Borrowing from Rev. Tommy Titcombe, who ensured that all the projects he initiated were carried out through communal efforts, Egbe community never looked back in self-help. It is in the same spirit that the current Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Irukera, Ajaamoto II, upon ascension of throne in 2014 created the Egbe Unity Day (EUD). The EUD, since it debuted in 2015, has come to stay as a once in a year forum, where sons and daughters of the town celebrated their communal developmental achievements. One of the major achievements of the yearly event, with the fourth in the series held recently, is the all-imposing Egbe Central Palace. The EUD is modelled after the yearly Ojude Oba festival of the Ijebus in Ogun State. It is held at the Egbe Central Palace, itself a product of generous donations at previous gatherings. The palace was unveiled two years ago, specifically at the third EUD, located at the centre of the community, which comprises Odo-Egbe and Oke-Egbe as a symbol of unification. Asiwaju of Egbeland, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adeniyi (rtd), who was chief host of EUD 2018, in his address, highlighted the significance of Egbe Central Palace complex as being “a very important innovation” among many others by Oba Irukera that are beneficial to the community, and have helped to solve dichotomies in the community since mounting the Elegbe of Egbe stool.
“The palace has come to stay; it is a beauty to behold. We give God the glory and honour for making the palace a success that it is.”
The east and west wings of the palace complex feature a clinic, library, archives, main reception, committee rooms, royal residence, guest chalet, palace primary school and internal road network, among others. This year’s edition of EUD coincided with the N100m Development Fund, and according to the monarch, the palace project, security and erosion control, among others, form the major focus of our development fund initiative for which I will expect all of us to make generous donations today.
The monarch, who is also chairman of Yagba West Local Government Traditional Council, appreciated members of Egbe community, who have made it a duty to actively participate and contribute towards the community’s development. He congratulated two prominent indigenes honoured with traditional titles and other indigenes and non-indigenes presented with honorary awards at the event. He noted that the awards were in recognition of their personal achievements in their chosen fields of endeavour, as well as contributions to the development of Egbeland over the years.
Chairman of the occasion, a former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Osten Olorunsola, in his speech titled: “Come, Let’s Make Progress Together,” called on sister communities in Yagba and Okunland to build bridges, fuse and make progress together, as little could be achieved individually in a world that has become a global village. He lamented the level of poverty in the area and fallen standard of public schools, which he recalled formed the foundation of many sons and daughters of the area, who today occupy important positions and are successful in their chosen career.
The fallen standard of education, he noted, is worsened by increasing number of uninformed and jobless youths. He explained that the way they stray these days is of great concern. He added: “In fact, it is fast becoming a security issue, since such youths engage in criminal activities, including drug rings, cultism and even terrorism. This is why I think the best place for Yagba people to restart is getting education right again. After all, this used to be our bread and butter. Collectively, we must relive the good old days, when we had quality teachers, fit for purpose curriculum, welfare of teachers and students, infrastructure, ethics and discipline.”
Highlights of 2018 EUD was the conferment of titles of Ariwajoye and Yeye Ariwajoye of Egbeland on a retired General Manager, Planning, Research and Monitoring, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Thomas Adeoye and his wife, Florence Ofie Adeoye. Retired Assistant Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. John Adekunle Akolo was conferred with Omoluabi of Egbeland. Some of the prominent Merit Awards recipients at the event include Dr. William Franklin Graham, elder son of Billy Graham, President and Chief Executive Officer, Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Mr. John Barfield, founder of Texas, US-based Health, Education and Literacy Providers (HELP); The O’Connor Family, Tim and Linda O’Connor and their three daughters, Kelly, Kaitlyn and Brianna; United States-based, Steve Olayemi Sunday Oluokun, Project Manager, Baker Hughes Petroleum and Chemical Company, a subsidiary of General Electric Company; Dr. James Ekundayo Dada, Senior Consultant/Head of Department, Paediatrics and Neonatology in one of the six regional hospitals under the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman, among others.
A City of Refuge for The Last Days
As revealed by God Almighty in a vision to him, Chairman of HELP Africa, a Texas, US-based mission in Nigeria, Mr. Andy Wallace said: “Egbe community will be the City of Refuge to all Jews across the world in preparation for the Last Days and in fulfilment of Numbers Chapter 35.”
This, he further revealed, became the next step after Renewal of the Covenant between God and Egbe Community at the “Antioch Gathering,” an event that culminated in the October 2017 edition of Egbe Unity Day.
The original Egbe Covenant, he noted, was between God and Rev. Tommy Titcombe, who brought Christianity to Egbe in 1908. “The Covenant needed to be renewed as a first step upon which the preparation of Egbe to become the City of Refuge for all Jews would commence.”
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