Sayo Àlàgbé
The Olóde of Okín Àpà in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Chief Rotimi Fóyánmu, has made a passionate appeal to the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, to fulfill its promise of bestowing a befitting honour upon his late father, Chief Ògúndáre Fóyánmu. The late Ìjálá bard, philosopher, and poet-king was a prominent figure in the promotion and development of arts and culture in Nigeria and beyond.
Chief Rotimi Fóyánmu emphasized that the state government had, since last year, pledged to immortalize his father by transforming his family house into a cultural haven—preserving valuable artifacts, the paraphernalia of his Ìjálá compositions, and other significant cultural heritage of Ogbomoso. He urged the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism under Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun to take decisive action, stating that “what is worth doing is worth doing well.” He further stressed that his father’s legacy deserves recognition, as he had brought immense honor to Nigeria during his lifetime.
Expressing concern over the delay, Chief Rotimi lamented that “hope deferred makes the heart forlorn.” He called on those responsible for executing the project to expedite its completion, as both the family and the people of Ogbomoso have been eagerly awaiting its realization. According to him, the project would serve as a government-backed acknowledgment of Chief Ògúndáre Fóyánmu’s immense contributions to music, arts, and culture in Oyo State, Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
Chief Rotimi Fóyánmu lauded Governor Seyi Makinde as a visionary leader, a people-oriented administrator, and a governor with an open-door policy. He urged the governor to ensure that his father, an Ìjálá musician of inestimable value, does not fade into obscurity. He also called on the relevant ministry to be proactive in implementing the immortalization project without further delay.
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