By Ayodele Fagbohun

The creation of old Ondo State out of the old Western States of Nigeria precisely 49 years ago was never achieved by fluke.

It was a dramatic long drawn out, painstaking and tenacious exercise from the determined stakeholders and concerned citizens ranging from politicians to the professionals in area referred to as Ondo province in the Western Region.

The issue of states’ creation in the country indeed, challenged the powers of the nationionalists who spiritedly agitated and made a clarion call to have a state of their own.

Expectedly and  it was very rare to note that Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin was elected as the first executive governor of Ondo State and played a significant role, that was non pareil in the state.

 Ajasin dared the antics of the then military governor of the defunct Western Region, Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo who had an axe to grind with the leader of Yoruba, Chief Obafemi Awolowo on matter of principle.

According to Chief Adekunle Ajasin, in his autobiography “Ajasin, memoirs and memories,” who played a leading and decisive role in the quest for a new Ondo State asserted that to get an area created into a state was not an easy task and hence, posterity is entitled to know that the structure of the country at any point in time was arrived at, after a tortuous journey.”

Besides, Chief Ajasin went further to illuminate the scenario as follows: “the issue of states” creation was highly politicized among the major political parties, the AG, the NCNC and the NPC at the early stages of agitation for more regions in the country.”

It must be stated in passing that ban on political activities was still in force, members of the aforementioned banned political parties, however operated underground to carry out their political activities probably unknown to the military rulers.

No sooner the cessation of hostilities cum Nigeria/ Biafra Civil was ended than agitation for states’ creation assumed crescendo. The agitation was intense in Ondo province which was part of Western states in the 12 states’ structure just created by the military Head of state, Major General Yakubu Gowon.

Earlier, some leaders from Ondo Province had  met in Ibadan on 11th August 1966. The meeting which was convened by Chief G.B.A Akinyede decided to pursue vigorously the creation of Ondo State.

Amongst such people in the meeting was Dr Banji Akintoye, Mr Adeleye to mention three out of the lot. Members of the group had been writing a lot of petitions to the authorities on the vexed issue on states’ creation on the platform of Ondo provincial development council.

The Ibadan meeting was shifted to hold at Akure on July, 1967 presided over by Ajasin which decided to set up a working committee to be known as Ondo Province Development Committee Members of the committee included all permanent secretaries of Ondo Province origin; Messers A. Ajabia, J.I, Longe, Augustus Adebayo and Mr J.M. Akintola.

The universities were represented in the committee by Prof. Sam Aluko (Ife), M.A Adeyemi (Lagos), Ayo Ogunseye (Ibadan, and Dr. Fabunmi of the Nigerian Institute of international Affairs, Lagos.

Chief R.F Fasoranti was appointed secretary of the Group at Akure. As a result of disagreement between Major General Adebayo and Chief Awolowo, the governor decided to ban all meetings, or gatherings having political colouration.

Shortly afterwards, precisely November, 1973, General Gowon lifted the ban on political meetings every serious political groups re-grouped in earnest to state business. Ajasin and his group met at the Assembly Hall of Omolere Nursery/Primary school, Akure while Ajasin presided and Fasoranti was secretary.

At the meeting, there were in attendance people like Ven. R.A Ogunlade who later was the gubernatorial candidate of NPN; Chief G.B.A Akinyede, the uncrowned Balogun of yet to be created Ondo State, Hon. B.O. Bademosi of Ondo and Ambassador Lawrence Fabunmi. The meeting was very crucial in taking some strategic decisions that would boost the group’s aspiration; to carry out feasibility studies to be used to justify their longstanding demand for the creation of Ondo State.

Revd. Ogunlade who had just been transferred to Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure as principal was appointed in the place of Chief Fasoranti to act as secretary and to link up with the chairman (Ajasin) in convening the next meeting.

Chief Fasoranti who was the acting secretary had been transferred to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo as principal. He had requested to be excused from acting as secretary.

As if crisis of confidence was brewing and in a show of solidarity and ethnic jingoism played out with Adebayo on the alleged face off with Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The fact remains that Revd. Ogunlade had teamed up with chief Akinyede in the spirit of unholy alliance and conspiracy and to constitute a rival group to the group of those who considered to be more formidable pro-Awolowo.

The following meeting did take place at Akure Commercial Secondary School, Akure then headed by Chief Adinlewa. The meeting was presided over by  Chief Ani of Ado-Ekiti. At its adjournment, the next meeting was fixed without any specific resolutions.

Thus, the Ajasin group was on considered opinion that it was not in the interest of the province to be divided and split into rival groups over such an important matter. Thus, Chief Ajasin advised his groups to attend the next meeting of the Ogunlade Akinyede group.

At the beginning of the next meeting in January, Bademosi got up to nominate Chief Ani as the chairman, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire from Ajasin group protested  against this on the ground that it was against meeting protocol for any person to single handedly appoint the chairman. The protest was upheld and so nominations were invited for election of the chairman .

Chief Ajasin was made chairman unopposed. Chief Deji Adegoroye elected secretary while Chief Faloye as assistant secretary and Mr Bademosi as treasurer.

As the meeting was in progress, some people pressed for the post-ponement of decisions on any matter on the agenda. This generated a heated controversy which was amicably settled by dispelling the unfounded rumour.

In the meeting, Ondo State Movement was born, Alhaji Yayi Akorede, the Chief Iman of Akure proposed that membership of the movement should consist 20 representatives from each of the then 10 divisions. The proposal was unanimously accepted. It would reduce the motley crowd of the movement to manageable size.

Throughout Gowon’s tenure which ended abrupty in 1975, Ajasin’s group put enormous pressure on the Federal Government to create Ondo State. Towards this end, every legitimate means was exhausted to realize the objective. Through the assistance of Kabiyesi, Elekole of Ikole, the Ogoga of Ikere, the Olukare of Ikare, the Olujudo of Ido-Ekiti and the Abodi of Ikaleland, a conference of the Obas in Ondo province was organized . This also constituted pressure for the creation of the state.Ajasin Group opted for several advertisement in the newspapers to drive home its message on viability of new state. Expectedly, petitions were uncountable .

On the creation of Ondo State, Wing commander David Ita Ikpeme, an Airforce Officer was appointed its first military governor. He later appointed his commissioners without consulting Ajasin’s movement or any of its members.

This, Ajasin movement, considered to be very unfair to the extreme given the fact that the activities had been so intensive that the governor could not have been unaware of its instrumentality to the conception and birth of the state.

Thus, lies the chequered history behind the creation of old Ondo as courageously told by the main dramatis personae, Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin who eventually became the first elected governor of Ondo State ( 1979-1983)

Events leading to the creation of the state were replete with palpable intrigues, truths, half truths and blatant conspiracy to appease  the military at the helm of affairs.

However, the rhythm on the quest for nation building continues adinfinitum with excise of neighbouring Ekiti state from the Ondo State.