Well before it became this colourful and popular, I had been privy to many Ojude Oba festivals, at least from when I was born till the mid 80s when I last watched it. You wonder how? I am half Ilesa (father side) and half Ijebu-Ode (mother side) and was born in the Ijebu Ode General Hospital where my mum was a nurse.
While we moved to Ibadan when I was maybe two or so, we always came back annually to celebrate Ileya with my late grand mother in Ijebu Ode, and I always watched the colourful Ojude Oba processions. This went on every year till my mid 20s when I stopped.
Ojude Oba is a great cultural display and lately, to put this show together must cost a lot of money. And as a half Ijebu, I have been wondering if all the Regberegbe groups cannot come together and set aside a portion of what it costs to stage this glamorous event and tie to a project that serves and keeps giving service instead of just a display of colours and expensive wears.
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In spite of the number of wealthy and largely educated people Ijebu has produced, their major town Ijebu Ode does not reflect the education and wealth. I should know; I visit the place regularly and was still there a few weeks ago.
Many Ijebu towns and even Ijebu Ode don’t have very good roads. Potable water has always been a big problem in the town and most homes that can afford them patronize the ubiquitous water tankers.
The Ojude Oba Regberegbe groups can decide that in the next 1-5 years we want to fund potable, running water in Ijebu Ode. And if the cost is too high for them, they can approach the government and corporate sponsors to support them in the project.
Or scholarships can be awarded to indigent students in secondary schools and higher institutions, courtesy the Ojude Oba Regberegbe groups. They can identify other relevant projects and commit to them, tying them to their group. 
In my opinion as a proudly half Ijebu son, a town that produced the following eminent sons and families of the soil deserves more than this annual sartorial displays:
- Late Chief Timothy Odutola, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland
- His brother the late Alhaji Odutola
- Late Otunba Subomi Balogun
- Late Chief Bayo Kuku
- Olorogun Dr. Sunny Kuku
- The Otubu family
- The Alatishe family
- The Shote family
- The Osinusi family
- Osinowo family
- Shoye family
And lots more.
It is my humble opinion that investing in these developments by the Ojude Oba Regberegbe groups will add more colour and meaning and value to the annual cultural event, and turn it from an event celebrating sartorial elegance into a more socially relevant contribution towards serving a larger number of Ijebu citizens.
What do you think ẹwẹn ọmọ Ùjẹ̀bú?
Ẹ wẹ so o dede ọmọ Alarẹ!
LA
