Igarra, the administrative headquarters of Akoko Edo Local
Government area in Edo State, came alive recently as its paramount
chief, High Chief Joseph Mayaki Akpeji, the Otu of Igarra, celebrated
his 40th coronation anniversary.The event was successful in spite of
efforts to stop it from some quarters. Governor Oshiomhole, who was the
Special Guest of Honour, was out of the country during the weekend that
it held. But the Police Commissioner, Mr. Folorunsho Adebanjo, deployed
over 50 anti-riot men to the community to maintain law and order. This
was sequel to a petition, titled: Threat to peace and order in Igarra,
ostensibly to stop the anniversary.
The palace of the Otu had sent a letter of notification of
celebration and police protection to the security agencies. The letter
reads in part: “I hereby write to notify your good office on the coming
celebration of 81st birthday and 40th coronation ceremony of the Otu of
Igarra, the traditional Head of Anona clan of Igarra in Akoko Edo Local
Government Area of Edo State.”
“The said celebration comes up on July 27, 2013 at Anona House, Otu Palace, situated at Omokhide Street, off Momodu Ajayi Road, Ugbogbo Quarters, Igarra.”
The organising committee for the event had also invited a group of government functionaries such as the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, his Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Senator Representing Edo North, Senator Domingo Obende and his counterpart in the House of Representatives representing Akoko Edo, Comrade Peter Akpatason, among others.
But, in a twist of event, news filtered into town that the event has been put on hold. The rumour spread like an uncontrollable wildfire in the harmattan.
The ceremony, organized partly to unify heads of clans of the Igarra community: High Chief S.A. Aiyede, JP, the Oshidu of Igarra and head of Ezidowo clan; High Chief J.A. Sani, the Oshemi-Anayinmi of Igarra and head of Eshimozoko clan; High Chief G.O. Ojo, the Oshimdase of Igarra and head of Anoyete clan, and High Chief J.M. Akpeji, the Otu of Igarra and head of Anona clan were all invited to the celebration.
In spite of the false alarm raised by the petition, the event was peaceful. On that day, the atmosphere was friendly and clement. Nature was kind and bore witness to the yearly celebration. Dignitaries poured into Igarra. Sirens blared. Rustic gunshots fired intermittently into the air. Several shapes and colours of posh cars slid noiselessly into the venue with dignitaries who sauntered into the hands of cultural troupes on display. It was a blend of culture, tradition and royalty.
In his address, the Otu said: “It is with sincere gratitude to God Almighty, that I give this address which to me is a most privileged and honoured one considering this August gathering. This year marked the 40th year of my installation as the Otu of Igarra. Today has been specially set aside to celebrate and honour God for His mercies upon me, the Anona Clan and the entire Etunu Communities.
“I would like to appreciate the presence of what I will call the conscience of Igarra, as they have all laboured tenaciously to see to the peace and stability for which Igarra is noted for. I greet the most esteemed persons of the Otaru of Igarra, the Oshidu of Igarra, the Oshemdse Ooreyin of Igarra, the Oshemi Onayinmi of Igarra, all others family heads of Igarra and others on whom the responsibility of keeping the community together lies.
“I thank all the entire Etuno communities for the great love and affection that
I have received from all and sundry. I am greatly overwhelmed by your presence and I believe that God in his infinite mercy will be with all of you.”
In a citation, a veteran journalist, Alhaji Usman Abudah, said: “Until the lions have their own historians, history will always glorify the hunter…” said the Nigerian world acclaimed writer and poet, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe. High Chief J. M. Akpeji (JP) is celebrating his 81st birthday and the 40th Anniversary of his installation as the Head of Anona clan in Igarra community. A double celebration it is and the attendance by the crop of personalities here present testifies to his entitlement and we join him to give thanks to the Almighty.
“The Otu of Igarra was born in January 1932 in Igarra to Chief Akpeji Alonge of Anona clan and Madam Mary Akpeji of Andede family. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School Igarra (1945 – 1949), Holy Cross Catholic School, Okene, Kogi State (1950 – 1951), and City Commercial College, Lagos, among others.
“He was a Member, Midwestern Regional Scholarship Board, Benin City (1962 – 1964), He stepped into business and was proprietor, New Era Commercial College, Igarra, (1962 – 1964. He was Supervisory Councillor (Finance) Akoko-Edo Local Government Council (1979 – 1982.)
“He was proprietor, Akoko Edo Comprehensive College, Igarra (1983 – 2002.) And he was initiated into the Eshovo Age Group in 1969, took the Ipoje title in 1971 and was installed as the Otu of Igarra (Traditional Head of the Anona Clan) on May 22, 1973.
