– Steve Ovirih
Thepolity.net recently had a chitchat with the President of Ikale world Congress (IWC). In the interview, the United States of America based President of the pan Ikale socio cultural organization , a group of Ikales in the Diaspora, Chief Ayebo bears his mind on so many issues of interest concerning the organization.
Excerpt.
Thepolity- How will you describe your relationship , I mean members of IWC?
Chief Ayebo- Our relationship here in United States has been wonderful since the launching of Ikale world Congress (IWC) in Maryland in the course of the July 2007 convention. Since then, we have been coming together annually at different cities across the state for a convention where we review our past year activities and set goals for the coming year. Presently , IWC is evangelising the Ikale love and unity message to our sons and daughters in Chicago and we have seen their seriousness about joining the Congress. So here, we no doubt have a very sound and robust relationship but we have not been able to spread to another continent officially, though we are trusting God that very soon we will do that.
[Thepolity- Your take on your achievement so far as the President of the organization?
Chief Ayebo – Well , for now I may say there is not much to celebrate as achievement compared to my lofty vision for IWC; I became President of IWC in August 2017 at the Philadelphia convention. Prior to this time, IWC had some internal challenges that led to disorganization in some of our state chapters. So what the present Exco embarked on immediately we came on board was reconciliation and we really want to thank God that the fragmented chapters are coming together again because it is only when we present a United front that our people can feel and appreciate our impact just like the recent donation of one million naira (#1,000,000) we gave to support our people back at home in Ago Alaaye , who suffered untold hardship over the Ago Alaaye/Araromi Obu land crisis. We learnt of their challenge and because our house, our organization is no longer facing disintegration crisis, we were able to collectively raise that amount very quickly to support our people back at home. More of our support are still on the way by God’s grace, so it is at the end of my tenure that I can really say this and this have been my achievement so far.Thepolity- You mentioned that you have supported the Ikales at Ago Alaaye with fund. What’s your take on the Ago Alaaye/Obu face off?
Chief Ayebo – Well, our position on Ago Alaaye/Araromi Obu crisis is that as a responsible organization, we are to support the protection of life and property of our people as well as their interest and that exactly is what we are doing. We would have loved to have our inherited land back through court process without any crisis again because we love our people and we don’t want to lose anybody anymore; luckily our people in detention have been released, so we will continue to pray for peace over there. Our agitation is that if the people in the area had cohabited in peace before, based on mutual understanding, they should learn to continue to leave in peace without blood sheding and in obedience to the court pronouncements on the original owners of the land.
Thepolity- By now you are aware Ikale Land, nay Ondo south senatorial district have been cut off the national electricity grid. What’s your take on this awful development?
Chief Ayebo- Let me start by thanking all the groups and individuals that have been in struggle to reconnect our district to the electricity grid . We are blessed to host two power generation plants : Omotosho power plant phase 1 with about 335MW and phase 2 with about 5000MW, contributing to the national grid, yet we the host communities have been put in total black out. I believe that this unfortunate scenario playing out is against The Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s objective of building the power plants in 2006.
This is one case of collosal failure on the part of our government both in the state and the Federal level. How can they generate power in Ondo south and sell it to other part of the country while we here are cut off? How can there be electricity investment in our domain while government endows us with darkness? How? The development is terribly embarrassing! People don’t need to protest because it is the primary responsibility of government to give us light and what it takes them to do this is just a sincere instruction to Benin Electricity Distribution Company ( BEDC) to reconnect us , and if they don’t obey, the government still has the right to sanction them because there are lines of performance on the license agreement. Insensitivity of Government towards the life of the people is what is playing out here and our people in government understand that social amenities in which power supply plays a prominent role has no substitute. IWC is appealing to both state and federal government to know that almost an 11 year old total black out is no longer a child’s play ; we are charging and urging them to do the needful for posterity sake.
ThePolity- Your advice for people of Ikale Land home and abroad.
Chief Ayebo – My advice is simple. We need love to be in unity, to be indivisible, strong and whole . So let’s love one another. The logo of IWC displays togetherness, implying that we are stronger together. We need a United front to successfully champion a common a common cause. Therefore, to achieve anything we desire and for the progress of Ikale Land, I sincerely appeal to our people , especially our royal fathers to exhibit the features that their royal personage deimand so that we, their subjects can emulate them
[10/25, 10:56 AM] Steve Ovirih: Thepolity- who are the other members of your executive and when and where is the next convention holding?
Chief Ayebo- Thank you my brother. We have six members in the executive position and nine members in the Advisory board .
The IWC executive are my humble self, Chief Dayo Ayebo who is the President, I am here in Philadelphia; Mrs Yinka Ibitoye, Vice President , she is in Maryland. Mr. Iyi Atijosan, our General Secretary, he is in Atlanta;our publicity secretary is Mr kunle Aiyeku, he is in New York . Others are Mr Seyi Obagbemi, our Treasurer, who is in Houston Texas and Ms .Solape Olafioye , our Social Secretary, who is in Maryland.
Our Advisory board members are Dr. Duro Akindutire in New York, Dr.Chief Salewa Olafioye in Detroit Michigan, Dr Darcy Ibitoye in Maryland, Hon Samuel Ademola in Houston Texas and Mr Tunji Ogunmola in Philadelphia.
Others are Mrs Mojisola Olafeso in Minnesota, Pastor Soyi Akinsola in Philadelphia , Prince Olurinde Akinsola in Los Angeles and Mr Dupe Olowodahunsi who resides in Philadelphia.
As regards our convention, by the grace of God, it comes up next year by August. However, at this time I can’t really be specific about the the host city but I believe it’s going to be in the East Coast, either New York 2020, Philadelphia 2020, Maryland 2020 or Atlanta 2020, by the end of this year or latest by early next year the Executive of IWC in conjunction with the Advisory board will chose the hosting city during our joint session.
Thepolity- Thank you for your time .
Chief Ayebo- The pleasure is mine! You are doing a great job with your online news medium.
