Alhaji Maikudi, Alhaji Ahmadu, football development in Ogbomoso and the forgotten questions?
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By Adewuyi Adegbite
“In the defense groove market, there flourished a tree called forgetfulness” (Igi kan n be ni Oja Igbo, oruko re ni igbagbe – ND Oyerinde, “History of Ogbomoso”, reprinted edition, page 103. I met two gentlemen at Sabo Area, Ogbomoso recently in one of my visits to some friends at Sabo Motor Park.
Here are Alhaji Maikudi and Alhaji Ahmadu. Both are Hausas. Aside being of the same ethnic origin, one important feature of the two is their passion for football and its development. When I remembered the contribution of the duo to age grade football development in Ogbomoso and how things turned out for them, I remembered the above quotation in the classical “Iwe Itan Ogbomoso” by N D Oyerinde. I then concluded that Ogbomoso town, especially, has not been weaned of this malfeasance.
Under what context did Oyerinde make that assertion? The political crisis in Oyo Ile, the capital city of the defuct (Oyo) Yoruba Empire, had effects on the supporting towns of the empire. Afonja had rebelled against the king and asserted his independence with Ilorin as his base. Fulani element, whom he made his advisor, organized a coup against him and Ilorin throne passed over to Fulani element till this day.
In the process of consolidating its power, Ilorin waged war on major supporting powers of Oyo Ile after the successful invasion of the Oyo Ile by Ilorin army in 1835 which culminated in her desertion. Prior to this time, the reigning Olugbon of that period, Olugbode, who was next in rank to the Alaafin, had invited all towns and villages from the three contigious provinces to leave their towns for Ogbomoso which was centrally located to present a joint force of arm to checkmate the incursion of ilorin forces into the rest of the empire.
This call was heeded as about 143 towns and villages congregated in Ogbomoso at that time. These towns and villages could be found in today Kwara, Oyo and Osun states. It was the combined efforts of these towns and villages that saved not only Ogbomoso but the homesteads of these congregants from falling prey to Ilorin hegemony.
When many are singing “adenu oko a sinmin o o o o … Ogun ko ja ja ko ko Ogbomoso…”, they would not realize that the feat was possible with the support of towns and villages many singing the song never imagined. After the war and return of peace to Yoruba land, Ogbomoso, especially, many of these towns and villages remained in Ogbomoso but had no involvement in the day-to-day running of affairs of the town. They were strangers to the core Ogbomoso people at Okeelerin, Oja Igbo “the seat of power”, and Isale Afon, as the time they came into the town. These are the three areas that produced Ilu Chiefs.
Most importantly, when the colonial administration was introduced, the Baale, now the Soun wielded unprecedented power over and above the migrant kings hitherto more powerful. This caused disaffection and many towns and villages returned to their towns in anger. The disaffection of these people as expressed by some of them formed the metaphor recorded by Oyerinde stated above.
What is the correlation between the foregoing and the story of the two gentlemen. The condition of the two gentlemen made me conclude that the tree is till flourishing not only at Oja Igbo but the town as whole, it has been transplanted to other areas. In the past, it was from Oja Igbo that the decisions were made but today, politicians do make decisions outside the power at Oja Igbo. Whenever the history of football is written in Ogbomoso if ever it will be written, the contributions of these two men could not be overemphasized. Football had been developing in Ogbomoso earlier. This is because the late Olugbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade, as student of Ogbomoso Grammar School, Ogbomoso, played for Western State 11 in the 50s. However, home coming of Ogbomoso people from Ghana upon the ‘quit order’ of Kofi Abrefa Busia regime, contributed immensely to the growth of football in Ogbomoso. Other important factors are the contribution of Hausa people. Firstly, Alhaji Goda, a cattle merchant who founded Great Nasara and Sabo Rovers and the duo in the picture who founded Flying Stars and Rolling Stars respectively. One should not forget Mr Yekeen Yusuf who organized age grade football competition from the late 70s to the early 90s in Ogbomoso. This afforded young footballers the opportunity to develop their talents. The two gentlemen were rivals on the pitch and when their two Sabo based teams played against other teams, it was war of sort that would be in form of El Classico today in Spain.
Fact be said, the duo spent their fortune on football development in Ogbomoso despite being non-indigenes. My focus is what was their reward for their efforts. I don’t think they got any. In our discussion, they lamented that when football began to bring fruits to the town, they were forgotten, especially in the running of the Crown FC, the brain child of another non-indigene, Professor Ameh Yusuf Obaje, former President, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso a d at another time the Chaplain of Aso Rock under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
How would they not be forgotten? Many who are in position to reward these people particularly from the late 90s were not in the town when these were making waves. I mean politicians who have been dolling out positions. Many who were aware of the contribution of these people disregarded it for self aggradizment. God rests the soul of Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala; he could have done something positive had he been aware of the efforts of Alhaji Maikudi and his compatriot. Unfortunately, many in position of authority in the land today hardly know the era of these people in the development of football in Ogbomoso.
However, it is not late in the day, especially, my friend, Hon. George Ogunlade, he is a home boy and should be interested in the case of these men. Also, I read in the news that the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, has organized a football competition among our youths. I don’t know those who would oversee the competition but this is an area where these people could be useful and little reward acrue to them. In addition, if opportunity opens in the state, I think their experience could be tapped. I, therefore, want to implore those who see this piece to help share it so that the case of these people could reach the hears of those who are in position to facilitate appointments for them in our football establishments, both private and public. They still have something to offer and I think the time is now.
…Adegbite is a historian, writer, columnist, and businessman
