Sagamu Day At 40: The Glamour, Challenges and Achievements.
By Charles Segun ADEGBITE
The Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo Land, Oba (Dr) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, (CFR) is extremely happy today. Sagamu, the headquarters of his domain is full of peace, funfare and merriment, as indegenes and other residents celebrate the grand finale of the 40th anniversary of Sagamu Day.
The youths engaged in fireworks display that night in different places, where it was suitable for them. The social clubs, age grades, unions and other stakeholders participating in the milestone event, have been painting the town red.
Talk of The Collectives (Oba Akarigbo Ajayi's Club), The Sagamites Club (Asiwaju Onafowokan's Club), Sagamu Club, Sagamu Country Club, Makoff Club of Sagamu and so many others, which made the Saturday a weekend to cherish.
Apparently most joyous of the stakeholders was Hon. Taoreed Adeyiga Awoyemi, who is the President of Sagamu Development Association, since 2019, but have not been able to organize any of the annual festival until this milestone event.
The Ebiripo Fiesta, a celebration of Remo most precious staple food and delicacy, held last night inside the palace premises and Akarigbo Palace Hall, was an event no participant would forget in a hurry.
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THE MUSICIAN
The current King of Apala Music, Alhaji Musiliu Haruna Ishola was the musician who mesmerized the crowd with his captivating musical talent and stage presence.
The Sagamu Day organising committee had intended to invite Pasuma, but he was already booked by for the day. Likewise, efforts to get Bonsue Fuji King, Adewale Ayuba, yielded no desired results as well.
While the Ebiripo Fiesta attracted a costly ticket for the high class people, for the rich in First Category. The Second Category is for low income earners who couldn't afford the price tag for Hall.
However, they were not denied the opportunity of enjoying themselves.
As the SDA President, Hon. Awoyemi put it, "We made provisions outside the Remo Royal Events Center inside Akarigbo palace premises, for those who could not afford the ticket for the Hall to buy the food from Ebiripo vendors who were outside.
"There, they would sit down, buy as much as they could afford, with drinks of their choices, and enjoy themselves. Of course, there would be general musician to play for them there." Hon. Awoyemi told Successful People Magazine, in an interview on Thursday, the eve of Epiripo Night.
CHAIRMAN OF EBIRIPO FIESTA
The event which started by 8pm and was scheduled to continue till dawn, had Elder Victor Ademolu Ogunfowoke, a member of The Collectives, as the Chairman of the Occasion.
VISIT TO ORISAGAMU GROOVE
In the morning of yesterday, October 25, the Akarigbo had led Sagamu people to the Orisagamu Groove for their usual rituals at the place known to be the source of Sagamu name.
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According to history of the town Sagamu ancestors hunting for a permanent place of abode, were wandering in the forest in accordance with the directions of the Oracle until they found a pot-like source of a clear sparkling brook, which was surrounded by beautiful flowering shrubs.
The hunters on expedition then returned to Akarigbo, who had sent them out, to give the report of their findings. The pot-like source of the sparkling brook was named Eri re nwa n'ati inu usha/amu re n'ewa"
"Eri" in Remo dialet means brook or stream. "Usha" or "Amu" is Remo's word for a pot for keeping water. Newa is Remo word for something having beauty.
So, they described the place as A BROOK FLOWING OUT OF A VERY BEAUTIFUL WATER STORING POT. It was from that Eri re nwa n'ati inu usha/amu re n'ewa" .That Eri Usha or Amu N'ewa was coined as Erisaamu Ewa. And, as time went on, the intonation and christening became Orisagamu Ewa, from which the town, "Sagamu" got her name from.
THE CHAIRMAN OF SAGAMU DAY: MR SEGUN OLUWAJI
This Ruby jubilee grand finale holds today also at the palace premises of Akarigbo, Ita Oba, Sagamu; with Mr Segun Festus Oluwaji, a Fellow of ICAN, as the chairman of the occasion.
Oluwaji who is also a member of The Collectives, is mobilizing a lot of captains of industries and top entrepreneurs to the event, to make it a day to remember.
Special Guests Of Honour
Former federal law maker and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 elections in the State, Hon Adebukola Adebutu, is the Special Guest of Honour.
Otunba Seni Adetu is also a Co-Special Guest of Honour at the Red Jubilee.
Of course, the Asiwaju of Remo Kingdom, Chief Solomon Kayode Onafowokan, remains a pillar and foremost contributor to the success of Sagamu Day since he made an indelible marks in 1996 when he brought six governors and the Sultan of Sokoto with the Ooni of Ife to the event when he was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee
A lot of other business magnates are expected at the event, political juggernauts and top professionals are expected at the event.
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Akarigbo's Roles & Contributions
Oba Ajayi was the Chief Host and Grand Royal Father of the Day. And to make the event successful, he personally used his personal connection to make a lot of mobilisation on phone.
