The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi.

Ojajuni said the deployment formed part of proactive security measures put in place by the command to guarantee public safety and hitch-free celebration during the annual cultural festival.

According to him, the personnel comprise conventional police officers and tactical teams drawn from the Police Mobile Force, PMF; Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT; Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, and other specialised units.

He added that Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, patrol vehicles, police motorcycles, surveillance teams, undercover operatives, and rapid response squads had also been strategically deployed across Ijebu-Ode and adjoining communities.

He explained that security personnel would be stationed at the Ojude Oba pavilion, major highways, entry and exit points, hotels, worship centres, recreational centres, motor parks, markets, residential areas, and other public locations.

He said that the operation was aimed at ensuring effective crowd control, intelligence-led policing, traffic management, anti-crime patrols, visibility policing, early threat detection, and swift response to security concerns.

The police commissioner noted that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders had been directed to remain on maximum alert and sustain aggressive patrols, strategic stop-and-search operations.

He added that special operational attention had been focused on strategic routes, including the Sagamu Interchange, Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway, Molipa axis, and adjoining communities to prevent criminal activities and traffic obstruction.

He directed officers deployed for the operation to maintain professionalism, civility, and respect for the rights of law-abiding citizens while discharging their duties.

He said the command had strengthened collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders, transport unions, event organisers, and other stakeholders to enhance intelligence gathering and ensure seamless security coordination throughout the festival period.

The police boss warned criminal elements and troublemakers to stay away from the state, stressing the command’s readiness to deal with anyone attempting to disrupt public peace during the celebration.

He appealed to residents, visitors, and festival participants to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and security-conscious throughout the period.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing, public safety, and the protection of lives and property across Ogun state.

Source: NAN

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The Coordinator of the Ojude Oba Festival Committee, Dr Fassy Yusuf, disclosed this on Friday in Abeokuta.

Yusuf said the festival was scheduled to hold on Sunday, in Ijebu-Ode, in honour of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

He described the more than 200-year-old festival as a vital cultural heritage for the Ijebu people and a beacon of Nigeria’s rich traditions.

“The festival is expected to draw Ijebu sons and daughters from across the world, along with tourists and dignitaries eager to witness the vibrant celebration of culture, fashion, and tradition at the Utoro Centre in Ijebu-Ode,” he said.

He noted that the estimated 100 million participants include approximately 200,000 people expected to converge at the main pavilion and surrounding Utoro Centre.

“Additionally, between two and three million attendees are expected across Ijebu towns and other parts of Ogun.

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“Besides the physical turnout, millions more will be watching online through various live streaming platforms globally,” Yusuf said.

Yusuf assured intending participants of  a safe and hitch-free celebration, assuring that comprehensive security measures were being put in place.

“The Nigerian Police, NSCDC, DSS, the military, Amotekun Corps, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, among others, will be fully deployed to prevent any breach of security,” he said.

According to Yusuf, the Ojude Oba Festival is not only a unifying force for the Ijebu people but also boosts local economies and promotes Nigerian culture on the global stage.

“This festival showcases our collective pride, unity, and cultural strength. We will not allow any hoodlums or miscreants to disrupt this landmark event,” he affirmed.

He also expressed appreciation to corporate sponsors and stakeholders for their continuous support, noting that such partnerships reflected shared values of inclusiveness, cultural pride, and national development.

The festival will feature colourful regalia, age-grade (Regberegbe) processions, equestrian displays, and spirited cultural celebrations.

Source: NAN

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The grace of right timing positions the routine as a stroke of genius. Wrong timing often makes a fool of even the best of minds. -Simbo Olorunfemi, 2022

Life can be likened to a horse, galloping on the strength of its own wings, even if it has a way of indulging the rider into running away with the assumption that he is the master of his destiny.

