By Emmanuel Onwusoro
For the people of Otun-Ekiti, in Moba local government area of Ekiti State, every December 26, remains sacrosanct annually for the celebration of Otun Day, irrespective of the day of the week the event falls. The 2023 celebration took place on Tuesday, December 26, otherwise known as Boxing Day. The event was also an opportunity to raise funds for the community’s developmental agenda.
The palace of the traditional ruler, The Oore of Otun, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, which occupies a sizeable expanse of land, one can describe as a mini football pitch if improved upon, festooned in the spirit of the season provided a salubrious meeting point. His Royal Highness accompanied by his wife was on hand to receive his subjects who paid homage after a year of “out of sight”. Hence, it was another delightful reunion and sizzling moments.
The sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora kept faith with the day as they turned up in their surfeit to contribute to the quest of taking the ancient town to an enviable sphere. Most of them justified their presence in practical terms with their cash donations. Even those who could not measure up to those with ‘deep pockets’ donated their “widows mite” as low as one thousand naira, an amount the monarch acknowledged with pleasure and advised others not to be ashamed or discouraged by the amount they could afford.
But it was observed that market women who were expected to be part of vital components of those to be in attendance, were scanty, probably because of the economic situation in the country. It became a case of business before pleasure as the women decided to attend to their means of livelihood before honouring the memorable day. No wonder their sitting arrangement in the canopies lacked substantial presence of the womenfolk. But the men, other women in their various classes, youths and guests from far and wide kept the arena animated and businesslike.
It will not be out of place to mention that the community parades the following groups/ associations/ clubs, and they showcase their worth on occasions like this:
-The Dynamic Ladies Club
– The Prime Club
– Pinnacle Club
– Heritage Int. Club
– Club 77
– Egbe Omo Otun, Ado branch
– The Oasis Club
– The Executive Club
– The Patriots Club
– Dynamic Club
– Zenith Club
– Peers Club
– The Great League of Pioneer.
These among other such outfits, and the musical band added colour to make the celebration “tick”.
The royal father of the town, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, urged for unity as a pathway to development. He described the day as a blessing because the sons and daughters had come home to be part of the occasion. According to him,” Our lawyers, our architects, and other professionals in Nigeria and in the diaspora have come to support us for community development. Community development is spiritual. Anybody that supports his/her community will have generational blessings. I appreciate everybody, our sons and daughters. Come home to develop your town for generation yet unborn”.
Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Dr Ayegbuisi Emmanuel Taiwo, said the gathering was a platform to celebrate themselves and plan how to raise funds for the development of the town. He enjoined the people to sustain the Otun day, pointing out that that time was when Otun was under the jurisdiction of Ilorin, Kwara State, but today the story is different.
Dr Ayegbuisi was worried that till date the town cannot boast of a tertiary institution. He advised the youths to embrace technical and medical education that could enable them get jobs without much stress.
President, Egbeomootun-Ekiti, Elder Segun Bankole, said the Executive completed the project of improving the palace of the Oore. Scholarships were awarded to deserving sons and daughters of the town. The executive is in the process of establishing education empowerment fund. The executive facilitated the establishment of the office of the Federal Roads Safety Corps,FRSC. It also spearheaded the processes for the intervention of EKCIDA among other feats.
Bankole, a former Ekiti State Head of Service, equally reminded political office holders of their obligations to the town. He stressed that their being lifted to government circles is to help the community.
The event which had the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Adesanmi Adebayo, as the royal father of the day was well graced by Monarchs from Moba Land, the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, and many other traditional rulers from within and outside the state where Engr. Olayiwola Talor was installed as Chief Atunluto of Otun-Ekiti and his wife, Dr (Mrs) Talor, yeye Atunluto of Otun-Ekiti
