has its roots in the town’s happy years. These days, the appellation makes little meaning to its army of youths who now only make themselves happy with idle gossip and the snooker board.
The story of Aiyetoro began in 1947, which in contemporary history is not a long time. But the locals are quick to remind you that 1947 is not yesterday. Almost every child in Aiyetoro knows the history and the exploits that accompanied the founding of the town. In 1942, a group of revolutionary priests of the Cherubim & Seraphim sect, from several Ilaje riverine communities began to preach against the evil practices of their compatriots; evil works like the killing of twins. They contended with their kinsmen urging repentance.
•Bishop Eretan
The result was predictable: they were persecuted, imprisoned and driven from their communities. On the night of January 10, 1947, during a prayer session, the Spirit descended on Pa. Ojomba and directed that the believers should move immediately to a new land. The Bishop of Aiyetoro, Eremibo Eretan, recalled that night.
He said: “I was a small child. My father took me that night and we journeyed by canoe along the banks of the ocean. When we got to this place, the Spirit asked us to stop and we all came out to land. That night, we slept wherever we could find, and the next day, we began to build.”
The picture of his fatherwho became the town’s first High Priestoccupied a prominent place on the wall of his house. He was dressed in full church regalia and had a full white beard with fierce eyes. He seemed to be looking down on the household with a disapproving look.
A church was built and the priests, now called The Holy Apostles, named their church The Holy Apostles Church. Services began immediately and they were usually “power packed with the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.”
Communal living
The Apostles were determined to build a different kind of community, one that is led by God and the laws of the early Christians. They instituted the first communist society in Nigeria and indeed the whole of West Africa between 1948 and 1968. The Holy Apostles’ main goal was economic prosperity, and they achieved this through communal efforts. Leading by example, they lived a Spartan life and laboured hard to build their community first by conquering the almost inhabitable environment through ingenious architecture and through trade.
The Holy Apostles succeeded in building a prosperous town through communalism, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common,” Acts 4: 32.
In 1953, they bought a generator which supplied the town electricity at a time many urban towns in Nigeria were in darkness. But with the generator came the problem of repairs, so they established a technical workshop where students all over the country came to acquire technical skills. Ten years later, the community constructed the first 75-feet motor trawler.
By 1960, the town had established different industries like baking, textile, shoe, tailoring and soap making. Everyone in the community worked for the town and the Holy Apostles provided the needs of every citizen. There was a dining hall where everyone ate free of charge. By 1967 when a secondary school was established, the Ayetoro engineers, using crude instruments, succeeded in digging an 11-kilometre carnal.
Children were placed in foster homes to encourage unity. Snr. One of such children, Apostle Jackson Honmane, said. “I did not live with my parents. We were placed with other families so that even if you were barren, you would not lack a child to send on errands.”
During the communist period, no one owned anything. All the money made from trade was kept in a common purse. Trade prospered and the community was able to engage in foreign trade. Students from Ayetoro were sent abroad to obtain skills needed in trade and industry. By the 1960s, Ayetoro was the richest and most developed rural community in Nigeria.
“There is nothing you cannot achieve when you have the power of unity and determination. It is more so when you are led by the spirit of God. Ayetoro was a good example of that. And even in our industries here, white people did come to learn. Students from all over Nigeria also came here in those golden years,” says Ibrahim Bankole, one of the prominent youths in the town.
Led by the Holy Spirit
At mid-day, the elders of Ayetoro gathered in the ‘glass house’ which has served as a meeting venue for the community for many decades to deliberate and pray. The meeting, which was done in hush tones, was frequently interrupted by religious slogans and songs. Today, they sang a song of conviction and faith, The truth shall surely prevail. They sang in a voice that carried much sorrow and worry. Then they sang another that revealed their faith in God who is “the solver of all mysteries.”
The children and passersby on Broad Street, directly opposite the hall, also intermittently stopped whatever they were doing to join in a moment of prayer. This has been the way of life for the religious people of Aiyetoro. They know no other way.