We think that because the reins are in our hands, and we can sit pretty on the back of the horse, we are in control. It only takes a moment for us to realise how much of control that we really have. Full of life, confidently hopping around as we like, life jolts us back to reality with one challenging turn, and then we realise that the reins are not quite in our hands.

Of all that transpired in the public space last month, nothing resonated with me as much as the touching and inspiring story of Farooq Oreagba, who was propelled to fame on the strength of his photograph, which has now become an iconic representation of Ojude Oba, or better still, the definition of ‘steeze’, which we are told, has made a comeback on the back of a fleeting moment frozen by the sense of occasion of a photographer. How one photograph can capture the imagination of so many people that the object in the frame will be instantly catapulted from anonymity onto fame strikes me as a feat akin to a miracle.

Beyond every other thing though, what I found most striking about this is the reminder of how little of control we really have over life, even we like to think we are in control and have the likely outcomes of our actions largely figured out. We think we are the ones riding the horse, while it just might be that, in many cases, it is the horse that is riding us. One moment, all that has been carefully stacked up can come crashing down. On the other hand, one moment, one chance encounter is often all it takes to spin our lives around for good.

For Farooq Oreagba, that photograph not only made him the story of the festival, it has turned him to a celebrity of sorts, even when his life story, up till that moment, was already a compelling one, but for the fact that it was unknown to most of us as at the time. But that photograph of him on the back of horse, in the paraphernalia of steeze, hands tattooed, cigar in mouth, has thrusted him to the spotlight. With that many were forced to go digging, to be confronted by the fascinating story of this Investment Banker.

There is no doubt that Farooq’s story is  much more arresting than a single photograph could  have fully told us, yet that one photograph, a spontaneous shot as it is, captures in one frame his compelling story of courage and defiance in the face of high odds. That photograph offered us a lens though which we were able to see that beyond the steeze is a heart fired up by courage in the face of challenges that would have buried the faint-hearted.

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Nothing about that moment that has captured our imagination was rehearsed or curated, according to Farooq. The choice of the fabric for the day was not his but that of the family. He also was not the only one who rode the horse. Indeed, it wasn’t the first time he was riding a horse for the day. It had long been the tradition for his family and others as well. It couldn’t have been about the cigar. There were others who puffed for effect that same day. But it was him that life carefully curated everything for, arresting the moment for. When the moment has chosen its person, it just has a way of choreographing it, aligning bits and pieces of everything to make the moment what it has purposed it to be.

As I see it, life is ultimately the master, no matter what. The reins might be in our hands, but life has the ace for the race, indulging us as we march along. The reality is, we only hold the reins in trust,  helping nudge the horse in the direction we desire, because, it has made up its mind to let us have the moment.

That a ‘Cancer Survivor’ who actively fought ‘cancer of the bone’ for almost a decade, took to riding the horse, knowing that a fall could come with dire consequences is in itself a statement of courage. Indeed, it is that choice to defy the challenges, live on his own terms, embrace the moment for what it means to him that I find most inspiring about him.

Listening to him talking about how he was on chemotherapy for years, going for treatment every day for 3 weeks in a month, with only a week for the body to rest before another round of 3 weeks, you marvel at his composure  recalling this.  Even as he is conscious of the fact that there is yet a chance of remission, he stands his ground, resolute that he would also deal with that should it come.

How he manages to maintain his composure in the face Every moment is precious, he reminds us. Maintaining a positive frame of mind, keeping hope alive, as long as one is alive. By all means, one must stay in the game, for everything is possible as long as one is in the game.  “No matter how bad it is, there is always somebody who is in a worse situation. Grab what you have, make the most of it,  and leave the rest to the Almighty.”

He reminds us of the fairweather nature of what we tag as ‘friendships’, when they really are not. He tells of how he lost a good number of friends, first, when he left high office and later, with the turn in his health. The point being that  when one’s fortune or health takes a bow, ‘friends’ too get to take a bow.  Such indeed is life.

