REVIVE THE GLORY OF EJIGBO

REVIVE THE GLORY OF EJIGBO

Ejigbo mekun, a prominent and ancient town in Yoruba land with deep root in Yoruba mythology, the origin of the then great warrior Ajayi of Ibadan -one of the forefathers of Ibadan, the head quarter of Ejigbo Local Government in Osun state Nigeria, -one of the oldest local government in the nation. When other local governments were being splitting into three or more local governments in the old Oyo Northwest senatorial district, Ejigbo kingdom remains only one local government, considering the landmass and population of the Ejigbo local government. This is unjustifiable! Population of Ejigbo kingdom is conservatively put as 132,641 in 2006 national population census with a landmass of about 373 square kilometres, Ejigbo town not Ejigbo local government which is incontrovertibly larger than accumulation of more than two local governments in Nigeria.

Farming is the mainstay of Ejigbo kingdom’s economy. It is basically of food crops like yam, corn, millet, and many more. Cash crops such as cocoa, palm tree, cashews and so on, are producing abundantly. Animal husbandry, poultry, and fishery are also prominent. Ergo, Ejigbo kingdom produces the largest cat fish in the state of Osun, Nigeria. Besides, essential commodities can be purchased locally in Ejigbo at the Lagos prices. This indicates Ejigbo people are big-time traders.

Ejigbo kingdom is bequeathed with glorious and celebrated sons and daughters of higher caliber with higher posts in local, states, national, even international positions. Indigenes of Ejigbo are well travelled, they engage in both national and international trades. About a million sons and daughters of Ejigbo are found in Cote D’ivoire alone. They are also scattered in many other African countries such as Gabon, Senegal, Togo, Morocco, even European and American countries.

Education is main industry in Ejigbo. The kingdom is bestowed with many primary schools - both public and private, five public secondary schools, a state government unity high school, and more than six reliable private secondary schools. This accounts that Ejigbo people have great affinity for education. No wonder, why the Government of the state of Osun situates one of its university campuses - Osun state University college of Agriculture, in Ejigbo.

Ejigbo mekun kingdom is developing not linearly like some neighboring towns, but compactly. So to reach its nooks and crannies, the popular “okada” (express) is preferred by the populace to reach remote areas.

With these few qualities of Ejigbo early enumerated, one could affirm that, the kingdom is endowed with vast and fertile environment, capable of developing the town further educationally, agriculturally, commercially and industrially.

Our forefathers recalled how the town is used to bubble in its heydays with commercial activities, when people from neighboring cities, towns and villages trooped in to transact trades with our ancestors. Why the kingdom is numb? The kingdom could better, if her sons and daughters will obey the clarion call of the kingdom which says “develop me”. Extolled is God almighty’s name, Who bequeaths Ejigbo kingdom with copious industrialists, academics, big-time farmers and many more renowned sons and daughters. But majority of these celebrated sons and daughters of Ejigbo live in Diasporas. How precious would it be? If these illustrious indigenes of Ejigbo could remember the good old days of our predecessors and come home and revive its old glory, by establishing small scale industries, and commercial farms in crops   farming, animal husbandry, poultry, and fishery for start.

“love of your home is part of faith” as put down by the noble prophet Muhammed, may peace and blessing of Allah be with him. I want you to realize from the early mentioned hadith that your home is Ejigbo which is automatically part of your faith. Meanwhile Yoruba do say “eleru nio gbe ni ibiti oti wuwo” meaning that, government can never satiate everyone. We should stand to our responsibilities, love one another and develop our home “ile ni abo isinmi oko”. Your preferred places in the whole World today were sometimes worse than Ejigbo, some people rose to make it better the way you see it. Beautiful and big houses in the town can never quench the town’s hungry for development. This is the right moment that you and I should contribute our quotas, your widows mite and that of my humble contributions have a long way to go in developing the kingdom and fetching back its old glory.   Emphatically, in love we can progress and in unity we will develop.

GOD BLESS EJIGBO

GOD BLESS THE POPULACE

LONG LIVE OGIYAN

LONG LIVE EJIGBO KINGDOM

                                                                                                 Oyedokun Sherifdeen M.