The Holy Apostles believe they were led by God to the site of the town. Hence major decisions are taken with the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit.” For instance, during a church service in 1949, the spirit fell on Pa. Okenla Aduromasin, who proclaimed that the time had come to have a king. The spirit chose a rather unusual candidate in Pa. Peter Ojagbohunmi, Ogeloyinbo 1. Ojagbohunmi had been one of the fiercest antagonists of the Apostles before the migration.
According to Bankole, when the song was raised in Aiyetoro, the spirit fell on Ojagbohunmi who began to manifest in the spirit. His kinsmen thought he was mad, so they bounded him. But he escaped and came to Ayetoro where he became the king.
There have been five kings in the town since then, all chosen by the spirit. Pa Okenla became the second king but reigned for only three years. However, a supernatural event marked the short reign of Okenla, following an accident. He was said to have cursed iron, forbidding any indigene of the town from being killed by it.
“From now till eternity, no child of Aiyetoro can die in a car or plane crash,” Bankole said, his face taking on a serious look as it met the incredulous look on the reporter’s.
“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” Acts 5: 12
The third king was Akinluwa Abusawara, who is credited with bringing civilization to the town. Under him, Aiyetoro prospered and he also established January 12 every year as the anniversary of the founders’ day.
King Olasele foresaw the Ijaw/Ilaje war and fortified the town spiritually against invaders. “That is why nobody can bring war to this community and win. When the Ijaws came, they could not enter this community,” another indigene, Eniola Adebari, said.
Guard Olofin Asogbon, who reigned from May 28, 1999 till February 13, 2015, was the fifth king who brought revival back to the town. At his ascension, the new generation of citizens who did not witness the period of the Holy Apostles and communism, were beginning to lose a sense of direction.
Then on May 18, 2009, during a special revival, the youths also received the Holy Spirit with the accompanying power.
“I was the first person the Holy Spirit fell upon on that day,” Bankole said with a smile that denoted happiness and sought to convey the importance of such experience.
The Holy Apostles had established a pattern of waiting on the Spirit before making any decision. Therefore, when King Guard Ashogbo died in February, the community was not in a hurry to find a replacement until the Sprit would direct.
“We are yet to find a replacement for our king until the elders have prayed and God has approved a king for us. It could be anybody as long as that person has the Holy Spirit,” Bankole said.
Asked if the Spirit could pick him, he smiled and said the “ways of the Spirit are quite beyond human comprehension.”
One thing which cannot cease to confound any visitor to Aiyetoro is the constant reference to the Holy Spirit by many of the indigenes. Everybody seems to have accepted the direction of the Spirit as a way of life.
Moses Asogbon, a graduate of Political Science from Adekunle Ajasin University, is the Prince and heir apparent of Aiyetoro. Since the death of his father, he had remained in the three-storey building which had served three kings as home and palace.
But the once magnificent palace has fallen on evil times. In the 1960s, when oil exploration began in the waters of Aiyetoro, a tremor caused an earthquake, which began to sink the palace. When The Nation met the prince, the ground floor of the palace had completely disappeared under the water, such that when one looks at the building from afar, it tilts forward like the Pizza tower.
“We don’t follow the usual procedure of heir apparent in choosing our king. It is the Holy Spirit that chooses for us here; it is not from father to son,” the prince said in a voice that carried no regrets.
In choosing a king, the elders would gather at the church, praying and fasting. At such worship sessions, spiritual songs play a critical role as they herald the coming of the Spirit. When the Spirit finally descends, one of the elders would mention the name of the new king.
If you think that this unusual political arrangement could be influenced by the Apostles’ personal ambitions, Bankole says you should perish the thought. “It has never happened before. Nobody will dare it,” he said.
But someone actually dared it. The Nation gathered that one of the prominent sons of the community wanted to impose himself as king with the help of some of the elders, and this has led to the polarization of the community and the shutting down of the church.
For about four months now, no service has held in the church. When The Nation visited the church, it was kept very clean inside and everything was in its proper place. A lady slept on a long bench and on perceiving the reporter’s entrance opened a pair of haggard eyes, greeted the visitor and went back to sleep.
