19 reasons Ogbomoso deserves capital city status

19 reasons Ogbomoso deserves capital city status

By Femi OGUNLANA

Creation of new states is ever an issue in the front burner in Nigeria. Every community desires to be made a state and especially to be created the capital city of a new state. The reason is not far-fetched – development and unlocking of unlimited opportunities. As the National Assembly untethered the train for possible creation of new states, different communities’ associations and groups are busy carving and submitting memoranda to make case for their aspirations. The people of Ogbomoso in Oyo state aren’t left out in this venture. The people have always strove to attain the status of state capital for their domain. The opportunity was missed at different times in the past but hope remains high and faith remains strong because it has iron cast justification for its demand in view of its antecedent as well as contemporaneous issues. In the light of this we look at nineteen reasons Ogbomoso is ideal as capital of a state.

1. HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND TRADITION

On this basis only few towns can rival Ogbomoso. Historically, militarily, culturally, and what have you, Ogbomoso is unsurpassed by many. It needs be emphasized that Ogbomoso is one of the earliest urban centres in Nigeria, evidenced in all pre-independence administrative maps of Nigeria and as such is the most cosmopolitan city after Ibadan in Oyo state, a good condition for a state capital.

2. INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES

Infrastructurally, after Ibadan in Oyo state, no other town can flaunt what Ogbomoso can put on the table. Road network, electricity, water, health facilities including two teaching hospitals, a state hospital, a federal health centre, primary health care centres and numerous private hospitals etc. It has a Police Area Command headquarters with several Divisional Police headquarters. Several top hotels also are on ground. As it has Federal Road Safety Corps Zonal headquarters, DSS offices, Civil Defence offices, High Courts, Fire Service, industrial estate, GRAs (both federal and state), thriving markets, stadia, several radio and television stations etc.

3. GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD AND MASSIVE LAND AREA

With its five local governments boasting massive lands for expansion it’s ideal for a state capital.

4. HUMAN CAPITAL

One of the factors that has always given Ogbomoso an edge is availability of human assets. It’s a town with resourceful people contributing meaningfully to national development in different spheres.

5. REPUTABLE THRIVING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Ogbomoso is home to the first degree awarding tertiary institution in Nigeria. The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary NBTS awarded degree in 1950, two years after University of Ibadan was established. The institution is now awarding PhD and elevating academics to the cadre of professorship. Also, the city boasts a university – LAUTECH, a polytechnic – Federal Polytechnic Ayede, a college of education – Best Legacy College of Education, college of nursing – Bowen Baptist College of Nursing and Midwifery, a federal monothecnic – National Academy of Cultural Studies, NACUS – is set to start in September, and two Colleges of Health Sciences. Moreover, it has two teaching hospitals, a status it shares with only Lagos. It boasts several public and private secondary schools including federal and state government owned foundational schools like the Federal Government College (co-educational), Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Government Technical College, Nigeria Police Secondary School, Nigeria Police Primary School, School of Science among others.

6. ORIGIN OF SAMUEL LADOKE AKINTOLA, BENJAMIN ADEKUNLE BLACK SCORPION, SHITTU ALAO, SUNDAY ADEWUSI, IBRAHIM TAIWO, OLADAYO POPOOLA, DANIEL AKINTONDE, OLAWALE IGE, ALAO AKALA, AYO ADESEUN, MULIKA AKANDE-ADEOLA, FATAI BUHARI, SUNDAY DARE, ZACH ADEDEJI, ETC

When you talk of men who gained national prominence and some who became national heroes those few names above who hailed from Ogbomoso will ring. Their contributions to Nigeria’s evolution deserves to be rewarded.

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7. HOME OF SEVEN AARE ONA KAKANFOS (SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE YORUBA ARMY)

The Yoruba nation thrived for centuries till now due to its military might. This army was led by the Aare Ona Kakanfo (Supreme Commander or Generalissimo). 15 have been produced of which seven came from Ogbomoso. These are Adeta (Jabata), Oku (Jabata), Oyaibi (Ajase), Toyeje (Ogbomoso metropolis), Edun Opele (Igbogun) Aburumaku (Ogbomoso metropolis) and Akintola (Ogbomoso metropolis). There was also Osi Kakanfo (Deputy Commander) – Fagbohun from Jabata. And there was Jogioro (Ogbomoso metropolis) who was also said to have been appointed Kakanfo. These are apart numerous able military commanders who were the foundation of preservation of Yoruba territorial integrity and Nigeria by extension. Balogun Ibikunle (reputed as greatest Balogun Ibadan produced), Bashorun Ogunmola of Ibadan, Aare Kurumi of Ijaye, Babalola of Ibadan, and others all had their roots in Ogbomoso. Thus, Ogbomoso’s contributions to the evolution of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole is humongous, and so, creating it a state capital will be repaying merit service.

8. ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXCELLENCE THAT WILL AID FINANCIAL STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF NEW STATE

Ogbomoso people from the ages are renowned for commerce, trade and industry, and are entrepreneurs, scattered all across the globe. It’s a hub of innovations and industries. The general economic downturn provoked a slump but in recent years under the push of its present monarch the Soun Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, a rebirth is surging. Therefore, it will have the wherewithal to sustain a state.

9. BASTION OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD MARKETING

Food-wise, Ogbomoso produces in adequate quantity and quality, and is a flourishing market for foodstuffs, for domestic use and export. Its globally sought after cashew nuts and mangoes, cassava and other crop produce can be tapped into to stimulate a state basking in self-sufficiency and prosperity.

10. STRATEGIC LOCATION

Its location on the vital major trunk A road linking the North and Southwest Nigeria is an advantage. Closeness to Ibadan, Ilorin and Osogbo, all state capitals, puts it ahead. It sits roughly equidistant from these cities, thus, it can leverage on immense opportunities of these “senior capital cities.” Furthermore, with good connecting roads, it’s easily accessible by towns lying to its west and south such as Iseyin, Igbeti, Igboho, Okeho, Saki, Oyo and so on.

11. PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

The three religions – Christianity, Islam and ATR – coexist peacefully in Ogbomoso. Religious crisis is alien to her. Communal violence is never its feature. Likewise, inter-ethnic, inter-tribal or sectarian clashes never had a place in her, underscoring her accommodative and understanding nature and tolerance. It’s a perfect example of a plural society, which a state capital entails.

12. CONCENTRATION OF CLASSICAL KINGDOMS AND OBAS

When you seek the most ancient kingdoms and kings, come to Ogbomoso. No other region has such concentration. Olugbon, Aresa, Onikoyi are popular in folk songs, Alajaawa, Onpetu, Alapa, Oko Oranmiyan and many others now have their homes in Ogbomoso. This is a further show of the significant contributions of Ogbomoso to the evolution of Nigeria.

13. POPULATION

It has a large population, in fact, the 1963 population census put it at number three in Nigeria. This is a population it has sustained.

14. POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

In view of the avalanche of political juggernauts that have come out of the famed “Land of Valiants,” efficiency and effectiveness in political leadership will not be found wanting. It has the experience having produced Premier of a Region and Governors (military and civilian) of important states aside federal ministers.

15. VIABILITY

An aggregation and consideration of the above factors will convince a state with Ogbomoso as capital city will be viable. It is indeed long overdue in terms of abundance of resources it harbours. In terms of human, capital, land, agricultural, economic, inter-communal harmony, political, traditional, experience, and infrastructural advantages among others, it’s far and above competitors.

16. DIVERGENCE IN TWO SENATORIAL DISTRICTS

Its five local governments are spread in two senatorial districts. That is a testament to its versatility and importance. And that is a proof of diverse experience that will be brought to bear in running a new state.

17. NEARNESS TO ILORIN AIRPORT

Ogbomoso is just about 25 minutes drive to the Ilorin Airport, this is an added advantage for prompt travels.

18. POLITICAL BALANCING

Ogbomoso losing the capital city status will make it liable to political domination which will breed lots of illwill and constant strife in the proposed new Oyo state. It has five local governments whereas Oyo and Oke-Ogun zones, the two other components have fourteen and with Oyo exercising consenting authority over the Oke-Ogun towns, will make Ogbomoso vulnerable to marginalisation. This won’t augur well for the new state. Because Asaba was considered ahead of the bigger towns of Warri and Sapele, as capital of Delta State, the state enjoys relative peace with concomitant development today. This was the case in Osun state also when Ile-Ife and Ilesha were left in preference for Osogbo, this has ensured peace. Similarly in Jigawa state, the larger Hadejia was sidelined for Dutse.

19. A CITY SO BLESSED

Ogbomoso is a blessed city, that never moved from its ancestral home. This implies it has unlimited capacity to rise to every challenge. When the chips are down it always steps up in an incredible manner.

FINAL SNAPSHOT

If Ibadan state is excised as envisaged on the grounds of correctness and morality, no other town is more qualified and appropriate than Ogbomoso to become the capital city of Oyo state. Justice, history, relevance, buoyancy, fairness interest, yes, all indices, support this aspiration.

NO DOUBT OGBOMOSO DESERVES TRANSFORMATION INTO A CAPITAL CITY.

Note: The article has been edited to include the seventh Aare Ona Kakanfo Edun Opele from Igbogun, Ogbomoso