MEMORY LANE: In 2002, Hon Bimpe Martins as chairperson renovated Ogunlola Hall – it earned her Soun’s commendation
Femi OGUNLANA
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The Ogunlola Hall, Oja’gbo, Ogbomoso, was commissioned in 1963 by the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. It was built through communal effort via Ogbomoso local government. It was a major accomplishment as people now had a bigger auditorium for gatherings especially to discuss issues affecting the community. It wonderfully has been serving the purpose among which is the annual Ogbomoso Parapo general meeting (AGM) every December 26. It is usually a gathering of Ogbomoso people to discuss their town, review the outgoing year and chart new path for progress. It has also hosted a lot of political bigwigs who use its arcade to propagate their political ideologies and canvass for votes. In the same manner several programmes are held there. It has become an important theatre of dreams, a monument that upholds the lofty ideal of Ogbomoso. Such utterances as ”Town Hall,” “I am going to Town Hall,” usually provokes a sensation feeling and sense of pride.
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Between 1963 and 2002, it naturally suffered decay, however, in 2002, Hon. (Mrs.) Bimpe Martins as caretaker chairperson of Ogbomoso North local government, under whose purview it falls, decided to give it a lift when she executed a wide renovation of the edifice. “It is our symbol of unity, of strength, it is our centre of dream. I decided to renovate it when I noticed it had become weathered by the elements. That is why we committed resources to its rehabilitation. We were happy about the feat.”
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But not only her and her team were consumed in happiness but the generality of the people of Ogbomoso, encapsulated in the Soun’s speech at that year’s Ogbomoso Parapo AGM. The then Soun, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagbungbade III, JP, CON, CFR, in his speech at the well-attended event, commended Mrs. Martins effusively describing the feat as “Incredible. You have accomplished what your predecessors failed to accomplish. We appreciate you.” The commendation was received with much applause in the hall that day.
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During the tenure of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the structure received further boost as a major redesigning was effected – the roof was replaced with modern sheets, repainting carried out, modern ceilings were fixed and so on. But about ten years after, the roof and the ceilings have caved in. Many have attributed the development to low quality job, thus calling for the probe of the contractor and the supervisors of the project.
Since the hall suffered such fate meanwhile no official statement had been issued on its repair either by the state government or local government, not to talk of lifting a pin to rehabilitate it. The times are bad.
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It is hoped the incumbent helmsman, an executive chairman for that mater, Hon George Ogunlade, will demonstrate his resourcefulness by getting the hall fixed in earnest, especially before December 26, when another Ogbomoso Parapo AGM will hold.
