Former governor of Lagos state Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi among other personalities have indicated interest to be part of the centenary celebrations of Okeho, a town in Kajola local government in Oyo state.
Others expected at the occasion are: the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, among many others.
A statement signed Monday by the chairman publicity committee Leke Salaudeen, said the event is meant to celebrate the return of Okeho to its original site from the old site, which “had existed for more than three centuries at the present location before our forefathers were forced to migrate to the old site (Okeho Ahoro) for security reasons due to incessant raids by the slave traders from Dahomey (now Republic of Benin) and the attacks by Fulani warriors.”
The statement explained further that “when the time was auspicious, our forefathers were compelled by the colonial administrator, Captain Ross, to relocate to the original settlement. This was after a bloody civil disorder on October 19, 1916. The incident was a revolt against forced labour, strange customs and conventions introduced by the colonial administration. After the riot was quelled, the people of Okeho started returning to the present location (the original settlement) and in early 1917, they had fully resettled.”
According to Salaudeen, the community believe that the occasion calls for celebration “because we have lived together for 100 years at the present location without threat from internal or external sources. The celebration is not just about entertainment; it is a platform to project the image of Okeho in the consciousness of the people within and outside the community and to rekindle the bond of friendship and communality that has always existed among our people.”
The nine day programme of events beginning from October 20 to 28, include visit to the old site, cultural display, peoples parliament, football match, lecture, symposium, merit awards and conferment of chieftaincy tittles.
“On the final day of the celebration (October 28, 2017), a book Okeho in History by Professor Segun Gbadegesin, the Asiwaju of Okeho would be launched. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Chief Launcher.”
