It is exactly one year today when this woman, Mrs.Bimbo Olalekan’s two children were stolen by a fake tenant in Owo . IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO A couple came to rent a room from you , you collected one year house rent but did not issue them a receipt.You did not even ask for their names or telephone numbers too. They lived in your house joyfully for six days , but on the sixth day the suspected tenant stole your two kids from your wife. You went to all places like Babalawo, Alfaa, Prophets among others while some promised they will still resurface.One year after nothing is heard. Some said she is careless while some said she trusted wrongly and is gullible ? Will you divorce your wife or not?. We want answer from you please. It is exactly one year today when two kids, Blessing and Ayomide whose ages are 2years and eight months; and eight months old baby of Mrs. Bimbo Olalekan were stolen from her house where she was living. .Up till the moment of writing this story the two kids are yet to be found. Now one will be 3years and eight months old and the second will be One year and eights months old wherever they are! Bimbo in an exclusive interview after the incident narrated how it all happened, she stated ”on January 30,2018 a man came looking for a room to rent in our house at 27, Okedogbon Street, Owo;Ondo state. He met my mother who at the initial stage turned down his request saying she needed a man who is married and responsible. The man then left but came back later with a Ghana Must Go bag with a woman he claimed to be his wife.
”The couple was asked to pay 2,000 naira per month but they begged for 1,500 naira and after much pleadings my mother accepted and they paid for one year and that is 18,000 naira. The money was given to my uncle who had no time to issue them a receipt for he was preparing for his baby’s naming ceremony. The new tenants later packed in”.
The statue is gigantic, intimidating, historical and the hero is full of incredible character. What the statue is built upon is as strong as the Warrior himself. Standing by his side one looks like a dwarf. A curious look at the statue one could see amulets leather strings (ifunpa) and gourds (ado) tied on his wrists and legs .
The Warrior is holding animal horns stuffed with some mysterious concoction or substances laced with powerful spiritual words of mysticism called African power (Ase) . His pouch is strapped across his shoulder as he proudly displayed his instruments of war with two hands, they were his weapons :voodo or juju of which the Yoruba would call oogunabenugongo (protruding powerful charm).
His man-mountain statue s is frightening, his words were powerful and wielding the scepter and spiritual authority while his actions were unchallenged able! . His appearance was terrifying as Yoruba would call him the fearsome one (erujeje).
He was one of the powerful Yoruba Warriors in the days of old.
Ankles decorated with charms
He was the most giant man in the land of Ijero- Ekiti.No man born of a woman can look at his face. A lily- livered cannot look at him twice .The Warrior was enfantterrible.
A POWERFUL WARRIOR
According to HRM the Alajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole ,the man called Osirigbongbo was a mysterious and powerful man, he said ” the man called Osirigbongbo was always woken up by beating him with pestle ( omoodo ). His body was full of juju. In war , he depended on his juju and he used bare hands to fight when his enemies were using gun, knives and cutlass as war tools”. He was a combination of mysticism and voodooism. The monarch added ”he was surely the undisputed mighty man tearing his enemies apart with his bare hands in war and then used their tights as weapon (cudgel) in war” .What a terrifying statement!
”And what if Osirigbongbo suddenly appear and challenge defacing him? .God forbid!”
No man has ever been feared or respected or loved more than him in the land. That is the life and times of the man called Osiri Gbo N Gbo
Body decorated with juju
Alajero said ”His contribution to Ijero community can never be forgotten ”. No wonder his giant statue is placed at the centre of the town showing him the recognition, appreciation and love bestowed on him after he had departed centuries ago.
And the name,Osiri Gbo N Gbo with the description of him with the statue’s size surely showed he was what they called .
OSIRI-GBO-N-GBO THE WARRIOR
At the center of the town is a giant statue of one of those who rescued the town( Ijero) from being conquered by enemies.
An educationist and one of the community leaders Joshua Oyewande Olukolade described how Osirigbongbo looked like “the man , Osirigbongbo , according to our forefathers was very, very giant with intimidating figure , and his stature was useful to the town as he used to to help the town from being plundered. Being a warrior , Osirigbongbo was always ready to rescue the town from being taken into captivity”.
Olukolade who is one of the most respectable man in the community and who also serves as the mouthpiece is proud of his community of having such History , he said ” we should appreciate our legends.I love this great town for erecting the statue here to let the unborn children see .”
The monarch described the warrior’s conquests thus “On his war exploits ,Osirigbongbo would go to war without war tools .When he gets to the hottest war zone he would go for his enemies’ leaders, used his bare hands to tear them apart and would use his victims’ torn legs as a baton fighting the war”.
HIS STRANGE FEEDING HABIT
Oba Adewole said” we were told by our forefathers that Osirigbongbo used to eat a morsel with the head of a cow .He was said to have giant muzzle .He ate a morsel of pounded yam with the head of a cow”. Another mind-boggling story from the man -mountain warrior!.
HE ENTERED THE GROUND ALIVE!
Many strange stories were told about him, some said he entered the ground at Oke -Agba where he was born AND did not die , but instructed his townsmen to call upon him when in crisis . He also instructed them to use pestle and beat the spot where he entered the ground three times for him to come out. Unfortunately some mischievous natives cried wolf three times when there was no wolf.They raised false alarm three times and he came out the three times and killed many of them , when he later realised it was a false alarm, it was too late. Seeing the massacre he did, he never came up to rescue them again, Yewande said.
Although the statue is conspicuously located in the center of the town . The location is used as a rallying meeting point and of course where town criers make necessary announcement. One thing is still certain, the statue is revered and when there are problems the man is offered sacrifice to to appease him.
Though the place looked unkempt as some people offer sacrifices under it , paste advertisement papers on it and defaced it , yet it is still honoured and revered and offered sacrifices when the need arises.
There should bea POST NO BILL warning on the fence and the statue should not be defaced.
And what if Osirigbongbo suddenly appear and challenge those defacing him?.
She is hilarious. No dull moment with her .Not many people know her real name as she is only known as E ku Feee. She was rescued by the late Olowo of Owo, Oba Adekola Ogunoye II when she was in trouble
Madam Oluwafunke Samuel ( aka E ku Feee) Looking at her she is simple, but when she opens her mouth to talk one would think she is a comedian and if care is not taken one could break his ribs as she speaks. MY STORY ”My name is Oluwafunke Samuel. I live in Emure Uli, Owo, Ondo State . I always come to the King’s Market (Oja Oba) to sell my E ku Feee . I am in my late 60s. My story is an interesting one .I once had conflict with some market women about 30years ago when the late Oba Adekola Ogunoye II was on the throne”. She continued ” sincerely speaking there was a rule in the market that nobody should sell powdered corn ( elekute) but due to the poverty I found myself I went ahead selling it . It was my grandmother’s business. Some years after her death I was financially down and I had nothing with me . I then decided one day to start the business , and I took her materials , set up the business and started producing and selling it.Though I lived in Emure but always go to Oja Oba ( King’s Market ) where there is market for the product ”, she said , nodding her head.
MY ARREST However she was arrested , she said ”When the market women caught me selling the banned product they arrested me and said I flouted their rule , all my pleadings that I was trying to sustain myself felt into their deaf ears. They asked me to walk -over a local knife and that I must pay a live cock and pay some fine. I walked over the local knife but refused to pay all the fine telling them that I am a Christian and that I know Jesus and did not believe in their Tradition. My product was seized and it became a serious matter ” OBA ADEKOLA OGUNOYE RESCUED ME Madam E ku Fee was talking with all seriousness yet laughing. She said ”I was taken to the palace of Olowo of Owo , Oba Adekola Ogunoye II, who was a no -nonsense man . The Market leaders were all sure and certain that they would win me and get justice . I remember some high caliber of High chiefs and community royal fathers who were present including High Chief Adelanke Ajana the late Chief Priest of the town with some market leaders. INTERROGATION ”When I was interrogated by the late Ajana and Oba Ogunoye and asked what I was selling , I said ”I am not selling powdered corn but selling E ku feee, (Aroma)”. They asked again what I was selling I kept on saying that I was not selling powdered corn but selling E ku feee, they all looked at one another . With confidence and pity I insisted that I was selling E ku feee but not powdered corn. They all burst into laughter. The Monarch then asked them to leave me alone that I was looking for what to eat .Since then they have been calling me E ku feee.That was how the late Monarch, Oba Adekola Ogunoye rescued me, and this I can never forget till my dying day.” HAWKING While hawking her product she said ”I would scream on top of my voice advertising my product that they should come and buy E ku feee, and they would call me to buy. I have used the proceeds from E ku feee to train my children in school in the university ,from the proceeds I have built house and still feeding from it today. CALL ME E KU FEEE Though E ku fee love journalism but said ” they are not well paid . I have an uncle who did it for many years but came home with nothing to show for it .Asked about her E ku feee again, she said ” when I am frying the corn its aroma wafts everywhere, when I ground the corn the aroma wafts everywhere and when I mixed it with palm oil and groundnuts its aroma wafts in the air and everybody will know its E ku feee.Asked what is her response when greeted or hailed as E ku feee, she said ”I will pray for them that A dara fun e, Aye a ye o”( It will be well with you, You will live well). E ku feeee, E ku feeee.
