By Tunde Oladunjoye
Thousands of people thronged the Aafin Awujale of Ijebu land yesterday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
It was on the occasion of the now renowned annual Ojude Oba Festival, which is used by the Ijebu people at home and abroad to pay homage to the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, two days after the Muslim’s Eid-Kabir Festival, also called Ileya Festival.
The festival which started about 100 years ago, usually features a display of Ijebu culture and tradition. Music, food and drinks are generously provided in the palace frontage and adjourning streets.
Different age groups called “Regberegbe”, bid to outshine one another in their parades of very colorful traditional dresses and dancing steps as they they take turns to march past the eminent royal father, the Special Guest of Honour, which is usually the sitting State Governor; and this year, it was Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The Guest of Honour was Otunba Adebola Adegunwa, a renowned industrialist and philanthropist from Ososa – Ijebu.
Ojude Oba Festival also showcases flamboyant horse riders in different robes performing different stunts with their horses accompanied by releases of gun shots.
It is a festival for everybody, young and old, regardless of religion, status or ethnic origin. It was therefore not surprising that Mrs. Ayanlola Abibat from Ado Odo Ota Local Government was also part of the thousand of people at the festival ground which was as usual, turned into carnival ground. She was for the main time unknown, lowly and unrecognised.
However, what drew immediate attention to Mrs. Ayanlola at this year’s Ojude Oba was that she attended despite being heavily pregnant, and in the course of he festival, she went into labour!
It became an instant call to duty as the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, who was one of the special guests at the annual gathering promptly answered the unusual and history-making call to duty. Dr. Ipaye joined the Ogun State medical ambulance on stand-by at the venue to successfully deliver the woman in labour of a bouncing baby girl.
The mother and the baby were later taken to the General Hospital Ijebu Ode for further care on the directive of the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was present along with his wife.
The young baby girl has been named, and rightly so, as Fathima Adetona Amosun.
Dr Ipaye who visited the State Hospital, Ijebu Ode (as shown in the picture), to deliver a gift from the Governor to the happy family, confirmed that the mother and child are in good condition.
In fact, a new baby has come to pay homage to Alayeluwa Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland.