HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OGUN STATE @

This piece was written by a friend  Ozigi Obeitoh to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation Ogun state. Nothing to remove than to add….enjoy it :‘I am proud to be associated with the Ogun people. They are unique and homely. The citadel of western education in Nigeria courtesy of Bash Freeman and Henry Tansel who brought western education to Nigeria through the Egba Kingdom.

Ogun state has notable personalities in Nigeria. The state produced the likes of MKO Abiola whose philanthropic gesture has not been equaled by any, a feat no Nigerian has been able to achieve since his demise in 1998. MKO Abiola was the first Nigerian to have a pan Nigerian mandate on June 12 1993. He was overwhelmingly voted for across all geo political zones in Nigeria. The Biafran secessionists surrendered to an Ogun state man from Owu in egba kingdom (Gen. Obasanjo ) who later became military head of state and a 2 time president after a botched 3rd term bid.

The enormous contribution of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo an Ogun man to western education as premier of western region and Nigeria at large as minister of finance has not been equalled by any be it dead or living. The elderly role he played in conjunction with youthful exuberant of Gen Gowon and never say die of the likes of Gen Muhammadu Shuwa, Gen Muritala Muhammad, Joe Garba, Gen Adekunle and the rest brought an end to a needless civil war that claimed over 3million lives

I begin to wonder that Ogun people have a way of playing a unifying role when there is threat to national unity as such it was not by accident that in the height of national crisis as result of annulment of June 12 presidential election, it was another Ogun man that came to the rescue of Nigeria as the head of interim national government.

In evangelistic and Pentecostal ministry, Ogun state has become host to headquarters of front line churches in Nigeria ranging from Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living faith church, Church of the Lord (Aladura), Celestial Church of God and many more. Even the fiery preacher, a no nonsense preacher, an uncompromising non-conformist to the core and former vice presidential running mate to Gen. Buhari under platform of Congress for progressive Change, Pastor Tunde Bakare is from Ogun state.

In education they stand out as highly revered professor Wole Soyinka, Prof Ishaq Oloyede and Prof. Anthony Asiwaju are from Ogun state.

 Indeed Ogun people are pathfinders and pioneers; they started theater art in Nigeria (Nollywood) through academic contribution of Wole Soyinka, and Hubert Ogunde as a practitioner. In field of art and music, Ogun people are pioneers as Chief Ebenezer Obey almost singlehandedly sold juju music to the world. So also was Fela Anikulapo Kuti shone like a million stars in his Afrobeat brand of music. Ogun is reputed to have produced highest number of Legal practitioners, medical doctors and chartered accountants than any state in Nigeria.

In the field of Accounting and Finance where I belong, those who pioneered the field are Ogun people. The doyen of accounting profession Chief Akintola Williams is from Ogun state. Ogun state has produced more ICAN presidents than any state in Nigeria. Ogun people have a way of putting Nigeria at the Centre stage.

 They produced the 1st chartered Accountant in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams, the first Black African noble prize winner for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka. The state produced the erudite lawyer Chief Rotimi Williams, the first indigenous Chief Justice of the federation, Hon. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola KBE, GCON , the first Nigerian to sit on supreme court bench, Justice Olumuyiwa Jibowu, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first indigenous premier of western Nigeria, MKO Abiola’s reparation struggle brought Nigeria to international limelight on the need for Africa to be compensated for being enslaved by the imperialist. In his opening speech in OAU summit in 1991, he said if Hiroshima and Nagazaki can be compensated over crimes US committed during 2nd war world, Africa and Africans deserve a better deal.

Join me as I say happy birthday to Ogun state @40. God bless Ogun indigenes worldwide, Ogun state and Nigeria.