She is hilarious. No dull moment with her .Not many people know her real name as she is only known as E ku Feee. She was rescued by the late Olowo of Owo, Oba Adekola Ogunoye II when she was in trouble
Madam Oluwafunke Samuel ( aka E ku Feee) Looking at her she is simple, but when she opens her mouth to talk one would think she is a comedian and if care is not taken one could break his ribs as she speaks. MY STORY ”My name is Oluwafunke Samuel. I live in Emure Uli, Owo, Ondo State . I always come to the King’s Market (Oja Oba) to sell my E ku Feee . I am in my late 60s. My story is an interesting one .I once had conflict with some market women about 30years ago when the late Oba Adekola Ogunoye II was on the throne”. She continued ” sincerely speaking there was a rule in the market that nobody should sell powdered corn ( elekute) but due to the poverty I found myself I went ahead selling it . It was my grandmother’s business. Some years after her death I was financially down and I had nothing with me . I then decided one day to start the business , and I took her materials , set up the business and started producing and selling it.Though I lived in Emure but always go to Oja Oba ( King’s Market ) where there is market for the product ”, she said , nodding her head.
MY ARREST However she was arrested , she said ”When the market women caught me selling the banned product they arrested me and said I flouted their rule , all my pleadings that I was trying to sustain myself felt into their deaf ears. They asked me to walk -over a local knife and that I must pay a live cock and pay some fine. I walked over the local knife but refused to pay all the fine telling them that I am a Christian and that I know Jesus and did not believe in their Tradition. My product was seized and it became a serious matter ” OBA ADEKOLA OGUNOYE RESCUED ME Madam E ku Fee was talking with all seriousness yet laughing. She said ”I was taken to the palace of Olowo of Owo , Oba Adekola Ogunoye II, who was a no -nonsense man . The Market leaders were all sure and certain that they would win me and get justice . I remember some high caliber of High chiefs and community royal fathers who were present including High Chief Adelanke Ajana the late Chief Priest of the town with some market leaders. INTERROGATION ”When I was interrogated by the late Ajana and Oba Ogunoye and asked what I was selling , I said ”I am not selling powdered corn but selling E ku feee, (Aroma)”. They asked again what I was selling I kept on saying that I was not selling powdered corn but selling E ku feee, they all looked at one another . With confidence and pity I insisted that I was selling E ku feee but not powdered corn. They all burst into laughter. The Monarch then asked them to leave me alone that I was looking for what to eat .Since then they have been calling me E ku feee.That was how the late Monarch, Oba Adekola Ogunoye rescued me, and this I can never forget till my dying day.” HAWKING While hawking her product she said ”I would scream on top of my voice advertising my product that they should come and buy E ku feee, and they would call me to buy. I have used the proceeds from E ku feee to train my children in school in the university ,from the proceeds I have built house and still feeding from it today. CALL ME E KU FEEE Though E ku fee love journalism but said ” they are not well paid . I have an uncle who did it for many years but came home with nothing to show for it .Asked about her E ku feee again, she said ” when I am frying the corn its aroma wafts everywhere, when I ground the corn the aroma wafts everywhere and when I mixed it with palm oil and groundnuts its aroma wafts in the air and everybody will know its E ku feee.Asked what is her response when greeted or hailed as E ku feee, she said ”I will pray for them that A dara fun e, Aye a ye o”( It will be well with you, You will live well). E ku feeee, E ku feeee.