“The church is the community, and because of the fight over the kingship, we decided to close the church for now so that the bad blood would not seep into the church. But through the help of the Holy Spirit, we will resolve all our issues,” one of the elders said.
Race against the times
Communalism and its attendant prosperity ended over four decades ago, but the people still yearn for its allure, the unity it fostered and the development it produced. The present generation, though cannot be said to have been in the same spiritual mould as the Holy Apostles, has also held on to some of the ancient rites.
For instance, the Aiyetoro people do not celebrate burial rites. Only a few people knew when King Asogbon was buried and the cemetery is several kilometers away from the community. It is believed that the dead would contaminate the spirit of the community. This is in sync with the Biblical Old Testament practice.
“We do not say that people die; they sleep, because we believe in the resurrection. We see ceremonies as a waste. Instead, we go to the house of the bereaved, give them gifts and show them love. That is better,” Eretan said
The modern hierarchy of power is from the King to the Council of Obas and then the elders. There is also the Youth Association and a Chief Justice who is appointed from among the people to sit in judgment over them.
Today, the Elders Council, which is made up of the leaders of the church, presided over the affairs of the town in the absence of the King. The head of the council, Bishop Eretan, ruled the town with apostolic mandate. He ensures that everyone, especially the youth, falls in line with the norms.
This is mostly complied with by the restless youths, as the youth council also disciplines anyone who errs. For instance, if two people fight, they are brought before the council and flogged publicly. Some youth say it is 12 strokes of the cane, others say it is 24. But whatever the number, it is a most humiliating experience and the youth always settle their differences amicably as found in the injunctions of Jesus Christ.
“We do not involve outsiders, especially the police, in any of our internal disputes, because we have our way of dealing with such issues,” says Ajinde Iretolu, the Youth President.
Despite this seemingly crude treatment of offences, there still remains a sense of unity among the people. If there was a community service to be done, like the building of a trawler, someone goes around to ring a bell calling everyone with the skills required to do the job free of charge.
•Aiyetoro Happy city
The unity which Aiyetoro still enjoys could be traced to its strong resistance of infiltration by other religions. Even other church denominations are not allowed in the community. Hence, because everyone went to the same church and professes the same Spirit, it is easy to maintain order and keep them in line.
But even a closely knit community like Aiyetoro cannot afford to be inoculated from the world for too long. So, despite the religious statues “materialism” slowly crept into the community. This is most common with the youths who have gone outside and seen “life” in the other world. Also the influx of students from outside the community who have come to sit external examinations like the West African Schools Certificate (WASC), and the posting of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have helped to open up the youths of Aiyetoro to the outside world. Majority of them could be seen clutching smart phones with contemporary hip hop music blaring from the tiny loudspeakers.
The point of convergence for the youth is the Ayetoro Guest House Café where snooker games go unabated from sunup till late in the night. This is where contemporary issues are discussed, new fads unveiled and one can ogle the girls and let off the heart’s immorality to its full content. Young unemployed youths idle away at the snooker board all day and when hungry and out of cash, they stand by the river hook in hand to catch tiny fishes.
•Arigbo
The acute unemployment problem in Aiyetoro is visible everywhere. Many university graduates idle away or do menial fishing jobs whenever available. One of them is Benson Arigbo, the secretary of the youth council. The graduate of Microbiology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, unable to find a job in the city, retired to the town to engage in some form of trade. “Very soon, you will see him in a boat, fishing,” Eretan said and Benson smiled; the type that tries to hide embarrassment.
There are others too who came back to the town because it offered a sort of security. One of the graduates, who would not like to be named, said the cost of living in the community is cheaper. “At least you will eat every day even if you don’t have a dime. That is why many of us returned home, many times to nothing more than occasional fishing,” he said.
