Famodun cautions on distortion of Kiriji War Site, Aregbesola eulogises him as loyal party chairman

By Kola Olabisi

Worried by the deliberate distortion of the history of Igbajo by some communities with reference to the authentic site of the Kiriji War which once shook the Yorubaland to its foundation, the eldest son of the late Oba Isaac Adelani Famodun has cautioned against such misinformation of facts of history.

Prince Gboyega Famodun who is the Osun State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC) who stated this at a special reception for the Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday in Igbajo by former Chairman of DHL, Chief Olajide Oyewole, who also doubles as Otun of Igbajoland and Chairman, Igbajo Polytechnic Governing Board said, any attempt by any individual or corporate entity to play down the role of his town during the landmark Kiriji War Site would be resisted.

The Igbajo-born prince said, it was auspicious time for him to talk on the brazen distortion of history of his community as the establishment of Kiriji Memorial High School in his community in 1952 was one of the signs that his community was not a pushover about the totality of efforts of the prosecution of the war and how and where it ended.

He also recalled that it was on record that the former Premier of Western Region, the late S. L. Akintola who became the Are Onakakanfo of Yorubaland could not complete his chieftaincy rites until he came down to Igbajo, the Kiriji War Site, in 1962.

In his words:  "What other reasons do we need to emphasise the importance of my community towards the Kiriji War?  I can't fathom any reason why some communities are now waking up to distort the epoch-making history of my town. It will not work. I won't mention any name.

"Where were they when my town was building the Kiriji Memorial College in 1952?  It is important for us to put  the facts in proper perspective that no other community can snatch the glory of the Kiriji War Site from my town, Igbajo, as it is too late in the day", Famodun said.

The worried Igbajo-born prince who also showed gratitude to the guest of honour, Aregbesola, for providing a local government development authority(lcda) for his community in conjunction with Ireesi, enjoined the Minister to use his power now as a statesman to correct any anomaly about the history of the Kiriji War.

In his own remark, the Interior Minister stated that Igbajo was special to him as his second home, adding that he would also always be willing to contribute his developmental quota to the community as a sign of appreciation.

Aregbesola said, it was on record that Papa Oyewole was one of the elders in Osun who encouraged him in his mission to govern Osun State about 15 years ago.

The minister disclosed that "Baba Oyewole has been hosting me every year since I became the governor. There is no time that I won't honour Baba's invitation as an honorary Igbajo indigene.

"My  prayer for Baba is to prolong his life in good health and accomplished further mission in life", he stated.

Aregbesola was full of gratitude to Prince Famodun, saying he was instrumental to his success story in government as a loyal chairman of the APC from then till date.

Some of the notable Igbajo indigenes at the event are: Chief Inaolaji Aboaba, the Osun State pioneer Head of Service and Secretary to the Government; Mr Gbite Ademikanra, current Executive Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Board;

Barr Segun Oladitan, former Chairman, OSIEC and The Owa -in-Council, Oba and Olori Adeniyi Fashade, The Akeran IV, Prince Kunle Famodun, Hon Sunday Akere, former Information Commissioner in the state and Mr Sola Osungade, a marketing guru.

Dr. Bode Olanipekun, D.G. Ila/Oke-Ila/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency, APC Campaign Committee, Boluwaduro East Administrative local government Chairman, Yinka Falolu, professors, professionals, students, market women/leaders, industrialists of Igbajo extraction were also in attendance.

On the entourage of the minister were his wife, Alhaja Sherifat; state Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Abdulrazak Salinshile; Hon Idowu Korede; Hon Biyi Odunlade; Senator Hussein; Hon Bola Ilori; Engr Salaam and Hon Toogun.

The state APC Director of Publicity, Strategy and Research, Barr Kunle Oyatomi and the Media Consultant to the state party chairman, Kola Olabisi, were also on the entourage of Famodun.