THIS year's Sagamu Day was classic. A clear difference from the previous ones, one every descendant of Remo was proud of, and which drew commendation and applause for the organisers-Sagamu Development Association(SDA), from the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo kingdom, Oba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo(Erinjugbo II).The nine days event was a collection of varieties which included various sporting events, essay competition, beauty pageant, the merit award ceremony, the sacrificial visit and worship at the Orisagamu-Ewa grove, Ebiripo night and the grand rally held at the Methodist Comprehensive College, Sagamu .The uniqueness of the 2011 edition of the day was a call on all the natives of Sagamu by the Akarigbo to unite in developing the entire kingdom. The highlight of this year's celebration was the corporate and individual awards given to deserving personalities, the resurgence of Ebiripo night as well as the grand rally on Saturday, 29th October, 2011.At the merit award held at the Remo Presidential pavilion, Hotel De Eskay, Sagamu, five individuals were awarded, with a corporate plaque going to Lafarge Cement-WAPCO Nigeria Plc. Those who were awarded included Oba Adewale Osiberu, the Elepe of Epe, Sagamu-Sagamu Distinguished Royal Father Award; Otunba Lawal Solarin-Sagamu Distinguished Citizen Award; Princess Iyabode Oorebowale Odulate-Yusuf-Sagamu Distinguished Citizen Award; Chief Oluwole Sodipe-Sagamu Distinguished Merit Award and Late David Adekunle Olaiya Adeniji,retired deputy commissioner of police who bagged a Post Humous Award.On Friday, the Erinjugbo II, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo, Oba Sir(Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, led other traditionalists to offer sacrifice to the Orisagamu Ewa (which means God erects a pot of beauty by a cooling stream)grove.The Orisagamu Ewa, according to history, was located in 1869 by the then Akarigbo, Oba Igimisoje.Yearly, the reigning Akarigbo and Alase orisa of Sagamu, Chief Ayoola Oderinde, lead other followers to the shrine to appease the gods. On return, the group assemble in front of Akarigbo's palace while various cultural groups pay homage to all the royal fathers from Sagamu Local Government. And later in the night, the Ebiripo night was held at the Ansar-Udeen compound Makun, Sagamu.The memory of 2011 Ebiripo night will continue to linger in the minds of all who attended the all-night event. With music from the Honey Voices led by Seun Aransiola, the delicacy night proved to be better and well attended than the previous year's. The SDA also appreciated some personalities who were described by the chairman, Ebiripo Festival sub-committee, Mrs F. Sosanwo, as 'people who have contributed immensely to the progress and development of Sagamu irrespective of their origin.'In all, four people were honoured. They included Captain Oluwole Jikiemi, Adewale Ayuba, Alhaji Lamidi Dele Tajudeen and the Divisional Police Officer, Sagamu, Superintendent Shehu Alao.While appreciating the guests, Mrs Sosanwo said the essence of the delicacy night was to generate fund for the development of Sagamu community. And while doing that, apart from the fact that one of the honoraries had bankrolled the expenses, a plate of Ebiripo which normally sells for between N20 and N50 with assorted meat and other varieties were sold on ticket prices ranging from N250-N500-N1,000 to N1,500 depending on the package.The band stand intermittently sang the tunes of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey's miliki sound and King Sunny Ade's juju music.It was the gathering of who's who in Sagamu. From the Akarigbo himself and other at the grand rally royal fathers from Sagamu Local Government, the caretaker chairman of Sagamu Local Government Honourable Olufemi Felix Kafaru, the chairman of the day,the vice president Afenifere (USA), Prince Adebayo Ogunmeno, Mr Tunde Ajayi who led other members of his club- The Collectives, participating clubs, societies, associations including cultural groups to celebrate the grand finale of the 2011 anniversary.Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun was represented by the state's commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipupo, while the Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Surajudeen Adekunbi, also led other political office holders to the occasion.The state governor urged the entire Sagamu community to allow peace to reign in their domain, adding that it is only in a conducive environment that development could take place. The governor urged people to assess the development of Sagamu and Remoland in general and approach the cooperative approach in the development of their environment.'We must all understand that government alone cannot provide all that we need. We need to come together in the spirit of community cooperative to develop our environment. I believe it is by this that an American Economist, Francis Yokohama said 'virtually all economic activities cannot be by an individual but by a high degree of cooperation. I enjoined all to institute the spirit of cooperation among ourselves because our culture supports it.'In his address, the Akarigbo of Remo,Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, charged all sons and daughters of Sagamu to improve on the legacy left behind by their forefathers.He enjoined them to double their support in seeing that the aims and objectives of the founding fathers materialised in earnest.In his own speech, the president of Sagamu Development Association (SDA), Mr Folu Akodu said, 'Sagamu needs federal presence. The Sagamu-Ikorodu road which is the only direct link with the farmlands, as well as Sotubo, Ogijo, Iraye, Ikorodu etc has totally collapsed. It is impassable and has cut-off most of the rural areas where farm products abound from the city. The road is now a pitiable sight to behold and requires very urgent rehabilitation.'Speaking with journalists at the end of the programme, the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, commended the organisers of the event for the successful outing of this year's event and described this year's edition as a far cry from the previous editions. He said 'the unique thing about this year's edition is that we were able to sensitise our people from every section and towns across the globe on the importance of Sagamu Day celebration unlike before. This is a very unique opportunity, people came from the US,UK and all other countries of the world. It is a welcome development which I cherish a lot.'We're now united and committed on a common front because if these people were not committed they won't come. We encourage them to show interest in what we're doing and I'm very happy that they have done so,' the kabiyesi said.
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