Ondo 2024 Guber Election: God Will Choose For Us – Chief Ifedayo Ajayi
Chief Francis Ifedayo Ajayi is the Owagboye of Akure land. He spoke with Ayodele Ologunola on some national issues. Excerpts
What is the meaning of Owagboye?
Owagboye is the name of the Chieftaincy title that we inherited from our family. It’s our family that was normally installed for the title. I was installed as Owagboye of Akure land by the Deji’s of Akure a few years ago to head Solagbade quarters in Akure. I am the representative of Deji’s at Solagbade. If anything happens in the area, I report to Kabiyesi.
What have been your achievements since you were installed as the Owagboye?
We have made a lot of achievements in every area, especially in the area of peace. The quarters have witnessed peace. As I said before, I am the representative of Kabiyesi and whatever that happens, we give him the feedback.
Do you face any challenges?
We face a lot of challenges but we thank God for being with us.
Akure normally said, “Fresh heads and dry heads are gathered together”. You can see what our societies have turned to, as our youth did not want to work. What they are after is to get quick money. They have turned themselves into drug addicts. All this is causing problems in society. If you asked some of them what are they doing for a living, they couldn’t tell you the specific jobs they were doing. They constitute themselves to be lost in the community. These are the biggest challenges but God is helping us to solve them.
What do you think our government should do to empower our youths?
Our government has a lot to do. Any nation that fails to develop or empower its youths is doomed. Also, some of our graduates of today passed through schools but schools didn’t pass through them. Some can’t defend the certificate they have. It is not necessary that after you graduate, you should continue to look for white-collar jobs. You are taught to be on your own, but today everyone is looking for government work which is not there. Nobody wants to learn a specific work. This is the reason we can not find Bricklayers, Carpenters, Mechanics, etc. in the country again. What our youth wants is to become a Millionaire in a night. Those who are professional have turned to Okada riders. Also, our politicians added to this problem. If they wanted to empower the youths, instead for them to empower them with things they can be remembered for, they would continue to give them Okada. Can they give it to their family? They were supposed to teach them how to fish not to give them fish. There was a time when one of the politicians said, that any youth that showed interest in farming he will gave him money but nobody showed interest, because they saw farming as an odds job.
Also, our religion is affecting us. While other countries like China, Japan, Singapore, etc., were developed technologically, we here in Nigeria go into the mountains to pray. The Bible says religion without works is dead. The issue of preaching prosperity by our pastors is also a problem. How can you say, if you want to be a Millionaire within a month, come out if you have #20,000.00? Before you open your eyes, hundreds of people rush out. These people don’t have a job they are doing at all. You can see the problem? Some of these pastors were not called by God.
What are the solutions?
The solution is between the government and us the parents. Our government should create an enabling environment for our youths. They should involve our youth in production. We the parents must monitor our children. We need to watch all of their movement. We must know the type of friends they moved with. We need to inculcate in them what we call life.
You are one of the chiefs in Akure, what is the significance of the Elefunta festival to the land?
Elefunta festival is a traditional rite for the Deji’s of Akure land. It is the time Deji will go into seclusion and pray for the peace of Akure land, state, country and world at large.
We must not forget our culture. Culture is a way of life while religion is our relationship with our God. They are is no need to mix religion with our culture. The whites came to Africa to take our culture. They know that our culture is very rich and that was the reason they came and took it from us and gave us their own. When we are praying traditionally, whom are we praying to? We are praying to God. Who is God? The Creator of heaven and the earth. He is God.
So in Elefunta, Deji used the period to seek God’s face for Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, and the World at large.
In the olden we believe in our culture, there is nothing you are selling that you put on the road, and whoever wants to buy will buy it and put their money there. But today, you can’t try it. I can say it was due to our religion. No more fears in our mindset. If you talk, they will tell you it’s civilization. So, civilization has given us problems.
The 2024 governorship election in Ondo State is around the corner, what is your advice for our politicians?
I pray that in the 2024 governorship election, God will choose for us.
However, since 1999 when the Fourth Republic started, Akure’s son has not been the governor of Ondo State. But I have the belief that God is going to choose for us.
They are is a proverb in Akure that says human beings are not palm wine that should be tested”. Before you drink palm wine, you must test it but human beings are not like that. Also, our politicians are not like that.