In my thinking,  there is a higher purpose to  the story of Farooq beyond the steeze. I see that he sees it as such too. There has got to be a reason behind that orchestration  by life to give him that moment and thrust him into our consciousness. I believe it was life again simply being itself. In this instance, life was both a photographer and amplifier.

As I see it, life is ultimately the master, no matter what. The reins might be in our hands, but life has the ace for the race, indulging us as we march along. The reality is, we only hold the reins in trust,  helping nudge the horse in the direction we desire, because, it has made up its mind to let us have the moment.

Life breaks itself into moments for our sake, knowing we can only take so much per time, knowing that whatever challenge or burden we are faced with is  often only for the moment. With patience and perseverance,  those challenges often become stepping stones, paving the path onto more fulfilling platforms.

For reasons I believe to be in our interest, life indulges us with today,  keeping tomorrow away for the moment, for our sake, so we can truly embrace and enjoy the moment for what it truly represents. Life hides tomorrow for us so we can fully enjoy the moment for what it is, without the anxieties of tomorrow intruding.

For me, there is so much more about this moment  than some might think. I believe it has taught us to be ourselves,  be bold with our dreams, irrespective of the challenges that we might face,  take on our horses, do away with our fears and the fear of falling, of failing, embrace our today with confidence and courage, and  ride with steeze. Who knows where the horse might yet take us if we will be bold enough to mount and ride it? Who knows what this moment, or the next one might have in its belly?

*Simbo Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian communications consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise. Email: Editor@enterpriseafrica.ng

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Among the many eye-catching attendees at the Ojude Oba festival this year, Oreagba stole the show.

Clad in a flamboyant green and yellow “Aso-oke Agbada”, he rode majestically on horseback, a photo of which went viral and earned him the title “King of Steeze.”

Obi Asika, Director General of NCAC, made the announcement on his Instagram page, displaying the Certificate of Recognition awarded to Oreagba.

He wrote: “I could not be happier to announce him as an Hon Ambassador for the national council for arts and culture @ncac_nigeria and celebrate him and his boundless energy and spirit.

“He is now the King of Steeze and brought global attention to #OjudeOba the key traditional festival of Ijebu Ode celebrating the Awujale.

“For at least the last decade he has been getting on his horse, dressed in magnificent aso-oke and representing his family and culture.

“We discussed what made this year different and why the reaction; was it the photographer, was it the festival or was it just God’s time? I believe it was just meant to be.

“My brother is a fighter, diagnosed with terminal cancer he has been fighting it for a decade and never been anything but positive.

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“He has been an inspiration to we his friends and now we are sharing him to the world. He represents all that is good about Nigeria, pls celebrate him, a true Nigerian original!

“I know he is braver than almost anyone I know from the way he confronts his pain and has always repped naija since I have known him, Congrats again and thanks for all you do.”

The 2024 Ojude Oba Festival was held recently with its usual glitz, glamour and cultural resonance.

This year, the festival honours Awujale, the king of Ijebu-Ode and celebrates the rich traditions of the Ijebu people, drawing notable figures from near and far.

However, the Ogun State-born Oreagba, stood out for his striking appearance and compelling personal story, as his unique fashion style stole the show.

He inadvertently became ‘the face of the festival’ as he made a grand entrance at the festival on a decorated horse, dressed in a green and lemon “agbada” with a matching cap.

Oreagba exuded elegance and style as he adorned himself with red coral beads, and a gold crossbody chain, with his embolded tattoos, a big tobacco pipe, an Apple wristwatch, and stylish sunglasses.

His pictures and videos have since been trending on social media, as he embodied uncommon elegance and style in showcasing Nigerian culture to the world.

Oreagba, a former Head, Strategy & Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, was in 2014 diagnosed with osteosarcoma and carcinoma, a cancer of the skin and bone marrow.

He had to leave his role at NSE to tend to his health, and after two years of battling the killer disease, until he was declared cancer-free and healthy enough to go back to work.

