SPEECH FROM THE THRONE OF THE OSEMAWE AND PARAMOUNT RULER OF ONDO KINGDOM, HRM, OBA DR. VICTOR ADESIMBO KILADEJO CFR, JILO III TO ONDO SONS AND DAUGHTERS, FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS ON THE EKIMOGUN DAY CELEBRATION TODAY, 2ND DECEMBER, 2017
PROTOCOL
It gladdens my heart to welcome you all to this joyous and purposeful annual event tagged “Ekimogun Day”. This year’s celebration is unique and historic as it marks the 30th Anniversary of the creation of our community Day. We give glory to God Almighty and congratulate ourselves for the journey so far, but more importantly, I commend and congratulate the founding fathers of this red-letter-day for their vision and foresight. I doubt if they ever expected that the annual event would grow this far both in scope and in attendance. I therefore praise them for their wisdom and appreciate the Ondo Development Committee for positioning the annual event along the path of irreversible progress. There is no denying the fact that Ekimogun Day has come to stay and it remains one remarkable and glorious transferable legacy from one generation to the other. The annual Ekimogun Day Celebration kicked off in 1988 with the primary aim of raising funds for the development of the Kingdom and also for the re-union of all Ondo Sons and Daughters, friends and associates. It is therefore apt to take stock of our achievements annually.
ONDO CITY VISION
Over the years, we have striven to make Ondo Community an example in self help and a pace-setter in virtually all fields of endeavour. To the glory of God, we have to a large extent been successful as we have advanced a communal ethos that continues to motivate us to take our fortunes in our own hands and seek to improve the condition and circumstances of our community in particular and its people at large. By His grace, Ondo Town was proclaimed a City during the 2015 Ekimogun Day Celebration. Right from the conception of the City Vision, the Ondo Development Committee was saddled with the responsibility of engaging in projects that would complement the image of a modern city. In this regard, communication was perceived to be critical to the transformation of Ondo town to City status, hence the establishment of EKI 100.9 FM Radio Station. I am glad to state here today that the Eki Fm. Radio station is 100% owned by the Ondo Community. Given the quality, reach, variety and richness of its programmes, it is perceived by its listeners to be one of the best stations in the southwest geopolitical zone. I therefore commend the Management of the Radio Station for a job well done.
ONDO INNER CITY GATES
The three Monumental City Gates at the entrances of Ondo Inner City are nearing completion. In this regard, I wish to seize this opportunity once again, to thank Mr. & Mrs. Steve Akinretoye, the family of Late Dr. Victor Oloyede Awosika and members of Ondo Club 75 for their philanthropic gesture. May God continue to bless each and every one of you.
UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, ONDO
I wish to once again appreciate His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, for his wonderful contribution to the development of Ondo Kingdom. The University of Medical Sciences is fast becoming a citadel of academic excellence which all Ondo indigenes must support. I passionately appeal to individuals, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to endeavour to sustain the vision and mission behind this monumental legacy. Let me also register my profound gratitude to our amiable incumbent Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for standing out among his peers as somebody who has good intentions for development, progress and transformation. This has shown the stuff he is made of as a leader who has a flair for educational transformation, not only for Ondo Kingdom but also the State at large. His readiness to build on the strong foundation laid in UNIMED is a testimony to his sincerity of purpose and desire for the radical improvement on what he met on ground. The Ondos appreciate you and we look forward to giant strides in the sustenance of excellence in the University.
Your Excellency, we appreciate you and look forward to further cordial relationship between you and our people in this Kingdom. We wish to show our brimless deep appreciation to you once again.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COURT
Recently, we inaugurated a special Court which was named “Osemawe Customary Arbitration and Mediation Court” as part of efforts to ensure that peace continues to reign among our people. The Court is principally for civil cases and some of its benefits are: Speedy resolution of disputes, reduction in judicial expenses, restoration of good relationship, and increase in voluntary compliance to resolutions. Judges were drawn from members of the Community with impeccable character and immense experience in culture and tradition, law, education, counseling, etc. It is hoped that our people will take advantage of this laudable initiative.
SELF HELP PROJECTS
For our communal growth and well-being, we must endeavour to embark on self-help projects for Ondo people. Government cannot do it alone. The newly erected “Sasere Court” at Odotu by High Chief Johnson Olusola Adeduro and the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences Building donated by Chief I. F. Akintade are testimonies of such patriotism and Philanthropic gesture which well-meaning Ondo sons and daughters should emulate and for which we thank the donors immensely.
SECURITY CHALLENGES
We recently witnessed some security challenges in Ondo Kingdom. However, a lot of security steps and activities were immediately put in place in conjunction with security agencies and traditionalists to checkmate the nefarious activities of the anti-social groups for which the State Government actually commended our efforts. We are happy that there is relative peace in the entire Ondo Kingdom today. Thus the Kingdom is adjudged to be one of the most peaceful Kingdoms in Nigeria.
2018 PROJECTION
It has become a norm and even customary for us to have a future projection for the development and radical transformation of our great Kingdom. By the special grace of God, the coming year 2018 is not going to be an exception. Our vision for the coming year is classic as it has economic values to the growth and development of not only Ondo Kingdom but also for the state and the country at large.
As Ondo electronic market is presently leading similar markets in the southwest, the idea is to open up an Electronics Village at Igba, along the express road linking Ondo to both the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, where all electronic materials would be marketed, repaired and serviced. All shops that deal with electronics in the city would be relocated to this village. The benefits are numerous and advantageous. It will open up business advantages and create job opportunities to our people. It will also add to the aesthetic beauty of the Community. Above all, it will become a hub of social and economic activities. We intend to collaborate with all stake holders to achieve this laudable goal.
SAD MOMENT
We had a star that shone bright in our firmament. We asked him to lead our Ondo Development Committee and he justified that immense trust with dignity, energy and creativity. In his time as the Chairman of Ondo Development Committee, the Eki FM Radio came into existence. So also was a major improvement attained in the power supply to this Oba Adesanoye Civic Centre and the refurbishment of our redundant boreholes for water supply to the Community. On behalf of all Ondos, I thank late Otunba Lomafe Noah Fadayomi post-humorously for his immense contributions to our fatherland. I have directed that the entire length of the street where he situated his massive family house be named after him.
CLOSING REMARKS
As we look ahead to the coming year 2018, let us continue to show love as usual to one another and to strangers in our midst, let us be law abiding, let us see the issue of security as a collective responsibility and equally strive towards participating in communal efforts aimed at enhancing modern and remarkable developments in Ondo Kingdom. I wish you all journey mercies to your respective destination.
A s’eyi s’amodun…
Aigho a gbe wa dede o
His Royal Majesty,
Oba Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo CFR,
BSc. (Hons.); MB.ChB; DRH; FAGP, Hon D.Sc; Hon. LL.D.
The Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom.
2018 LEGACY PROJECT – ELECTRONIC VILLAGE
- Legacy of developmental projects has always been the characteristic that stands Ondo people out
- Trade blazer – in infrastructural development
- Electronic Village at Igba
- Express road linking Ondo to both the northern and the southern part of Nigeria
- Ondo Electronic Market is presently leading similar market in the southwest
- We are to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve our goal.