Former President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Workers and now member, House of Representatives, Comrade Peter Akpatason chaired the occasion, while the council chairman, Hon. Folorunsho Akerejola, was the host. They justified their mandate and proved their worthiness as true sons of Akoko Edo land.
To ascribe importance and lend credence to the ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who represented Governor Oshiomhole at a function in Lagos State on the said day, was represented by two top government functionaries – the Deputy Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Steven Idehenre and an Executive Director in Government House, Barrister Richard Ofenmu.
Chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister MacDonald Obasuki also honoured the Otu of Igarra with their presence.
“The said celebration comes up on July 27, 2013 at Anona House, Otu Palace, situated at Omokhide Street, off Momodu Ajayi Road, Ugbogbo Quarters, Igarra.”
The organising committee for the event had also invited a group of government functionaries such as the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, his Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Senator Representing Edo North, Senator Domingo Obende and his counterpart in the House of Representatives representing Akoko Edo, Comrade Peter Akpatason, among others.
But, in a twist of event, news filtered into town that the event has been put on hold. The rumour spread like an uncontrollable wildfire in the harmattan.
The ceremony, organized partly to unify heads of clans of the Igarra community: High Chief S.A. Aiyede, JP, the Oshidu of Igarra and head of Ezidowo clan; High Chief J.A. Sani, the Oshemi-Anayinmi of Igarra and head of Eshimozoko clan; High Chief G.O. Ojo, the Oshimdase of Igarra and head of Anoyete clan, and High Chief J.M. Akpeji, the Otu of Igarra and head of Anona clan were all invited to the celebration.
In spite of the false alarm raised by the petition, the event was peaceful. On that day, the atmosphere was friendly and clement. Nature was kind and bore witness to the yearly celebration. Dignitaries poured into Igarra. Sirens blared. Rustic gunshots fired intermittently into the air. Several shapes and colours of posh cars slid noiselessly into the venue with dignitaries who sauntered into the hands of cultural troupes on display. It was a blend of culture, tradition and royalty.
In his address, the Otu said: “It is with sincere gratitude to God Almighty, that I give this address which to me is a most privileged and honoured one considering this August gathering. This year marked the 40th year of my installation as the Otu of Igarra. Today has been specially set aside to celebrate and honour God for His mercies upon me, the Anona Clan and the entire Etunu Communities.
“I would like to appreciate the presence of what I will call the conscience of Igarra, as they have all laboured tenaciously to see to the peace and stability for which Igarra is noted for. I greet the most esteemed persons of the Otaru of Igarra, the Oshidu of Igarra, the Oshemdse Ooreyin of Igarra, the Oshemi Onayinmi of Igarra, all others family heads of Igarra and others on whom the responsibility of keeping the community together lies.
“I thank all the entire Etuno communities for the great love and affection that
I have received from all and sundry. I am greatly overwhelmed by your presence and I believe that God in his infinite mercy will be with all of you.”
In a citation, a veteran journalist, Alhaji Usman Abudah, said: “Until the lions have their own historians, history will always glorify the hunter…” said the Nigerian world acclaimed writer and poet, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe. High Chief J. M. Akpeji (JP) is celebrating his 81st birthday and the 40th Anniversary of his installation as the Head of Anona clan in Igarra community. A double celebration it is and the attendance by the crop of personalities here present testifies to his entitlement and we join him to give thanks to the Almighty.
“The Otu of Igarra was born in January 1932 in Igarra to Chief Akpeji Alonge of Anona clan and Madam Mary Akpeji of Andede family. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School Igarra (1945 – 1949), Holy Cross Catholic School, Okene, Kogi State (1950 – 1951), and City Commercial College, Lagos, among others.
“He was a Member, Midwestern Regional Scholarship Board, Benin City (1962 – 1964), He stepped into business and was proprietor, New Era Commercial College, Igarra, (1962 – 1964. He was Supervisory Councillor (Finance) Akoko-Edo Local Government Council (1979 – 1982.)
“He was proprietor, Akoko Edo Comprehensive College, Igarra (1983 – 2002.) And he was initiated into the Eshovo Age Group in 1969, took the Ipoje title in 1971 and was installed as the Otu of Igarra (Traditional Head of the Anona Clan) on May 22, 1973.
Former President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Workers and now member, House of Representatives, Comrade Peter Akpatason chaired the occasion, while the council chairman, Hon. Folorunsho Akerejola, was the host. They justified their mandate and proved their worthiness as true sons of Akoko Edo land.
To ascribe importance and lend credence to the ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who represented Governor Oshiomhole at a function in Lagos State on the said day, was represented by two top government functionaries – the Deputy Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Steven Idehenre and an Executive Director in Government House, Barrister Richard Ofenmu.
Chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister MacDonald Obasuki also honoured the Otu of Igarra with their presence.
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