Oreagba’s stylish and endearing presence at the 2024 Ojude Oba festival clearly portrayed hope, courage and the indefatigable Nigerian spirit.

He is currently the Managing Director and CEO of of NG Clearing.

Source: NAN

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The governor who stated this on Tuesday at the 2024 Ojude Oba Festival held at the Ojude Oba Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, said the annual event has grown from a mere gathering of Ijebu people to felicitate the Awujale to an event that attracts both national and global audience.

According to the governor, the festival, which has become a tourist attraction, symbolizes and reflects the collective unity of the people known for hard work, perseverance, and industry.

He said: “Ojude Oba festival is not only a cultural heritage for the indigenes of Ijebuland but has now become a significant event that attracts local and foreign tourists to Ogun State, showcasing our hospitality and enviable tradition of Ijebuland to the national and global audience.

“This festival serves as a symbol of our unity, tourism and a rallying point to all the Ijebu sons and daughters to celebrate the life and times of our tradition, culture, and revered monarch.

“It has become a catalyst for development of Ijebuland, and this undoubtedly underscores the importance of preserving our traditions for future generations.

“By standing for unity and harmony, we elevate our community and set an example for others to follow. The essence of unity and harmony in Ijebuland can be seen willingly in cultural events like this festival.

“Our administration is deeply committed to supporting the initiative to make it a permanent event in the global tourism industry,” he said.

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The event, Prince Abiodun observed, created opportunities for an advancement which has brought about the socio-economic development not only to the axis but the state as a whole.

While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing interest in expanding the festival, especially with plans to include it in the UNESCO’s world cultural heritage, the governor said his administration was committed to providing the conducive environment for business to thrive.

He said the festival provided an opportunity for the Ijebu people to take stock and project the future.

He called for unity and harmony from people across the state, adding that it was time to work together to build a virile state.

“The state government will continue to create a conducive atmosphere for community development across the state and I solicit the support of the people, especially all the sons and daughters towards the 20th National Sports Festival, Gateway Games, 2024, part of which will be hosted right here in Ijebu-Ode,” the governor concluded.

Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, who was represented by Ben Ugo, Director of Cultural Industry and Heritage, said her ministry was working towards promoting and preserving cultural heritage of President Tinubu’s administration with the creation of economic expansion to the tune of $100bn.

He acknowledged the cultural diversity of Nigerians, noting that the federal government was working towards making the country a cultural hub by the year 2030.

Chairman of the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, appreciated the governor for his support for the festival and the people for turning up enmass to grace the occasion.

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Sanwo-Olu was the special guest of honour.

The palace of Awujale, the paramount traditional ruler of Ijebu kingdom, came alive with ceremonial parades of colourful Aso Ebi.

Indigenes, attired in beaded materials, led processions in batches to pay homage to the king – Alayeluwa Sikiru Adetona.

After the rite, they filed into the Royal Arcade in front of the palace to settle for the elaborate ceremony.

Sanwo-Olu’s entry into the arena literally moved the crowd of revelers into an outburst of excitement, lighting up the event as he stopped at each gallery to greet the Councils of Regberegbe (social clubs of Ijebu descendants).

The Lagos helmsman arrived in company of his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the host governor.

The centuries-old festival has become the heritage of the Ijebu and has its roots in Islamic celebration of Eid-el Adha in which early Muslim reverts in the town converged on the Awujale palace on the third day to feast with the monarch.

The festival did not hold for two years, following the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.

Sanwo-Olu said the Ojude Oba Festival had stayed true to its Islamic roots and had become a unifying occasion for people, regardless of their faiths, tribes and dialects.

Under the reign of Oba Adetona, Lagos Governor said the festival had grown to become a global carnival recognised across the world by people of Yoruba origin.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The Ojude Oba Festival has, for ages, stayed true to its Islamic roots and has also expanded to become a unifying symbol and occasion for people of all faiths, tribes, and tongues; as well as a global celebration of Ijebu heritage and culture.

