Since the early eighties, the first week of November of every year has usually been set aside for merry-making, social interaction within, and the invitation of friends of our community to join in marking the annual Esa Oke Day celebrations.
That week has been asterisked in red on the social and traditional calendars of the Esa Oke Community.
Except for the annual Ikedi and Egungun festivals, no other celebrations rival the Esa Oke Day in drawing the sons and daughters of the town, and their friends, both at home and in diaspora to the town. And except for the eight-year hiatus between 2016 and 2023, that week has always been full of one celebratory event or the other.
Fund-raising activities, commissioning of vital infrastructure projects and building of friendship blocks were always on high display.
Last year, 2024, the comatose event was revived by the then newly inaugurated Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye-led Esa Oke Central Union (ECU). It was a grand event. We were all looking forward to an encore this year, 2025.
However, several events affecting our town have unfolded since February 3, 2025, till the last days of October 2025, thus dampening the spirits of many sons and daughters of the town, and pouring cold water on their enthusiasm. Some people have even suggested that this year’s Esa-Oke Day celebrations be cancelled altogether.
However, a decision was made to go ahead with marking and celebrating Esa Oke Day 2025, albeit in a very low-key manner.
Our indefatigable ECU Chairman, Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye, and the Planning Committee Chairman, Elder Paul Fadairo have wisely decided to proceed to celebrate Esa Oke Day, not in any elaborate way that it was done last year.
The celebrations will be confined to the Town Hall and the environs of the Owa Omiran’s Palace.
We equally note that our wonderful sons and daughters at home and abroad have responded magnificently to the appeals of the ECU to contribute to the Esa-Oke Day Appeal Fund.
This magazine salutes them all. Kudos to each one who have contributed to the Fund. We express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to them for their enormous generosity and their passion for the development of our beloved town
However, Esa Oke Today Magazine will counsel that this year’s celebrations, being held on November 8, should be marked in sober reflection, soul-searching, and decision-making.
The Central Union should ruminate on and consider the wisest and most efficient way to utilise the considerable funds generously donated by our compatriots all over the world, added to the funds collected and on hand from last year, which are still not fully expended or disbursed.
The Funds should be devoted, not for celebration, but for utilisation on urgent, necessary and beneficial projects for Esa-Oke.
One of those urgent matters to be considered relates to schools in Esa-Oke. Specifically, the need for adequate numbers of school teachers and the payment of their emoluments.
The Osun State Government, the Obokun Local Government Authorities and the owners of private schools should be contacted to take responsibility and make adequate decisions on the sustainability of their respective schools.
Perhaps some schools need to be merged, amalgamated, phased out or relocated. Needful decisions should be made.
We wish everyone a Happy Esa-Oke Day 2025
Esa a gbe wa o
Editors of ESA-OKE TODAY magazine.