"This event must succeed," he said , according to the SDA President.
The Royal Fathers Of The Day
All the traditional rulers in Sagamu Local Government Area are the royal fathers at the red jubilee. They are to give Akarigbo the royal support, even as the members of various age grades, social clubs, artisan associations and other subjects of the monarch would pay homage to the Akarigbo today.
Erected at the Sagamu Express Junction, in Makun, is a billboard with a congratulatory message from Royal Men of Remo land, felicitating with the Akarigbo, Oba Ajayi on the 40th anniversary of Sagamu Day.
The billboard which bears the photograph of the Elepe of Epe kingdom, Oba Adewale Osiberu, and the goodwill message on behalf of other monarchs, depicts their support for the paramount ruler on the Ruby jubilee.
Leading other royal fathers are first class Obas like the Elepe of Epe, Ewusi of Makun and many others.
Purpose of The Anniversary
Hon Awoyemi told Successful People Magazine that, apart from the foundational objective of the anniversary, which is fostering unity among the people of Sagamu, the purpose of this jubilee is to raise funds towards completing the Sagamu Civic Center, located at Oba Erinwole Road, adjacent Sagamites Club House.
Challenges Of The Association & Sagamu Day 2024
Going by the words of Hon. Awoyemi, his Executive Council was inaugurated in 2019. But they soon faced the problem of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 because of the issue of distance and cancellation of mass gathering.
The pandemic thus hindered them from organising Sagamu Day.
In 2022 the Sagamu special youths frequent clashes with one another and the preparation for Akarigbo's 5th Coronation anniversary and 60th birthday in latter part of the year, couldn't allow them to organize the Sagamu anniversary.
The burning of most banks in Nigeria by those youths in early 2023, which affected the economy of the town negatively, made it absolutely difficult to talk of Sagamu Day last year.
The Delay & Oba Ajayi's Efforts
However, the strong determination and relentless efforts of Kabiyesi, our revered Akarigbo, to actualise the dream of Remo Day, which Oba Sonariwo spoke about 10years ago, during the 30th anniversary of Sagamu Day in 2014, led to oversight on the need to organize Sagamu Day this year.
He was preoccupied with preparations for the Remo Day, by travelling to Europe and America in his strategic efforts to foster unity among Remonians in the Diaspora and mobilising them for the event that we make them all come home for the festivities.
So, we couldn't get his attention on time to really have opportunity for discussion on the importance of the Sagamu Day .
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By the time we called his attention towards it and the fact that it will be the 40th anniversary, he quickly gave his blessings. But the time left was short.
It was just about a month ago that we started the preparation.
However, because Baba (Akarigbo) is a kind of person that won't be involved in a thing and allows it to flop, he quickly rose up to the challenges and began to use his goodwill, wisdom and wealth of experience, connections and everything to ensure the program doesn't only hold, but succeed.
SHORT HISTORY OF SAGAMU DAY
In 1980 a group of progressive and vibrant young and middle-aged men in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria who were of Sagamu extractions, mobilised themselves. They came together towards a common goal: the development of Sagamu.
Many of these men and some women who formed social clubs like: The Sagamu Club, Sagamites Club, Sagamu Country Club, MakOff Club, Sagamu Paramount Aces, and so many others, operating in different areas of human endeavors, formed Conference of Social Clubs in Sagamu, CSCS.
MEN OF TREMENDOUS IMPACTS
Worthy of mentioning are notable men like: Mr Sola Oluwole, Mr (Aremo) Taiwo Alimi of Lagos Weekend Television (LWT), Mr (Elder) Bisi Olusesi (of National Theater Lagos) Mr (Asiwaju) Solomon Kayode Onafowokan (of Chellarams in those days) Prince (later Oba Akarigbo) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, Mr (Akogun) Segun Okeowo (of NUNS/NANS fame), Mr Yiga Benson, Mr Dayo Sonuga ( Lagos Chambers of Commerce), Bashorun Adebisi Adesanya (Coca-Cola), Dr (Prof) Olukayode Dada, Engr. Samson Sokoya, Prince (Olotu Omooba) Jas Adekunle, Prince (later Olootu Omooba) Michael Oyedele, and so numerous others, whose outstanding contributions cannot be ignored.
HOW THEY STARTED
The CSCS, under the able leadership of Mr Sola Oluwole, met with the then Akarigbo, late Oba Moses Awolesi, (Erinwole ii), other royal fathers in the town and critical stakeholders.
Their progressive efforts culminated to the organization of the first Sagamu Day in 1984. That epoch making event became a watershed in the fostering of unity and the beginning of Sagamu development.