“We must never lose sight of this unifying element, at a time when the forces of division seem to be working so actively to undermine all that we cherish as a people. Celebrations like Ojude Oba remind us that evil will never triumph over good.”

Sanwo-Olu, who became the third sitting Lagos Governor to be invited to grace the Ojude Oba fiesta, said the festival had become an enduring platform fostering unity.

In the spirit of the unity for which the festival is reputed, Sanwo-Olu urged the entire Yoruba race to forge a common front in support of Tinubu, a Yoruba son and leading presidential candidate in the next year general election.

The governor said the opportunity offered by the APC to Yoruba to produce the next president must not be allowed to slip away, noting that Tinubu had made several sacrifices to keep the Yoruba race relevant in the Nigerian project.

“As Asiwaju famously said, it is the turn of the Yoruba to produce the president. We need not waste this opportunity but to grab it and have our leader, who is a detribalised Nigerian, to lead the country. I urge all sons and daughters of Yoruba to come out in support of Tinubu to realise this ambition,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor pointed out that his presence at the event underscored the partnership between Lagos and Ogun, which led to the establishment of Joint Development Commission in 2021 to collaborate on key areas of mutual benefit and development, while accelerating socio-economic growth for people.

He said: “The peoples of Lagos and Ogun share a long historical and cultural bond, shaped by the same forces and experiences, nourished by the same waterways, and living up to the same Omoluabi standards and ideals.

“The road network linking Ijebu-Ode, Epe and Lekki is yet another concrete manifestation of our collaboration. Ogun State has completed their own stretch, while we will complete our own end this year, opening up new commercial and logistics opportunities in that axis, and positively impacting the lives of our people.”

Governor Abiodun praised Lagos for being a supportive neighbour, as he also used the occasion to admonish the youth against cultism and vices that could dent the image of Ogun State.

On why Sanwo-Olu was specially invited to grace the occasion, Oba Adetona, the 58th Awujale, said the governor had become a shining star in the present class of public officers, distinguishing himself with service-centred leadership.

This, the monarch, said endeared Sanwo-Olu to the citizens beyond the boundaries of Lagos and established his name as a symbol of responsive governance in the country.

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Adetona spoke at the 2019 edition of the Ojude Oba festival at the Awujale Pavillion on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode.

He urged them to ensure that they did abide by whoever emerged as the most qualified to continue the tradition of love and unity in Ijebuland.

The monarch also warned that moneybags who could derail the peace of the town must not be considered for the stool.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the festival, with the theme: “The Uniqueness of Ijebu Nation,” had in attendance Governor Dapo Abiodun as well as former Governors of the state, Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel.

Also present was the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, among other dignitaries.

The Awujale, who noted that death was inevitable, insisted that a proper selection process must be adhered to in choosing his successor to ensure the continuous socio-cultural and economic development of Ijebuland.

He said: “When I eventually go, please go for a capable successor.

“Reject any candidate that will put Ijebuland into retrogression.

“Do not politicise the process of selecting my successor.

“Do not go for people that will draw Ijebu backwards.

“If the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, please reject them and go for the next ruling house with capable candidate.

“Do not go for moneybags that will destroy the achievements Ijebuland has recorded so far.

“My prayer is that Ijebuland will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“God will give you direction when picking my successor; ask God to guide you.”

The monarch also commended the age groups (regberegbe) for their contributions to the successful organisation of the annual event and expressed optimism that the festival would continue to be a model of unity to the nation.

Speaking on the uniqueness of the Ojude Oba festival, Abiodun noted that it had become a unifying traditional festival among the Ijebu and the entire people of Ogun State.

He commended the Awujale for his fatherly role in ensuring peace and unity in his domain and assured that his administration would continue to support activities capable of fostering unity and love among the people.

The governor also reassured the people of Ogun State of his commitment to security of lives and property in the state.

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