After the era of the Holy Apostles, the community fell on hard times, the industries collapsed one after the other and the source of economic prosperity evaporated. Many of the people moved out in droves as the houses also began to fall apart. Today, there are no more free meals or communal living, so the people have tried to adjust to the capitalist way. On Broad Street, there is hardly a house without a shop selling groceries and daily needs items. There are the food vendors too and the restaurants, the most prominent of which is ‘Made Easy Restaurant.’
The restaurant was founded by Prophet Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, the grandson of the first king. It was also he who had the credit of bringing spiritual revival back to the community. But Made Easy is more than a restaurant; it is a bank and a money transfer centre where one can withdraw or make deposits with the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.
Ojagbohunmi had cleverly procured a Point of Sale (POS) machine. People bring their ATM cards and pay the amount they would withdraw into Ojagbohunmi’s account. The money is counted out in cash, of course with a little commission. It is the same process to send money.
Another spotlight is Lady B Bar whose signpost illuminated by neon lights reads: ‘Welcome Tu Lady B where all your needs are made available 24 hours. Your happiness is our concern.’ The bar was empty, save for two children watching Washington destroy Portland in a basketball game. Every day, drinking patrons are dwindling alongside the fortunes of the town.
Water everywhere but no fish in sight
The reporter had dreamt of abundant fresh fishes of varying sizes made in different spices. But it was a shock that fresh fish is as scarce as the rain in the Sahara. What is in abundance however is the tiny crayfish.
“We sell all our fishes outside this community to the people of Okitipupa and Igbokoda. What we have here is crayfish,” a lady who called herself Baby T said.
The people excell in crayfish business. At sundown, several canoes would be seen on the high seas being tossed violently by the ocean waves, all destined for Aiyetoro shores. Market women are waiting to purchase baskets of crayfish as soon as the boats berth. A big basket costs N20, 000 on the average.
Smoking the crayfish is the expertise of Aiyetoro women, and smoking houses abound in the community. It is a back breaking work, enough to ruin the composition of six healthy men. But the women said if one can endure, the rewards could be great.
Another occupation which has taken the shine off fishing is boat building, which is mainly for the skilled hands. Tunlese Seriki is one of such hands. In the last couple of years, he has built a couple of high end boats for customers mainly in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“These boats are very expensive. A 10-foot engine powered boat would cost a minimum N2 million to build. But those who buy them often recoup their money within a year of putting the boat in operation. So, it is a good business,” Seriki said.
In the evenings, the streets of Aiyetoro come alive. Broad Street, which is the only paved road (the others are planks built on stilts) plays host to most of the indigenes. Loud music blares from speakers placed at the entrance of stores and hawkers take advantage of the few solar-powered streetlights to hawk on the streets.
There is Umar, the suya seller who has been living within the community for a year. Business has been lukewarm due to the general economic downturn. In Aiyetoro, goods cost three times the price in say Igbokoda and Okitipupa because “everything has to be transported on the river and we must factor all those into it,” Baby T said.
Most of the houses and stores are powered by generators. This has not always been the case as the community once had a single generator which powered all the houses. But for about six months now, this generator has been faulty and the community has been unable to raise money for its repairs. Each house was required to pay N1,200, which proved even too hard to get for the impoverished people of Aiyetoro. Those who are too poor to buy personal generators are left in the dark to envy their more prosperous neighbours.
Today, it seems darkness has fallen on the land. With the rampaging ocean claiming about half of the town and its infrastructure, indigenes are wary and unsure of what the future holds.
“We can do a lot of things, but it is just this sea that is holding us back. We are not sure what would happen next year. If government can help us solve this problem, we can transform this place,” Prince Asogbon said.
In April, about five houses were washed away by the ocean. In five years there have been no fewer than 25 houses lost to the sea. “If you came here four days ago, there was nowhere to walk as the whole town was flooded. The flood that overruns this community comes at least once every two months,” Arigbo said.
One place that seemed untouched by this general gloom is Aiyetoro Guest House Café where loud hip hop music and noisy snooker play went unabated into the night. More guests flowed into the arena, and if you are a visitor, the aura of the night would draw you there. It is the only place in the town that seemed to remind everyone that there is life outside the ordinances of the church.
