Traditional rites, medical outreach, sporting events and youth competitions feature in weeklong celebration

AGO-IWOYE came alive with cultural displays, sporting activities and community development initiatives as indigenes and residents gathered for the 2026 Ago-Iwoye Day celebration.

The weeklong programme, which began on Monday, October 5, brought together indigenes from across Nigeria and the diaspora to celebrate the town’s cultural heritage and promote unity and grassroots development.

The celebration opened with the traditional Woro Plucking Programme at Ojuade Olooto at 7am on Monday. This was followed by intellectual and strategy games at the Ebumawe Palace, where participants competed in chess, draughts, Scrabble and Ayo Olopon.

Health and sports featured prominently on Tuesday, October 6, as residents took part in a medical check-up and eye screening exercise at the Ago-Iwoye City Hall.

At the Ago-Iwoye Stadium, sports enthusiasts watched the table tennis finals and the final of the Quarters Football Competition.

The activities continued on Wednesday, October 7, with the finals of the secondary school football competition for male and female categories at the stadium.

Students returned to the spotlight on Thursday, October 8, for a quiz and debate competition at the City Hall. The academic activities were complemented by a public lecture on sustainable community development and youth empowerment.

On Friday, October 9, the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye led a health walk from the Omoedumare Roundabout at 7am, drawing residents into another activity designed to promote healthy living and community participation.

The day ended with Ebiripo Night at the Imososi Primary School Field, where music, dance and folklore accompanied celebrations around the town’s popular local delicacy.

The grand finale is scheduled for today, Saturday, October 10, at the Imososi Primary School Field, with traditional performances, civic honours and fundraising activities on the programme.

A thanksgiving service at the Methodist Cathedral, Imere, Ago-Iwoye, is expected to bring the celebration to a close on Sunday, October 11.

Speaking on the significance of the event, the Secretary of the Planning Committee, Dr Samuel O. Awobona, said the turnout demonstrated the commitment of indigenes and residents to preserving the town’s identity and advancing its development.

He said, “This weeklong celebration underscores our collective resolve to preserve our identity while driving grassroots development. The massive turnout across all generations reflects the enduring spirit of Ago-Iwoye.”

The annual celebration provides an opportunity for the community to showcase its traditions while bringing residents, young people and indigenes in the diaspora together around shared cultural and developmental goals.

A two-term former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Peter Oyetunji, has resigned from the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), accusing Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration of neglecting Surulere Local Government.

Oyetunji, who represented Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere State Constituency, announced his resignation in a letter dated October 6 and addressed to the state chairman of the party.

The politician and town planner said his decision to leave the party was informed by what he described as unfulfilled promises to members and the absence of meaningful development in his local government.

He consequently asked the party to remove his name from its membership register at the state, local government and ward levels.

In the letter, Oyetunji lamented that Surulere had suffered years of neglect despite the support and loyalty of its people to the party and the governor.

“Within the last seven and a half years, there has been total blackout of meaningful development by the local government and the state government,” he said.

He added that Surulere had experienced “a complete neglect and absence of any meaningful people-oriented developmental project from state government”.

The former lawmaker also faulted the party’s leadership, alleging that it had become characterised by arrogance and deceit, with little regard for internal democracy, transparency and members’ welfare.

He further alleged that loyal and outspoken members who demanded accountability and progress had been subjected to deliberate gang-ups and victimisation.

“There have always been a deliberate gang-up and victimisation of loyal and outspoken members, who seek accountability and progress for the party and the people,” he said.

Explaining his decision to quit, Oyetunji said he could no longer justify remaining in the party after years of what he described as fruitless efforts.

“In view of the above, I can no longer in good conscience continue to remain in the party after eight years of fruitless effort,” he added.

The resignation comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, although Oyetunji did not disclose his next political move in the letter.

Efforts to obtain responses from the party’s leadership and the governor’s office to the allegations were not reflected in the information available for this report.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Dr Olusola Ayandele, has faulted the claim by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, popularly known as Ijaya, that the Allied Peoples Movement controls the political landscape in Ibarapa.

Ayandele described the commissioner’s position as an illusion, insisting that the political strength of any party would ultimately be determined by votes cast during elections, rather than claims made at political gatherings.

He expressed confidence that the APC would secure massive votes across Ibarapa in the 2027 general elections, saying his recent mobilisation activities and those of other party stakeholders reflected growing support for the opposition party in the area.

Speaking on the political situation in the zone, the APC chieftain said the electorate had become more politically conscious and would assess parties and candidates based on their records, credibility and commitment to the people’s welfare.

“Ojo is simply living in an illusion that he has political strength in Ibarapa which he does not have. The era when politicians could deceive the people with empty propaganda and manufactured political structures is gone,” Ayandele said.

He added that the people would not be swayed by what he described as political grandstanding or claims of popularity that had yet to be demonstrated at the grassroots.

Ayandele maintained that his recent political engagement in Ibadan was not a publicity stunt but part of a broader mobilisation effort aimed at strengthening the APC across Ibarapa.

He said more political stakeholders and supporters were identifying with the party, expressing optimism that the development would translate into votes in the next general elections.

The APC chieftain challenged Ojo and the APM leadership to demonstrate their claimed political influence through electoral performance rather than public declarations.

“Political strength will ultimately be measured by votes cast at polling units and not by claims made at political gatherings,” he said.

Ayandele urged APC members and supporters in the area to intensify grassroots mobilisation and remain committed to the party ahead of the elections.

He said the 2027 polls would provide an opportunity for voters to assess the competing parties and decide which candidates they believed could best address their concerns.

“We welcome Ojo to the political contest. Let him continue to make his claims, but 2027 will be the ultimate test. When the votes are counted, the people of Ibarapa will demonstrate clearly where their confidence lies,” he said.

Ayandele also expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the presidential and senatorial contests, saying he expected voters in the zone to support President Bola Tinubu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli and other candidates of the party.

However, his projection of massive APC votes in Ibarapa remains a political claim ahead of the 2027 elections, with the eventual outcome to be determined by voters at the polls.