‘The History and Heroes of the Ilajes’ book launch: Ondo Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa hails Author, Taiwo Gbamila for a job well done
A book with the title – “The History and Heroes of the Ilajes” written by Taiwo Gbamila, has been launched in Akure,the Ondo state capital on Thursday 11th November, 2021.
“Your resolved to document a reference book for Ilaje nation is truly appreciated and this will go a long way in helping our children and grandchildren to really know more about our history, the people and their contributions to Nigeria and Ilaje Nation”.
These are the words of Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the launching of “The History and Heroes of the Ilaje’ written by Taiwo Gbamila.
The public presentation and book launch took place on Thursday 11th November, 2021 at International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, Ondo State.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, the Deputy Governor said, “indeed, Ilaje history is rich and interesting with so much memories and people with outstanding contributions to Nigeria and Ilaje Nation”.
Ilaje Nation is as old as Nigeria and we are proud of our heritage”, he said.
The Deputy Governor further used the occasion in appealing to parents, political leaders religious leaders and Traditional Rulers on the task of the fight against insecurity, Cultism and other vices .
“The issue of insecurity, cultist activities and other vices that are inimical to the development of our land, this is not a job for government alone, it is our collective responsibility to educate our children on the danger of Cultism and it’s attendant consequences” .
Aiyedatiwa equally condemned the human activities that may lead to environmental disaster in Ilaje Nation.
“We all know the current state of Aiyetoro community that is almost going into extinction due to not only the sea, but also by human activities like it is currently happening at Idi-Ogba where our people are deliberately creating imminent environmental disaster” , he said.
“Let us call and speak to our people on the need to keep and preserve what we have,” he appealed.
The event was attended by traditional rulers, community leaders as well as strong Ilaje sons and daughters.
SPEECH DELIVERED BY HON. LUCKY ORIMISAN AIYEDATIWA, DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE AT THE BOOK LAUNCH TITLED THE HISTORY AND HEROES OF THE ILAJE ,WRITTEN BY TAIWO GBAMILA
PROTOCOL
It gives me great pleasure to be standing before you today, not just as an ILAJE man but also as the deputy governor of ondo state, the first ilaje man to be so honoured since the creation of the state. Maybe, if I am not captured in this edition I will definitely be featured in the next edition.
Indeed Ilaje history is rich and interesting with so much memories and people with outstanding contributions to Nigeria and ilaje nation.
We have had many of our people put together the people and history of Ilaje, the likes of Chief Omoyele, Chief Prof. Ebisemiju among others have all documented our history from all fronts. Your own book did not really go into the history deeply, which is a good thing. Your resolve to document and profile the heroes is truly appreciated and this will go a long way in helping our children and grand children to really know more about our people and their contributions to Nigeria and Ilaje nation.
Indeed, Ilaje Nation is as old as Nigeria and we are proud of our heritage.
Let me use this occasion to call on all our leaders, kabiyesis and other well meaning Ilaje personalities that we have a big task on our hands and we must all collectively rise up to the occasion. What I am talking about is the issue of insecurity, cultist activities and other vices that are inimical to the development of our land. Like we say in ilaje “ULENUSE”. This is not a job for government alone, it is our collective responsibility to educate our children on the danger of cultism and the attendant consequences.
I will also use this occasion to appeal to our leaders to join us to build our land back better by engaging our people/graduates and give them employment where we can. If you lift up one person today, he is likely to lift up another.
Let us all here know that despite the challenges we face today, I strongly believe that when we all stand together we can change the narrative for the better. And, we must stand together to build our land and our people.
Today we all know the current state of Aiyetoro community that is almost going into extinction due to not only the sea surge but also by human activities like it is currently happening at Idi-Ogba where our people are deliberately creating imminent environmental disaster.
Let us all call and speak to our people on the need to keep what we have.
Finally, let me congratulate Taiwo Gbamila on this well researched book and for putting pen to paper to document our history, people/heroes. You have done well and I commend you. To all our heroes, those late, may their gentle souls rest in peace and those alive, we are proud of you all
Thank you and God bless Ilaje nation, God bless Ondo State, God bless Nigeria.
Ayemafuge Ilaje!
BEING A TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY TAIWO ILESANMI GBAMILA, AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY AND HEROES OF THE ILAJES AT THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND BOOK LAUNCH HELD ON 11TH NOVEMBER, 2021 AT INTERNATIONL CULTURE AND EVENT CENTRE (THE DOME), AKURE, ONDO STATE.
