OKE-IBADAN FESTIVAL : IBADAN AGOG AS AARE ONAKAKANFO OF YORUBA LAND, IBA GANI ADAMS HOSTS DIGNITARIES TO CELEBRATE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
1. It is my pleasure to be here today and to be a partaker in this year’s edition of the Oke Ibadan Festival here in Ibadan, Oyo State.
2. My special appreciation goes to the Olubadan of Ibadan, representatives of the Oyo State government, royal fathers and chiefs, and prominent indigenes and citizens that are present here today, and who will all in various ways make this occasion colourful and unforgettable.
3. The Oke-Ibadan festival is a yearly celebration that honours the founding of Ibadan, the Aboke and the people of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
4. It is a cultural and traditional festival where the Ibadan people pay respect to their ancestors, reiterate their cultural values, and promote unity.
5. The name "Oke-Ibadan" translates to "Hill of Ibadan," referring to the original settlement site on a hill where the city was formed in the 18th century.
6. Though there are various accounts of the origin of ‘Oke Ibadan’ but there is a common agreement with the resolution that Lagelu: Oro Apata-Maja, who was the founder of Ibadan, was the one that established Oke Ibadan festival.
7. The Oke-Ibadan festival serves as a reminder of the historical antecedents of Ibadan people and the legacy of their founders.
8. The festival involves honouring the goddess of the hill and acknowledging the role of the founding fathers of Ibadan.
9. It is a time of rejoicing and merriment for the Aboke and the people of Ibadan. Today, the festival is a vital part of the cultural landscape of Ibadan, showcasing its history, traditions, and the spirit of unity among its people.
10. In addition, the occasion serves to give thanks to the Almighty God for His protection and for saving Ibadan city from extinction.
11. Oke Ibadan is a very formidable rock, an highly historical rock to the Ibadan people, and it played a lot of roles when Ibadan was going to different wars in the olden days.
12. Ibadan people refer to the rock as a giver of children, wealth and so many good things.
13. According to the Ibadan people, the rock played a lot of roles in the development and peace of Ibadan spiritually. That is why the Olubadan appointed the Aboke, who also has his own emissary that works with him.
14. The job of Aboke is to appease the hill for the progress and development of Ibadan almost every two weeks. So, Oke Ibadan is a rock that every living Ibadan person will not toy with, irrespective of any religion they belong to.
15. I salute the Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, for his support for the festival, and being resolute in preserving our rich culture. May your reign be long, Kabiyesi.
16. In an age where culture and tourism have become huge money spinners and income generating ventures for many national and sub-national governments globally,
17. I want to implore the Oyo State government to do everything within its power to make this rock a tourist destination, by giving awareness about its importance.
18. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism should also ensure that the rock is reflected as one of the rocks with immense tourist potentials in Yorubaland, just like Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Oke Idanre in Ondo, Oke Erinmo in Ilesa, Oke Asabari in Saki, Oke Iyake in Ado-Awaye, Oke Agelu in Oyo State and many other rocks across the region, which interestingly, clerics have now turned to spiritual destinations.
19. Naturally, rocks always have spiritual potentials. People believe that when you pray on top of rocks, it is always answered as quickly as possible.
20. I also want to call on all state governments across the Southwest region to continue promoting and sponsoring the various festivals across their states in order to boost tourism and economic potentials in the states and our region.
21. This is a clarion call to the governments to lead the initiative to promote Yoruba identity and culture.
22. More than ever before, we must brace up and get things done the right way. It is better for the governments now to key into this idea and initiative of celebrating and preserving our unique identity as a people.
23. There is need for us to be proactive in whatever we do. It is our duty to take charge of our fate, believing that this new idea will translate to a better future for us collectively.
24. As sons and daughters of Ibadan gather from far and near to celebrate this year’s festival, I encourage everyone to be peaceful in our celebrations.
25. The idea of brigandage and the use of charms and arms to disrupt activities must now become a thing of the past.
26. I implore everyone of us on the need to not only identify with the festival, but to take absolute pride in our culture and heritage. This is our identity.
27. I call on all Ibadan indigenes to cultivate a positive attitude toward the development of the city and its environment.
28. We must also join hands with the state government and support its policies in its quest to continually develop and build the city as a city of our dreams.
NEED FOR UNITY AMONG YORUBA TRADITIONAL RULERS
29. Meanwhile, I have watched with dismay the recent unnecessary comparison being drawn between the Alaafin of Oyo’s stool and that of the Ooni of Ife, with respect to which one is senior to the other by bloggers and some online media platforms.
30. Let me reiterate that both traditional stools and the revered royal imperial majesties occupying them are two main prominent Obas in Yorubaland and globally.
31. I specially appeal to bloggers across the region and in the country not to publish content that is capable of creating disunity among our traditional rulers and the respected traditional institutions.
32. I plead with you all to be measured in your reportage and be cautious in developing content for your various platforms, without heating up the polity.
Thanks for listening. God bless you all.
Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland
Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Amb. Afolabi Olayemi Olaniyi, FEIPA, a Broadcast Journalist with Jamz 100.1 fm delivered below 👇 message
ADEQUATE SECURITY, A TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT
Guest Speaker, Oke-Ibadan 2025.
I salute Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Ibadan Gani Adams.
I also greet all the organizers of this OKE Ibadan 2025.
Culture is a way of life and I am happy Iba Gani Adams, the 15th Aare Onakakanfo is promoting our cultural heritage across Yoruba land.
I will be talking about adequate Security, a tool for development.
When we are talking about the protection of life and property which is the primary duty of any government.
You need to know the population of the country in order to organize for adequate security. Now Nigeria is said to be having over two hundred million citizens with Five hundred thousand police officers.
With this figure, you will see that we don't have enough police officers to protect us because out of five hundred thousand , commercial banks and important personalities will also take security operative for their operations. Nigeria needs at least five million police officers.
Let me use this opportunity to ask Federal Government to recruit more police officers. Also we need Police University across the six geo political zones.
We thank Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams for insisting on having AMOTEKUN when some people kicked against it.
Let me also commend Governor SEYI MAKINDE over his efforts in establishing OYO State AMOTEKUN. AMOTEKUN operatives are trying but we need more recruitment in order to combat security challenges especially herdmen that are disturbing our farmers.
It's when there is peace that investor can invest which brings development
To have adequate Security, we also need regional system as against feeding bottle federalism.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo was able to perform tremendously because of financial independence via regional system of government.
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