During my high school days at Odo-Obara, Oke-Oyinbo was a sure place to visit especially when ram sellers from Northern Nigeria are around to sell rams during Ileya period. I also remember vividly how my late uncle, Mr. Razak Kaka will take us to Oke-Oyinbo to drink palmwine whenever he visits Epe. These are the few memories I personally have with the Oke-Oyinbo trees.
Similarly, the old picture of the trees and building as posted by Osifeko Mark Olaniyi, elicited reaction from a facebooker who goes by the name Xman Ola. He xrays the importance and significance of the trees thus:
" I remember paying to enter Lufasi park few years ago and one of their major attraction was a tree called "Vultures nest" or something like that they said it was over 100 years and is home to a wide range of birds. I just smiled and remembered the Okeoyinbo tree and Sungbo tree in Eredo. The tree didn't come close to them in size and history but it was fortunate to be located in a place where it was appreciated ", he said.
One other vital historical significance of the Oke-Oyinbo trees apart from environmental and tourism benefits is the fact that during the early years of mobile communication (GSM) introduced to Nigeria by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, there seemed to be a terrestrial force that alligned with network connections under the tree. The popular call center business of those years thrived under the Oke-Oyinbo trees and it was not uncommon to see residents of the community trooping there from far and near to make phone calls. MTN and ECONET were the two major networks then as calls were charged on a per second billing. This was due to the high rates with which SIM cards, mobile phones and recharge cards were sold. Unfortunately, the trees are gone before our eyes!
As shared by the twitter handle of Lagos Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), one can not help but feel very sad for crass irresponsibility of some of our leaders who have got no foresight in preserving our common heritage and by extension, history.
The colonial building and trees which has been in existence from the colonial era was sadly demolished to pave way for whatever project the perpetrators and conspirators have in mind. Although it is on record that the former Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode halted construction activities on the site, the deeds has already been done! Poor trees!
While it feels great to know that independence celebration was celebrated under the trees of Oke-Oyinbo by Kinsmen from Epe, sadly, this history has been erased for coming generatons.
A post sighted from LASRAB twitter handle noted the significance of the trees to Epe people as regards independence day. It reads:
" Under the famous but now cut off Okeoyinbo tree, Epe people gathered to celebrate the independence.
By Thursday, 29 September 1960, the town had assumed a “never-to-be-forgotten-day look”. They were all anxious for the day.
The Bicycle attached was bought on Independence Day. The message on everybody’s lips was that “yes, indeed, we are free”. The mood of the celebrations was captured in the lyrics of a song by the popular local musician, Ligali Mukaiba.
The opening stanza of the song “Ominira wole de, e je ka jo e je ka yo” meant “finally, independence is here let us rejoice and be happy”.
According to Pa Oluwo, even a deaf man could sense that the atmosphere was unusual.
In the run-up to Independence Day in Epe, the center of attraction was Saint Michael Church, Popo-Oba. The pupils were there to rehearse for the celebration in order to prepare for the great day.
With the commissioning of new roads, people were very excited by the prospect of self-rule.
Excerpts from: Independence in Epe (Nigeria): political divisions leading to a dual celebration by Oluwasegun Mufutau Jimoh".
What would have been a tourist attraction site with huge revenue generation to government is no more. If history were human, this dastardly act would anihiliate it. We can only forgive, we can't forget.
Happy Independence Day fellow Nigerans.
God is still on HIS THRONE and would disgrace all behind it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so painful and so disgusting.