Song: My God is a miracle God 2x; He has never failed, He will never fail, He will do what He says, He will do what He promised to do.
I can see working in my favour, I can see bringing in my miracles, I can see fighting all my battles,
He will do what He says He will do, He will do what He promised to do.
I want to crave your indulgence to stand up and give one minute silence in honour of my late wife, Deaconess Taiwo Olayinka, because we started this project and planning of this book launch together.Unfortunatel, she passed on before today. May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
I will start this speech with the word of Frantz Fanon which says, “Each generation must out of relative obscurity discover its own mission, fulfilled it or betray it”. So, I believe we are fulfilling a very important mission today to the glory of God.
Again, I give glory, honour and adoration to God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son and the Holy Spirit who has endowed me with the knowledge of His will to produce a reference book for the Ilaje nation despite my limitations. Certainly, if man promotes you, you may fail but if God promotes you, man has no choice. To the glory of God, I have authored 4 different books to date.They are;
(i) Victims of political quagmire in Nigeria – a book that reveals the names of some prominent Nigerians that were victims of high-profile assassinations.
(ii) On the footsteps of His Master and Savour – a biographic book on Pastor J.T Kalejaiye, the Intercontinental Evangelist of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
(iii) A biographic book in view on Bishop Idowu Olugbemi, The Lord Bishop of Anglican Communion, Ilaje Diocese.;and
(iv) The History and Heroes of the Ilajes
The thought for this book – The History and Heroes of the Ilajes was engendered in 2017 when I discovered that there was no specific activity or programme or book written in honour of our founding fathers and their titanic struggles to give us a place in the sun. The History and Heroes of the Ilajes can be described as an encyclopedia on the Ilaje people of Ondo State, Nigeria.
This publication serves as the first edition which touches on the historical background of the famous Ilaje people.However, I am not claiming total perfection but I do believe that this publication will provoke further research which will give birth to improvement of this edition. Afterall, the Old Testament in the Bible gave birth to New Testament for the perfect transformation of the scripture.
In order to douse unnecessary controversy, no attempt is made in the book to come into any conclusion that the names mentioned and x-rayed in the book are the only prominent sons and daughters of Ilaje land. I believe there are many more, whose names would hopefully feature in subsequent editions.
Note: All the names mentioned in this edition can easily be traced through the index in the last four pages of the book.
No doubt, the book is informative and historical, thus making it a must-read for researchers, students, teachers and practitioners of politics and history and the general public at large who would like to know one or two things about the great Ilaje people.
Your Excellency, the Chairman of the occasion, I want you to give me a few minutes in your prerogative power to appreciate some people who have contributed immensely to making the project a huge success.
Firstly, I will like to thank Your Excellencies, The Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and Arakunrin Lucky Aiyedatiwa for giving us the enabling environment to do this programme.
I appreciate all the traditional rulers and spiritual leaders here present. I appreciate my father, the ‘Olori Ebi’ of Ogunji’s family, Mr. Samuel Ogunji, the Oyeyemi of Mahin land
My special appreciation also goes to Asiwaju Oluyemi Ogunyomi, former Clerk of the National Assembly, for his support during the course of my research work. I’m eternally grateful to my boss, Prince Poroye Biyi, who always stood by me in all my endeavors.
I am highly humbled by the robust assistance of Sir Benson Obayelu, former Director at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Barr. Oluwole Ajimisinmi, Executive Director, Lagos Business Directorate of Wema Bank Plc; Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Hon. State Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, Senator representing Ondo South and Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Member House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on NDDC.
Others are: Hon. Diran Iyantan, Barr. Gani Ojagbohunmi, Mr. Wale Karaki, Hon. Funso Esan, Mrs. Banke Sutton, Mr. Rotimi Loto, Mr. Olumide Oloruntimilehin, and Mr. Daniel Omonira, For this, I shall forever be grateful to you.
I am indeed grateful to all my special guests and invitees for honouring God in my life to create time out of their tight schedule to attend this programme. I appreciate the August presence of the Chairman of the occasion, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Chief Launcher, High Chief Benjamin Olomidegun the Co-Launcher, Mr. Oye Mathew Oyerinmade, the Book Launcher, Prof. Bolanle Ogungbamila, Chief Host, Hon. Kolade Akinjo, MHR representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency and Host, Hon. Goke Jatuwase, Executive Chairman, Ilaje LG
Many thanks to all whose work, research and support helped me to write the book, especially, Apostle Henry Ojagbohunmi, Omo’ba Omowole Oluwagheyinmi, Mr. Omoyele Ishola, Mr. Peter Ojatula and Comrade Niyi Majofodun.
