THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS OBA M.D KAZEEM AT A PRESS BRIEFING HELD AT HIS PALACE, OLOWO GBOWO STREET EPE TO MARK KAYO-KAYO FESTIVAL ON WEDNESDAY 30TH JUNE, 1993.
Chairman,
Eminent chiefs,
Gentlemen of press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
I welcome you to this year’s press briefing of Kayo-kayo festival in on behalf of the council of chiefs and the entire sons and daughters of Epe.
The Kayo-kayo festival is a one week affair with various activities among which is this press briefing.
The festival took its root from the semblance of the activities of prophet Noah and king Kosoko. It would be recalled that prophet Noah was directed by Allah to construct an ark for his people who were obedient to Allah’s injunctions as Allah intended to destroy the world with flood rain because of the sins of the disobedient ones. After many days of rains and the flood has subsided, the ark landed on Mount Arafat. Prophet Noah and his saved people used bamboo straws to tree branches as touch lights.
It would also be noted that king kosoko left Lagos in 1851 and arrived Epe in a war-boat with his followers and households to find a saved settlement. They landed in Epe and used straws and branches of trees to provide light in the same manner as Prophet Noah.
The historical landing of Prophet on Mount Arafat and the landing of King Kosoko at Epe, could not be anything else but similar. The festival had therefore been celebrated annually not only to mark the arrival of Kosoko but also in commemoration of the landing of Mount Arafat of Prophet Noah. The festival had also be cultivated to reflect the cultural inkling of the people of Epe, hence the cultural and religious activities during the festival,
This briefing would not be complete without mentioning one or two reasons impending the growth of Epe into industrial community. Industrialization is an important channel for rural transformation. It has been the policy of the state government to encourage Industries to be sited in the state.
I have been reliably informed that the Ikorodu industrial estate is at an advanced stage for part of the estate had already been put into use. Put it is sad to note that, that of Epe is yet to take place.
LAPEC & LAGSHEEM, the two major industries earmarked for our local government area had been a stalemate. I implore the state government to come up with a firm policy decision on the two projects in line with the commercialization and privatization policy of the government.
In this area, I would like to call on noticeable and influential indigenes of Epe to make the place conducive for industrialists to invest. Chief A.B Adebowale should be commended in this light and others who are able should follow his good example.
Epe community still lacks basic social amenities. The highest educational institution in the local government is the Manpower Development Centre, Odomola which was established to provide technical education with a view to providing low level technical Manpower. This does not create the much needed awareness for educational advancement among our youths. I therefore implore the state government to establish a campus of the state university at Epe. The college of medicine of the university will be appropriate as there is plenty of land to house the campus. The state government is also called upon to intensify the arrangements for the proposed college of education at Noforija, Epe.
All the roads in Epe, both intra and inter-city are in a deplorable condition. The refuse disposal system is nothing to write home about. It is hoped quick action would be taken to repair them. Electricity supply for Epe is very erratic. It is very sad to note that since the creation of the state in 1867, Epe still depends on ijebu ode line for its power supply. All the small entrepreneurs have almost been discouraged. However, I am aware of the efforts being made by the present state government to address these issues. For instance, the problem of the telephone had been solved. It is pertinent therefore to appreciate the ceaseless efforts of the state government to overturn the situation.
I would like to enjoin all and sundry to remain calm and understanding in the face of recent political developments in the country. In shaa Allah, with patience and prayers, the situation will become normal very soon. The festival this year will be celebrated for one week and the highlights are:
• June 26th, 1993
Documentary
• July 1st, 1993
Quranic reafing/Islamic quiz
• July 2nd, 1993
I. Special Kayo-kayo festival prayer
II. Annual royal cultural visit of oluepe to the palaces of the founding fathers.
• July 3rd, 1993
I. Carnival procession to water front
II. Water front ceremony- receipt of Noah’s ark
III. Carnival ceremony
Thanks you for finding time to attend this briefing and to the sons and daughters of Epe, friends and well wishes, I wish you a happy celebration.
God bless.
Resource: Archives.
Rest on kabiyesi
Credit to: Olusola Saheed
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