I am not a man of much literature skills, so, you'll forgive me if my write up this time lacks the usual eloquence you'd expect from people with good or exceptional writing skills.
However, I believe you do not need fancy or complicated words to express the passion one has for the land of one's fathers. There was a time that being an Ijesa person brought some sort of respect. The Ijesa people were known to be hard working, enterprising, tenacious, studious, and very intelligent. We were known for being good initiators, trailblazers and fore-runners in all good things. I cannot deny or confirm if these still apply to us, however, I now notice that lately, my people have in some areas been synonymous with being not very intelligent, joke of the town (cue Baba Ijesa in the Nollywood movies) and very lately hooliganism.
I am writing this as a person who is interested in knowing how we can make the whole Ijesaland a better place. With all this infighting and strife, where does one start from. Ijesaland is so dear to me because it is the land of my parents, and their parents, and their parents' parents. I so love my roots. Isn't it about time something is done about what is going on there?
My first visit to Ilesa, the major city of Ijesaland, was in 1983 when we arrived from the UK. I enjoyed the warmth there, and admittedly, there was much difference between it and Ibadan, where I was based, however, at that time, Ilesa was a very neat and organised city. The IBL was at full function, reaching out to regions beyond the Western Nigeria, we had Strabag not far from my village, a steel company was there too, and wasn't Ilesa so organised then.
From my own personal point of view, nothing much has changed since then. Apart from the proliferation of banks, the infrastructures still remain the same, if not worse, the place has not seen much development since the 'good old days'. Comparing it to her contemporaries (Ibadan & Ogbomoso), it seems we have drawn the short straw. These other places are developing at surprising rates, but it seems we have been left behind in time. I am only partly an Ilesa boy, my dad is from another part of Ijesaland, however, as Ilesa is the bigger city in the region, I see it as the crown of our jewel, reason I referring to it now.
But my issue is not even with Ilesa that much, but with the indigenes of Ijesaland as a whole. What are we doing while our land is being devoured from inside out. The land is being devoured, not just from the outside, but from within ourselves. Shouldn't we be looking for ways to develop our future? Shouldn't we be looking for ways to invest in the youths of the land? Shouldn't we be looking for ways to keep out human resources back at home before all the talents migrate to Ibadan, Lagos and further afield. I was talking to a friend not long ago, and we observed that if care is not taken, Ijesaland could become a deserted land (like the Wild Wild West, with the dry rubble blowing in the wind across the desert, you get my gist) as the young see no reason to stay, and the population is aging rapidly. Shouldn't we concentrate on this, instead of using our best characteristics -intelligence, tenacity and doggedness - against each other, uniting and using it against the world.
Well, as I should be in bed now, I haven't got much to say for now. I will continue another day. But please have this in mind, Ijesaland is for us, let us work towards its progress.
Obokun a gbe wa o
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I thank you for a job well done. I am particularly touched by the tail end of your write-up. I was in Ibokun not long ago and decided to walk the streets visiting those old crumbling houses of friends and relatives. I observed that there were very few young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. There are 2 Secondary Schools within the town and the moment these young boys and girls write their School Certificate, off they go to the urban areas mainly Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and other major cities in pursuance of their education or looking for work. Apart from been the glorious HQ of a Local Government, nothing has changed for several years. How do we address this issue as it is the same everywhere you go in Ijesaland.
ReplyDeleteWell done to have come up with this write-up at this point in time!May God see to
ReplyDeletethat which makes your heart grow fonder!It is of immense concern seeing the decay and
decadence in our used-to-be-glorious land!The solution is not far-fetched! But ,imagine a
community that fails to empower her young ones is at the risk consuming her future just
like a proverbial farmer that eats off his yam set forgetting tomorrow!The Ijesaland of
those enviable years has become a tale!But,I must tell you ,one land cannot be more blessed
than this yet we are now behind so many obscure towns in the west!