These Chiefs are explaining some points about the sacred stones
CAN YOU COUNT?
Are you a good mathematician or a good Accountant who can count and get an accurate answer to figures? .If you are sure of yourself then don’t be disappointed when you fail this simple arithmetic. If you are very sure of yourself then come to Ijero- Ekiti to make effort and count the number of these stones in the above brick fence,
Outside His Royal Majesty Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole the Alajero of Ijero’s palace is a sacred place where hundreds of stones are neatly kept in a circle and guarded by concrete wall with sharp and pointed irons to protect the stones.
Looking at these stones one may be curious to ask over 1001 questions , ”what importance are these stones?.Are they precious stones?. What are these stones doing here?.Why are they here and for how long have they been here? . What could have been the reason for ”dumping” them here?. Are they gold?”
SACRED STONES
In Ijero -Ekiti this place has become a sacred place thus it has become a Tourist attraction Center . It is sacred . It is kept neat always .Speaking with the monarch , the Alajero of Ijero who doubles as the traditional ruler and head of the community , he said ‘‘ each stone represents a king that had passed away and that is how it has been from time immemorial”, he continued ,” nobody can count the number of the stones and while counting the number of these stones you get confused , and that is mysterious’‘ .
He continued ”If you start counting the stones one, two, three you would miss it and will never be able to finish counting them as you would get confused”.
He continued ”if you go back and start counting again you will get confused no matter how smart or brilliant you are. No man in this town knows the number of the stones deposited here”, he said beating his chest but quickly added ”It is only the Oloris (wives of the Monarch) and the monarch himself that know the number ”.
He explained further as he emphasized on the ”holiness” of the place , he said ”the place is a sacred place and one must not go into the place, or throw things or rubbish into the place, whoever does that would see its repercussion. No one ever tries it”, he said with all seriousness.
A STONE REPRESENTS A DEAD MONARCH
Still on the stones , the king said ”the sacred place where we keep these stones started long time ago when our forefathers were not educated , so whenever a king dies the community would place a stone there”. So if you want to know how many kings that had passed away you will have to count the number of stones there. Despite our civilization , education and modern world we refused to jettison the idea”.
When contacted , Mr. Yewande Joshua Olukolade who is a native of the town with two Master degrees confirmed the story . When reminded that the town is among the few towns in Nigeria who can boast of at least five graduates from each household but still using the stone age method to record their monarchs’ deaths Olukolade disagreed, he said ” it is true we are educated but we cherish our culture and tradition our forefathers left behind.We met them doing it and we shall continue irrespective of our education.
However , the monarch who is a lover of tradition and culture said ”When I pass away too a stone would be placed there, and that would be my own stone”.
These stones represent the number of the departed Kings in Ijero-Ekiti.
(L-R) Olori Ololade Olateru-Olagbegi, Vice President (Prof) Yemi Osinbajo(SAN),His Imperial Majesty Oba DVF Olateru -Olagbegi III (CFR) and the Ondo State Governor ,Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN) These great four legal luminaries were in Owo recently. But do you know they have many things in common.
HIM Oba DVF Olateru-Olagbegi III While the Monarch ,Olowo of Owo Oba (Dr.) D .V.Folagbade Olateru -Olagbegi III (CFR) is a Lawyer and was a lecturer and former Secretary, Council of Legal Education [ NBA]. He was former General Secretary Nigerian Association of Law Teachers. Now a first class traditional ruler in Nigeria .He is the head of Owo community. He is a Christian .He attends The Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG).He does not miss Holy Ghost service which is hold every month along Lagos /Ibadan express way.Our father at his age also has grey hair full of wisdom.He wears cap to cover his head as tradition requires.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) He is a Law professor and he taught for many years . He also holds many chieftaincy titles .He is a staunch Christian. Osinbajo attends The Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) and does not miss the monthly Holy Ghost service along Lagos /Ibadan express way. He has grey hair on his head. He wears his ‘Awo’ cap always which has become his trade mark.
Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) He is a Lawyer. He is said to be once a teacher and he holds many chieftaincy titles too. He is a Christian as he attends church service regularly .He has grey hair on his head. He wears cap possibly to cover his ….head.
Olori Ololade [Yeyesa] Olateru-Olagbegi She is a Lawyer and presently a senior lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba -Akoko, Ondo State. She is the Yeyesa of Olowo of Owo , the highest traditional title for the Monarch’s wife. She is a Christian as she attends The Redeem Christian Church of God(RCCG) and does not miss Holy Ghost service held every month at Lagos /Ibadan express way. She might possibly be growing grey hair but since Olori does not leave her head open. She covers her head as the custom requires. These four legal luminaries are all happily married with children.
The only difference is that Olori is a female. Ogho yi a gbe wa o.
For over 41 years Benjamin Bodunde Akinrinbola [ aka MAPA] has been incommunicado as nobody heard from him again especially from his country home, Owo, Ondo State. Until last week when Taiwo Abiodun ran into him at African Palace Restaurant owned by Mr.Kofo Osun at St. Louis, Missouri,(America.)MAPA spent a few minutes to chat with this reporter.
It is not funny. it is real. He meant it. He is serious. He needs it . He needs a woman now in his life .He wants a kid . He wants to raise a family . He has wasted years struggling to survive . It is not too late for him for God’s time is the best, the saying goes. Forget his age , age has nothing to do with destiny. But MAPA, as he is popularly called is not a prodigal son, he did not waste his father’s resources but struggled with the storm of life.For him life has not been funny at all.
Dressed in his winter coat, he looked at this reporter and could not believe his eyes , he quickly ‘abandoned’ his friends and screamed ‘’Mr. Journalist, Taiwo ,Bobo T, T Bobo, Babalawo of the Nation!’’, he continued calling this reporter on top of his voice to the surprise of all who came to the Restaurant. He was overjoyed , full of hope and bubbling . It was as if he had won a jackpot but when he started narrating his story his face changed, his voice which was raised before became low. His voice cracked and tears almost dropped from his eyes, he said ‘’, I have no wife and I have no child , I need a wife, please find me a wife’’, he said.
Still in the euphoria of joy, he said ‘’ it is nice seeing you after many years . I have lost in touch of you and many people. I have faced hurdles and that is storm of life but I thank God for my life , that is all I can say. For me life has not been rosy neither has it been fair but I believe when there is life there is hope’’, he said, as he took everything in a stoic way.
Reminded that he left home over 40years, he responded with total humility ‘’ Yes it is up to that , my brother the journey had been rough.’’, he said and started his story;
‘’You know that I traveled out of Nigeria and later had a scholarship from the Ondo State government during the late Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin regime [1979] and I went to Russia to study. I spent nine years in Russia . From there I came to America. I am now spending 32years in America. I don’t have a wife or a child. Please I need a wife, I mean a responsible one . I am an American Citizen now please I am looking for a wife, I don’t drink alcohol or smoke’’, he told this reporter. He asked after many people he knew at home, and abroad , he was overjoyed but one thing he hope to do is to get marry now and settle down with a responsible woman.
As he took a picture with this reporter while picking up his food he came to purchase from the African Palace Restaurant. As he was about to enter his car , the snow flakes started dropping, yet he clutched his pack of food by his side , opened the door , waved again to this reporter and drove off.
Many who know the man whose nickname is MAPA at home said he is a very nice , gentle and easy going man. Investigation revealed that he had left Nigeria in the late 70s. He had a scholarship and went to Russia to study .However to find his feet was difficult for him , Back home many had the erroneous thought he may have joined the ‘’Saints’’ as they didn’t hear from him for more than two decades while some thought he may have spiritual problem. But whatever the case may be , here is the popular MAPA, he is alive and kicking, “He is not dead” which many thought to believe.
One thing you can not take away from the man called MAPA is happiness, joy , hope and faith. While others in similar situation will keep quiet,be unfriendly, temperamental and lose hope but not for MAPA.
Up to you ladies and single mothers looking for a husband . MAPA needs a woman to raise a family with before he grows old.
