By Adedokun Seyi
Ibadan is too large that you pass some places by and still think you’ve never been there. I have wanted to say; at times that this Ajorosun city has the highest number of hills that have been levelled to enhance other constructions. It is just a blessing for anyone born in Ibadan: the political topology is a game that awaits other states to be silent, which rises in a grand style like the downpour of a glittering jacket.
It can be pride that Ibadan city is the birthplace of politics, war, historical Arts for remembrance and also, some other bad parts. It will be a great encounter to gaggle sense with such citizen and you will never recover from any face-off with such.
There is no place in Ibadan that doesn’t have its historical gold.
Within my pool of thought, I decided to visit the only trust hill that can give you a panoramic view of Ibadan city, so I went to Igbo Agala, Sapati Hill, Oke Are Ibadan. The lyrics of civilization which everyone is hell bent towards sunk into me, but when I got to Layipo, it was truly historic: scribbling my name off the door-window of the tower gave me a chill. Layipo is believed to be the centre of the ancient city, “Eba Odan” now called Ibadan today.
Beyond speaking about lives and living well, no life goes to Agala and comes back breathing. In those days, Agala forest was a much-dreaded place for the people and various vicious activities occurred almost every day: Kidnapping, rituals, killing, raping to death are the characteristics of Agala that ensconced the terrain which until 1993 was still a dangerous zone.
In 1993, during the reign of General Sanni Abacha and his June 12 annulment of the election of M.K.O Abiola, there was a scarcity of fuel, food, and many people in Nigeria were hungry. It happened in Oyo that people got into a bush known for the dwelling of spiritual beings to tear the forest down and make woods for cooking. The same year greeted Igbo Agala with the faces of erstwhile scared men who entered the hill without fear of what comes to blood at noon. Because of the scarcity of fuel and hunger in the city, they got woods from the forest until it was clean and all peace disturbing souls fled the hill. This gave Igbo Agala a new face where worshippers now take refuge: several churches and houses are now grounded in the area, right from the foot of Beere.
The lyric keeps resounding in the ears of those far and near, and along with this is an adage that “Ibadan lo mo, o mo Layipo” (You only know Ibadan, but you don’t know Layipo). Unveiled on December 15, 1936, designed by Taffy Jone (who designed Mapo Hall) and named after the first British resident in Ibadan and a travelling commissioner for the interior of Yoruba land, Captain Robert Lister Bower, who brought peace in his era, the 60ft tall Bowers tower was birthed on Sapati Hill. This was where he administered his government as the Lieutenant-general which we call “governor” today. There is a place called “pulpit” where warriors meet with Bower.
What really birthed the name were the people. It was borne from the fact that the 47 spiral staircase was the first ever in Ibadan, which makes one go round and round before he can get to the top. Several definitions were given to the name as it applies to indigenes of Ibadan as cunningness, deceit, careful dealing with Ibadan people and diplomacy. Other places like Oje and Monatan are meaningfully embedded in the theatrical reality of this large metropolitan city. Oje means there are cunning ways to place a reality that would still mean the same thing, while Monatan means all things are not divulged by such citizen. Layipo also has the view of Mapo Hall, UCH, Cultural centre, Cocoa house and Total garden in its palm.
It is not nay saying that the government has abandoned the reason for the existence of places like this. The economy of the state has always faced some backlashes which have made some of us find a solution to the problems of paucity. Tourism is another source of income of a state, just like the one created in Imo state where foreign images and that of Nigerian leaders are sculpted just to draw home investors. Young ones are always blamed for no knowledge of the place they live and everything is now in the wilderness of the ticking clock.
The last renovation of Bower Lister’s tower was done by Major General Patrick N. Aziza in 1999. Other three numero uno Honorable ministers of the ministry of commerce and tourism that did renovation were Rear – Admiral Isaac Sunday Areola in 1996, Rear – Admiral Jubril Kayode Ayinla in 1997 and Doctor Emmanuel O. Odogu in 1998. Up to today, the government of the state must have been suffering from matters of internally generated revenue (IGR).
Since places like Layipo have been neglected, film houses have taken over the heritage of an ancient city, but want can tax cover than for a state to have her own sure source? This may be termed civilization, but may not be justified because this same civilization has not made the government renovate some of the outdated buildings at the Oyo state secretariat like the Nigerian Export Development Commission (NEDC).
Even though the outgoing administration has taken its own chapter off the books, the administration of Engineer Seyi Makinde should consider that tourist attraction is not just to increase IGR, but it is also a medicinal means to reduce loneliness, depression and all sorts of emotional problems many are facing.
The fact that caretakers are getting paid by watching the places is not enough for a reason, but the state needs to attract investments and build a stronger and attractive relationship. Makinde should put everything concern the citizens of the state in mind and do this least help to reduce suicide actions, increase bonds and create jobs. This is Ibadan, and it must not dwindle into past glories but progress