We used to be front-liners in all walks of life! Aside,Ekiti people,I make bold to tell you,we have highest number of professors,in my great city ...ERIN-OKE,she parades close to 10
and numerous PHD holders,yet,how has this impacted on the community?The town in particular has produced thereabout 5 ambassadors,1 VC of Premier University,Ibadan, it is just like
legendary snake that crawls on the rock having no traces!Sons and daughters abound in all
industries yet their impacts are not felt at home!Imagine the ijebus that will humourously
described to be stingy will do anything to help their kinsfolks get to a place in life but we have chose to live a secluded life of "as much as I am filled to the brim,I do not know whether someone has not taken his breakfast at night".
In those days ,after a sunny hard labour,a typical ijesaman will call his neighbors in a
loud voice, ushering them to come and have their share of roasted yam when in essence ,they came to their own very farms to work!But,everything has changed now,politicians from this extract are even more callous than their likes in other region.A chat with one of my Uncles
one day while asking him to build a countryhome baffles me,he said ,it is of no economic importance to him!He forgot that,each time,he has any ceremony in town,he uses another man's castle! What if that man is his kind?Look at the Oyo people in Ede,they renovate their ancient building to accommodate their kins and so continue the love that binds them together!
CLARION CALL
This is our Jerusalem!"Nehemiah heard from his brother that Jerusalem, his ancestral home,
was in ruins. With its walls in disarray,Jerusalem had no defense against invaders. It was
no place to make a home. Many of its citizens had moved out.Temple worship could not be
maintained." This is an apt description of our lot!It can
be built by us not strangers,angels from heaven or demons from the woods.God has given us all it takes to assume our rightful place in yorubaland and Nigeria at large!
To be continued!
Continued from above
ReplyDeleteSolution lies in our hands...Those of us who answer the name IJESA, as individuals should
do our part in building the region!Perhaps,you may be wondering how?You do not need all the
money in the world to impart a life,or put a smile on faces of less-priviledged!But,may I
ask you ,since your sojourn at oversea,how has that affected your immediate community?
Until,we all see this the way you see it and accept the moral courage to contribute our
quotas,development in this region will continue to elude us!We are made to be builders,most builders are unable to fix EVERYTHING by themselves.Act well your parts and history will tell!
TEAM SPIRIT
Together Everyone Achieves More.We should see ourselves as one ! A house that divides
against itself cannot stand!The more reason why we cannot take our rightful place in Osun State having six 6 local governments when in essence all the Oyo people in the 18 LGAs
reside in our territory,some farming ,few trading!“None of us is as strong as all of us”.We can be rich individually but may not enjoy it so much as when we are all happy!“A star can win any game. A team can win every game.”
ZEALOTRY
We should be zealous of this land just as Nehemiah was deeply disturbed – he wept, fasted,
and prayed for four months until God communicated to him to go and meet the need of his people.Lo,he was able to save the wall of Jerusalem from falling!Nehemiah kept praying
passionately and serving the Persian King faithfully until one day, the King asked him why
he was sad.Nehemiah boldly asked for a new job. His praying had paid off! God used the
King’s decision–making to send Nehemiah to oversee the building of the walls in Jerusalem,
to give him letters of safe passage, to finance the project and history vindicated him!
FOUNDATION
People whom God had helped in wealth should begin to initiate foundations that are tailored towards solving people's problem,I once heard of one old man from Ilo-Ijesa who reside in the UK ,he would go to hospitals in the UK ,asking them of used medical gadgets and brought it home to his people ,thereby improve the health lot of his people!
Conclusively,I hope there is no limit to what we can do to develop our motherland!Your guess
is as good as mine...will of purpose,zeal,unity,empathy,communal spirit,motivation,etc
My God will continue to bless you in particular and everyone that rises up to this clarion call!
My brothers, thanks for your observations and contributions. As you have rightly said, action must be taken, we should obey the clarion call. I hope everyone else looks into their homes to see how they can do something for the Fatherland.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in knowing what we can do to place Ijesaland in it rightful position. Things cannot continue this way.
There are so much decays that there is nothing done now that will not help in changing the status quo! People should do more of action now rather than unscruplously creating varying groups across the ocean without recourse to how all these will transform an average ijesaman's life back home!
ReplyDeletePolitics though non-partisan,we should be concerned about who represents our interest!
And above ,individually start to touch life in your immediate community,then copiously it will go round like a wild fire!