Daily Independent (Lagos)
Austin Oboh
10 July 2009
Lagos — "The usual way to celebrate this kind of thing is to throw a party in which people would come and spray me with lots of money. That is normal, but I have a different idea". This was the explanation of Chief Abdul Fatai Oyeyinka Aremu, Oyegbemi 11, the Ojora of Lagos as he celebrated his fifteenth year on the throne. The idea he referred to was his special way of marking his coronation anniversary. The anniversary of his ascension to the throne of his fathers is the occasion on which Ojora Fatai Aremu has chosen to remember the less privileged in his kingdom.
Recently, the royal father of Ijora celebrated the annual event again in the same manner that has become traditional, during the entire week, churches and mosques selected for this year received power generating sets handed over to them at the Ojora's palace in Ijora Oloye while artisans were rewarded with gifts relevant to their trades. Aged mothers and fathers who came to the palace in a long queue came on royal invitation to thank God Almighty for preserving the life of the Ojora. Thereafter the royal father stood amongst them to receive their petitions as it has been done in the last few years. They were particularly concerned this time about their transport difficulties. Ojora Aremu promised them a brand new bus which he also took the responsibility to provide a driver for as well as fuel regularly. The recipients of this wonderful gift burst into song and prayed for the man who has been a blessing to them in many ways. The best part of this occasion of charity for Ojora Aremu is when he visits the physically-challenged and motherless babies' to cheer them up and support them with finances and materials.
Besides the gift of life and luxury which God has given Ojora Aremu, the royal father has another reason to give thanks to Him that giveth all things. According to him, it has been fifteen years of peace and progress in Ijora, a community which he claims has a vast land which includes part of Olodi-Apapa-Ajegunle and the entire area of Iganmu-Orile, Sari, Coker, Amukoko and environs.
Despite being a home to many settlers from different parts of the country, Ijora has remained a peaceful place where the Hausa-Fulani, the Igbo and ethnic groups of the South South live in very large populations with the indigenous people and Yoruba from other parts of the South West. Harmony is the word that best describes the relationship that has existed amongst all the ethnic groups in Ijora.
Even among sons and daughters of the land, something has happened: whereas there were frequent struggle over inheritance and violence erupting therefrom, today such things are no longer heard of. Ojora Aremu said he called all the families together and let them know why they should end violent struggles amongst themselves: violence is in perpetual war with progress; if the people chose violence, they can just as well forget progress, but if they chose progress, they should not let violence ruin it. They chose progress, and that has remained their choice ever since.
Then came the ruling on the dispute with their neighbours over land; it was a beautiful end of a long struggle that spanned thirty-six years. For this legal victory alone, the anniversary celebration took on a special hue for crown and scythe. The Supreme Court's verdict was a unanimous one: it was delivered in Abuja on Friday, April 3, 2009 through a lead judgement read by Justice George Oguntade. The judgement, according to Ojora Aremu, confirmed the Ojora family's ownership of the entire Iganmu area of Lagos, including Amukoko, Sari-Iganmu, Orile-Iganmu, Coker and the sorounding areas. The Supreme Court's decision upheld those of the Appeal and the Lagos High Courts.
Explaining this year celebration, the royal father said there cannot be no happiness where the poor are neglected. Hear him: "I believe the best way for the rich or any privileged individual to give thanks to God for his blessings, apart from worshipping Him, is to offer fellowship to the poor or the infirm, particularly the aged and physically-challenged members of the society who deserve our genuine care and support. There can never be happiness in any land where abandoned babies do not receive love and tenderness or where the old people and the poor are neglected by those who should care for them.
"This is why I have resolved with my family to make donation and gifts to the needy as the cornerstone of my joy in celebrating whatever blessings the Almighty God has bestowed upon me. I expect to become old by God's Grace and to get the necessary care and support at that time of my life."
Speaking further, Ojora Aremu advised: "If only the rich and privileged would remember that no condition in life is permanent and that today's poor man's child may become the powerful ruler of the land tomorrow, our society would be a better place to live. This is my message to people of my class and those in government."
Indeed, this is living by example. It is also the wish of many Nigerians who have witnessed the betrayal of even those they voted into power turn to tin gods, built palatial residences with high fences to keep away the very people whose kind hearts had altered their lives.
Certainly, they can be no better way to thank God for a year of blessings and victory. Other Nigerians who are similarly blessed may need to find out from Ojora Aremu the joy of giving and living with the satisfaction that wealth is only meaningful when it goes round.
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