Ogbomoso Parapo: Brief history and all past presidents

Ogbomoso Parapo: Brief history and all past presidents

Femi OGUNLANA

Ogbomoso Parapo was founded in 1912 under the name Ogbomoso Progressive Union (OPU) by Ogbomoso educated elites of the period led by Prof Nathaniel David Oyerinde, the acclaimed first Professor in Africa. The socio-cultural association since inception has been devoted to the progress and development of Ogbomosoland. In 1950, it underwent a name change to Ogbomoso Parapo. It then became Ogbomoso Parapo Federal Council. In 2005 late Chief (Dr) Ladiji Abidemi Gbadamosi CON effected another name change to Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide to reflect the global spread of Ogbomoso sons and daughters. During his tenure, late Mogaji Adisa Adeleye further tinkered with the nomenclature changing it to Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye, by which it’s known today. It is the apex socio-cultural association in Ogbomoso with broad-based membership encompassing all indigenes and wives of the town and with several affiliate societies. It has several zones, home zone and others across the world.

Its most significant achievement is leading the charge for the founding of the first two secondary schools in the town – Ogbomoso Grammar School and Ogbomoso Girls High School in 1952 and 1958 respectively when getting approval for establishment of secondary schools was herculean, like a camel passing through a needle hole. The group also played major role in the establishment of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, just as the provision of building for the yet to take off Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Office Ogbomoso was spearheaded by it. It connected Ogbomoso Girls High School with the national grid after its relocation to its new site at Oke-Anu, following the acquisition of its old site for the establishment of LAUTECH. Ogbomoso Parapo also supplied science equipment to Idi-Araba Community High School. It has its headquarters at the inner recess of Apaake built during the tenure of Mogaji Adisa Adeleye. Also last December a philanthropist Dr Kunle Adegbite founder of Twindad Orphanage Home Ogbomoso, donated a bus to the organisation.

In recent times meanwhile the association is faced with a waning influence due to a number of factors including the alleged overbearing attitude of the immediate past Soun Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR which forced many elites and traditional rulers to stop attending its AGMs and to withdraw active participation. The upper class thus favoured the formation of another organisation, Ogbomoso Community Foundation (OCF), with elite leaning. Incidentally, Oba Oyewumi facilitated the formation of another elitist association, Ogbomosoland Consultative Council (OCC) in the twilight of his reign, to champion specific developmental purposes and projects in the zone especially those requiring exerting influence on the Federal Government. Another factor for its declining clout is the constant allegation of financial misappropriation and lack of transparency in the affairs of the association. Some also cite the penchant for sit-tight syndrome and transmutation of officials including non-performing ones as characterising the executive committee membership. Nonetheless, the organisation has been a blessing to Ogbomoso zone.

Under-listed meanwhile are the past presidents of the association:

1. Pa S. F. George

2. Pa S. O. Ogundipe

3. Chief N. A. Adibi

4. Chief P. O. Onireti

5. Chief I. A. Adelowo

6. Chief S. A. Alayande

7. Iba Adeyemo Abina

8. Chief Olaniyan Farayola

9. Chief Ladiji Gbadamosi

10. Pa J. A. Alabi

11. Mogaji Adisa Adeleye