GRAND COUNCIL OF YORUBA YOUTHS WISHES YORUBA HOME AND ABROAD HAPPY CELEBRATION OF YORUBA NATIONAL DAY OR 134TH KIRIJI WAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
Today, September 23rd, 2020, marks exactly 134th year Anniversary of Kiriji War in Yorubaland.
The Kiriji War or Ekiti – Parapo War lasted for 16 years between the 2 warring Yoruba People in which the sub- ethnic groups pitched their tents either with Ibadan or the Ekiti.
The War broke out of interest of Ibadan to replace the Oyo Empire as the dominant region in Yorubaland or achieve a unified Yoruba Nation similar to that of the Oyo Empire while the Ekiti preffered a loose Confederation of Cities that had been in existence in the Ekiti Regional axis.
During the war, the Ibadan, were led by the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Obadeke Latosa, the military Generallismo, who had the support of People of Modakeke, Offa and Oyo while the Ekiti Parapo led by Fabunmi from Oke-Mesi, and later supported by Saraibi Ogedengbe, the Balogun of Ijesaland, were aided by Soilders from Ijebu, Ife, Egba, Akoko, Igbomina, Ilorin and Kabba.
The war came to an end on 23rd September 1886 which marked the beginning of unification of Yorubaland as One United Tribe through the signing of the peace accord among the warring factions in the presence of the British Colonialists.
Therefore, September 23 annually was adopted as Yoruba National day celebration by a well attended Yoruba Congress in the past at Cultural Center, Ibadan.
It has become our tradition that annual editions of the Yoruba Youth Leadership Summit are organised to discuss various topical issues as well as to honour and celebrate the Role Models within and outside the Yorubaland for their unique contributions to the development of the Yoruba Nation with beautifully carved Ori Odu’a (Ori Olokun) Award during the annual lecture, Southwest Secondary Schools’ debate, Arts Exhibition, Interactive Session, Cultural Dance Competition, Fashion Parade, Yoruba Quiz Competition, Ijala, Ewi, Ekun Iyawo, Ludo Game and other Cultural activities to revive our cultural heritage.
The last year edition was hosted by Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State at Nelson Mandela Freedom Square, Osogbo, Osun State.
It has always been a gathering of YORUBA Elders’, Youths’, and Students’ Organisations as well as notable friends of Yoruba from other Regions since we started in 2001 both at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and Cultural Centre, Ibadan. It was a week long event with the Late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Hon (Justice) Adewale Thompson as the Secretary, Yoruba Council of Elders, Prof Bolanle Awe, Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe State, Prof O. O. Akinkungbe, Oloye Lekan Alabi, Dr Olu Agunloye, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Rt (Hon) Olorumbe Mamora, Hon Speaker of Lagos State; General Buba Marwa (Rtd), Ambassador Segun Olusola, Alhaji Ayandepo, Hon Oladosu Oladipo, Alhaji Kayode Adekojo, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi and other key individuals in attendance.
The 2012 edition paraded Hon Biyi Odunlade, Representing Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse III, was represented by Oba Adebolu Fatunmise and Oba Adeoye Ademakinwa, Representative of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; Prof (Mrs) Bolanle Awe, Comrade Moshood Erubami, Chief Dipo Gbenro, Dr L.M Ajaiyeoba, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin, Oloye Lekan Alabi representing Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland; Alhaji Kayode Adekojo, the Representative of Prof Felicia Adetoun Ogunseye, the 1st female Prof in Nigeria; Amb. Olu Otunla and several other important personalities from various States apart from Youths’ and Students’ Organisations across Yorubaland.
The 2013/2014 held in Osun State while Lagos State hosted 2015, 2016, and 2018 editions all of these featured Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, HRH Oba (Architect) Adedapo Aderemi, Alayemore of Ido – Osun, Osun State, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Representatives of both Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Prof Wole Soyinka; Otunba Dele Ajomale, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, Chief (Mrs) Ameringun and Chief (Mrs) Asindemade, Iyaloja General of Ibadan and Iyaloja General of Osun State respectively, both as Representatives of Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu Ojo, Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede (JMK), Mrs Sola Yussuf, the Owner of Yoruba Gbode, a Private Yoruba Radio Station in America, Mr Wole Aina of Atayese Group among others.
Apart from the names mentioned above, our Awardees also included Chief Bisi Akande, Lt (Gen) Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, while the Posthumous Awards had been bestowed on Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Lam Adeshina.
We decided to celebrate this year’s edition with this Press Release only, in order to keep to the COVID – 19 Protocols recommended by the Federal and State Governments.
We wish all Yoruba Sons and Daughters, home and abroad, Happy celebration. Odu’a a gbe wa o!
Comrade Awa Bamiji
Aare Apapo (President General)
Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths)