SUCCESSFUL IMPACTS
The success of that event marked the beginning of an annual events that would soon become a catalyst for convergence of not only social clubs, but age grades and indigenous associations like Egbe Bobakeye Ti Ile Remo, Egbe Omo Ibile Sagamu Ti Festac Town, Lagos, Egbe Aniyikaye Ti Ile Remo, and several others.
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It also had a profound impacts in the mobilisation of artisans and trade unions, Sagamu based non indigenous associations, corporate organizations and other stakeholders towards contributing to the development of the town.
It also marked a significant shift in development of talents and encouragement of youths and students through organization of sports competitions and organization of quiz and debate among secondary schools, as part of the activities in celebration of the annual festival.
NOTABLE EVIDENCE
Worthy of mentioning is the writer of this feature article, Charles Segun Adegbite, who represented Makun High School in the 1985 Debate Competitions organised by the Conference of Social Clubs in Sagamu.
He won the debate in all the schools Makun High School competed with and got awards with Remo Secondary School, RSS, Chief debater at the grand finale of Sagamu Day 1985 at Methodist Comprehensive College, Sagamu.
That opportunity to engage in public speaking encouraged him to study Mass Communication thereafter, which paved the way for his emergence as Protem General Secretary and unopposed election as the National Director of Public Relations of the National Association of Sagamu Students, NASS, during his semi final year as an undergraduate.
The later rewards for the town and CSCS was his membership of Sagamu Day 1996 organising Publicity Sub-Committee, in which he was the PRO/MC for the Sagamu Trade Fair '96.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 40 YEARS
The Conference of Social Clubs in Sagamu metamorphosed into Sagamu Development Association, SDA, and the following achievements have been recorded:
#1 Consolidation of the unity among Sagamu people through intra-communal activities, climaxed yearly by Sagamu Day celebration.
#2 Electrification of the Technical Workshop of Methodist Comprehensive College, Sagamu.
#3 Fencing of Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School grounds, Makun, Sagamu.
#4 Donation of 62-Bed Warr to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu (1986/87).
#5 Survey, Fencing and beautification of land around Orisagamu Ewa Groove, in preparation for the development of the site for tourism.
#6 Donation towards the completion of Ewusi Palace, Makun, Sagamu.
#7 Donations towards the reconstruction of Akarigbo Palace in 2004 and 2008 to 2010.
#8 Acquisition of 2 hectares parcel of land along Oba Awolesi Erinwole ii Bypass, Sagamu, for the development of Sagamu Ultramodern Civic Complex.
#9 Donation of the Pharmacy Building and furniture to Olabisisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu.
#10 Establishment of skills acquisition and development scheme for artisans and technicians.
#11 Inauguration of a Merit Awards scheme Scheme meant to recognize and honour sons, daughters, friends and well-wishers of Sagamu for outstanding contributions to the unity, development and progress of Sagamu, as well as excellence in chosen profession, career or calling.
#12 Active participation in the activities of Sagamu Community Development Council (SCDC) established by late Oba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo.
#13 Construction of Sagamu Civic Center and building it to the roofing stage.
#14 Promotion of Remo Culture and tradition through cultural display of the various games, Egungun and other Masquerades , beating of Gbedu drums, organization of Ebiripo Fiesta, and others that make the anniversary the delight of social and cultural tourists.
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Hon. Adeyiga Awoyemi's Message To Sagamites
"I want to appeal to all stake holders to support finishing the building of the Sagamu Civic Center, so that it can serve the purpose it was intended for, when it was conceived and the project started.
"This will go a long way in bringing joy and sense of fulfillment to all of us and enable us be proud of our town and the people." He added.
FUTURE OF SAGAMU DAY
Ten years ago, on 25th December, 2014, while giving his welcome address at the 30th. Sagamu Day anniversary at Methodist Comprehensive College, Safamu, Ogun State, the then Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba(Dr.) Michael Adeniyi Sagamu said:" In order to inject more spirit of oneness, among Remo people, the ambition is being nursed that we will in the very near future be celebrating Remo Day. When the idea has been properly developed, the so called other Days being celebrated now will give to a united "Remo Day".
To ensure his words doesn't fall into the ground, Oba Sonariwo ensured his published in the Pages 15-16 of the programme booklet of the 30th Sagamu Day anniversary.
Again on Saturday, 31st. October, 2015, while delivering his welcome address at the grand finale of the 31st Sagamu Day celebration, the monarch told Remo Obas and the entire Remonians that the way they came together and gave him all the needed support during his 25th Coronation anniversary, they should sustain the unity and love by coming together for future events and solidarity.
He then prayed that God will sustain the unity and let them grow from strength to strength to carry Remoland to the promised height.
Barely 10 years after he disclosed the intention to start the Remo Day and nine years after he prayed over the good dream, that God will help them, the Remo Day was organized in North America by Remo people in the diaspora.
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