I am also indebted to Prince John Ola Mafo who offered useful editorial assistance and gladly wrote the foreword to this book. Equally, the efforts of Mr. Ale Monebi, my editorial consultant, Mr. Akindeji Olorunyolemi, my mentor and senior colleague in publishing, Mr. Seun Ogidan and Mrs. Taiwo Monisola, my gallant graphic designers, are highly appreciated.
I cannot but also appreciate my spiritual father and mother, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Jegede, for their prayers and support in all ramifications.
I appreciate my brothers and sisters both paternally and maternally which space will not permit me to mention them all.
I thank all the pressmen in the house. I also thank numerous people of goodwill who offered the needed support that helped in making this project see the light of the day.
Finally, this speech will lack a fundamental lacuna if I fail to acknowledge my late wife, Deaconess Taiwo Olayinka Patience, for tolerating my incessant disappearance into my home office, when she woke up and she could not find me beside her.She would locate me in my study room and began to pray for me. No doubt, you were one woman in a million! May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of God.
I will like to conclude this speech with a word of wisdom which says, “Perspire to acquire what you desire to admire, don’t retire but refire to acquire the admired desire”. Thank you very much.
*PREFACE OF THE BOOK*
Glory, honour and adoration be unto our Lord, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son and the Holy Spirit who has endowed me with the knowledge of His will to produce a reference book for Ilaje nation despite our internal squabbles. Certainly, if man promotes you, you may fail but if God promotes you, man has no choice.
The thought for the book was engendered in 2017 when I discovered the absence of a specific activity or programme or book written to honour and remember our founding fathers who were great warriors and visionaries. It would be a great disservice to this great people if their efforts are not documented appropriately for generations yet unborn. Therefore, I think it is pertinent we reflect on our yesterday, ponder our today and build hope for our tomorrow and the upcoming generations. The rich and robust history of the Ilajes deserve to be celebrated.
The book is written in honour of our founding fathers and their titanic struggles to give us a place in the sun. The vigorous and fervent campaign of the men of God called Apostles against stopping the killing of twins by Oro Court, the practice of communalism in Aiyetoro and the system of Secondary Modern School in Ilajeland under Western Nigeria are captured in the book.
Equally included are the myth of Ayelala shrine, origin of Ayemafuge Ilaje, list of all the towns in Ilajeland and ancient Native Courts, including their locations and mode of operations. The conception and evolvement of Adagbakuja New Town and Olokola Free Trade Zone are captured for posterity. Moreover, the cause and damages of the war that broke out between Ilaje and Ijaw people in 1998 are fully documented in the book. The discovery of oil in Ilajeland in 1908 by the German Bitumen Corporation which activities were truncated by the world wars and global economic recession is included in the book. Also contained in the book is the list of professors, past and present political office holders and top civil servants both at the state and federal levels.
We must commend the race which produced the likes of Sir Samuel Manuwa (one time Acting Governor General of Nigeria and first Nigerian Medical Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria); Prince Allison Ayida – former Secretary to the Federal Government, Leader of Super Permanent Secretaries and Head of the Bureaucracy which sustained Nigeria during the civil war; Chief Ebun Omoyele – a former Federal Permanent Secretary of note, Mr. B.A Manuwa – the first Nigerian Clerk of Parliaments, Chief Theophilus Iwajomo – the first Secretary to the Government and the Head of Ondo State Civil Service; Chief Adeneye Emuleomo, the second Secretary to Government and Head of Ondo State Civil Service; Asiwaju Oluyemi Ogunyomi – the first Clerk to the National Assembly from Southern Nigeria and Prince Ajose Kudehinbu a consummate writer and Head of Ondo State Civil Service. It shows that an Ilaje man can be whatever he chooses to be irrespective of his background, limitations, and other challenges. These people have shown us that determination, persistence, courage backed by immutable faith in God can always take us to the peak of human achievement. This is the foundation we need to build on.
In order to douse unnecessary controversy, no attempt is made in the book to come into any conclusion that the names x-rayed are the only prominent sons and daughters of Ilajeland. We believe there are many more, whose names would hopefully feature in subsequent editions.
No doubt, the book is informative and historical; thus making it a must-read for researchers, students, teachers and practitioners of politics and history, and the general public at large who would like to know one or two things about the great Ilaje people.
Taiwo Ilesanmi Gbamila
Akure, Ondo State.
April, 2021
