What is now known in Esa-Oke as the Indigenes Home and in Diaspora forum has been a long-time dream of some development-oriented youths since their secondary school days. However, they had to wait until September of 2023, years after their graduation, to actualize the dream of forming a united, all-embracing association that would accommodate a broad-spectrum of Esa-Oke indigenes both at home and in the Diaspora, irrespective of their status.
In September 2023, the four musketeers – Mr. Diti Awodiran, Mrs. Titi Folarin, Mr. Bode Ekundayo, and Dr. Jimi Dada Odudu – who were apparently disenchanted with various developments in the community decided to form the association, that has been in incubation since about 20 years ago. Although age was not on their side, they wanted to give their developmental drive a trial. These four young patriots, therefore, created a platform to drive home their dream. Today, the rest is history. The platform now accommodates virtually all the notable figures and the downtrodden in the Esa-Oke community.
As at date, the platform accommodates 800 members, with the four musketeers continuously expanding the scope of the movement by adding more indigenes, both at home and in the Diaspora. There are also branches of the association in North America and Canada, where Esa-Oke development is always on the front burner.
The four patriots who formed the association provided the background to the formation: the aims, objectives, rules and regulations. These are presented verbatim as follows:
Background statement
This is a group of Esa-oke indigenes (Home and Abroad). This group is nonpolitical and nonreligious. It is a social group that intends to connect with all Esa oke indigenes irrespective of status and class.
Aims and objectives
- To connect with all Esa Oke indigenes on the globe for the advancement of the prospects of the town and the realization of the goals and dreams of our founding Fathers and past heroes.
- To network with all indigenes all over the world and show concern for their development and welfare.
- To assist where and when necessary with the needs of members.
- To rally around all members irrespective of social status and assist where and when necessary.
- Planning, promotion, and execution of all programs that will assist the quality of life of all Esa Oke indigenes irrespective of class, standing, and potential.
Rules Guiding Platform Activities and Engagements:
- Relevant posts and content only.
- Respect for all fellow platform members.
- All forms of argument should be discouraged.
- No stalking of platform members.
- No excessive self-promotion.
- Quality, not Quantity.
- Punitive measures to be taken against erring members, not limited to warning in the first instance and subsequent suspension from the platform.
These guidelines shall from time to time be reviewed as deemed fit by the admins.
As time goes by, the membership of EIHD continuously increases as it is the umbrella body for indigenes of Esa-Oke and in the Diaspora. The thinking of the four patriots and those added earlier was that it would be difficult for them to realize their objective of providing a developmental vehicle for Esa-Oke to arrive at Jerusalem (Esa-Oke). As a result of this, they were adding people to the platform indiscriminately, even when they were not informed.
According to Mr. Diti Awodiran and Mr. Busuyi Jayerura, the thinking in the group was that “We need to carry other groups and associations within the community along.” This made them get in touch with some members of these other groups, if Esa-Oke development and progress were the major objective of EIHD. This brought them to contact Honorable Siji Olamiju, a formidable politician in the community and a philanthropist and patriot extraordinaire, and Otunba Akin Adaramola.
Professor Abiodun-Oni, a professor of political science, and Mrs. Omolola Agunbiade, a retired Director of Education in Lagos State, were the foremost active members of the Admins who were meeting to chart a course for Esa-Oke development. The following were the admins of the platform:
- Professor Michael Abiodun-Oni
- Jimi Dada
- Bode Ekundayo
- TPL Ayo Adediran
- Charles Adaramola
- Diti Awodiran
- Honorable Siji Olamiju
- Otunba Yinusa Bamgboye
- Adeniyi Adesuyi
- Ahmed Bamgboye
- Funmbi Kehinde
- Gbenga Aregbesola
- Titilayo Folarin
- Agba Akin
- Gbenga Abiona
- Ogunsiji Damisi
- Kayode Ojiro
- Oluwole Timothy
- Owolabi M.
- Olamiju Paul
The EIHD had contemplated a plan to hold a Town Hall meeting in January 2023 during the Easter period in Esa-Oke. The arrangement had been concluded, but however, the confirmed rumor that some courses in Osun State College of Technology were planned on being taken away to a neighboring community, Obokun, angered the Esa-Oke Indigenes Home and in Diaspora, and the decision was later rescinded.
Although the desire of the EIHD members and administrators to get the support of other associations and groups was not successful, with the support of the Owa Omiran in council, Chief Dosu Fatokun, Asiwaju of Esa-Oke, the meeting went ahead, and today, history has been made that youths can be useful and visionary if given the opportunity in a democratic society like ours.
The agenda for the town hall meeting are presented below:
The Esa Oke Indigenes Home and in Diaspora has released the agenda for the March 30 Town Hall Meeting held in Esa Oke Town Hall.
The proposed agenda, which is open to further suggestions, includes:
- Bringing back Esa Oke Central Union. The modalities for this will be released soon.
- Esa Oke Day Celebrations. The group believes this is overdue, and we must do everything possible to bring it back this year.
- Esa Oke Palace matters. The Town Hall meeting will address some of these issues openly and some on camera with Owa-Omiran in the Council.
- The meeting will address the epileptic power electrification supply in our community. NEPA has been invited to give us a low down.
- The meeting will address the educational issues of our children. Hiring of quality teachers in our schools. The meeting will also discuss the support and sponsorship of exams (WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations of our children). Our people in the diaspora have requested data to enable them to have the facts to work with in this regard. Meanwhile, a seasoned educationist and former Director of Education in Lagos State who is a member of the Planning Committee of the Town Hall Meeting, Mrs. Omolola Agunbiade, has been mandated to work on this.
- The meeting will address the issue of the banking facility in Esa Oke. To this end, all sons and daughters must be armed with their BIVN and other banking requirements to ensure that we open accounts with NISRAL Bank. This Bank must not be allowed to go by way of Polaris.
- Revival of our traditions and cultural heritage to boast tourism in our community. The Planning states that we need to discuss how we can revive our cultural activities from different quarters. These include specific celebrations of Oro Omo Owa, Ege, and Idasu. The meeting will address how we can modernize our age-long-liked traditions.
- The group thanks our teeming youth in the community and the meeting will spell out their roles in the development and progress of Esa Oke. We salute our youth and the need for incorporating our teeming Esa-Oke youths into activities in the town under the coordination of the Loogun of Esa Oke.
- The Town will address the issue of the relationship between the Esa-Oke Community and our Tertiary Institutions: OSCOTECH and Adonis. We need to be protective of these institutions and their students. The Meeting has invited the Artisans in the Community to discuss this and other sundry matters.
- We also need to revisit the OSCOTECH issue and ensure that the institution is retained in Esa Oke.
We call on every Esa Oke Indigene home and in the diaspora that this group represents to come forward to be part of the Town Hall meeting. No single group can solve the problem of Esa Oke; the more groups aspiring to develop Esa Oke, the better.
The official language at the Town Hall meeting will be Yoruba, Ijesha, and Esa Oke.
Today, Esa-Oke Indigenes Home and in the Diaspora are not likely to forget these young, dynamic patriots who risked blackmail to set Esa-Oke on the path of development. Most of the agenda set as contained above are being realized even within six months of the emergence of Esa-Oke Central Union, which was the first item on the agenda of the Town Hall meeting.