The Ajah community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, marked the end of the year 2024 in a spectacular fashion on Saturday, the 28th of December, 2024, as residents gathered in an unprecedented manner to celebrate and appreciate God Almighty for the blessings and grace bestowed upon the community during the outgoing year, hosting an elaborate and well-attended party.
In his remarks at the ceremony on Saturday, Chief Ismail Adamson-Ojupon, the Baale Olomodi of Ajah, said the celebration was meant to strengthen the unity of indigenes and residents.
“A key feature of the celebration is the football competition, the collective effort of all 52 families of Ajah, each represented in their teams.
“We use this opportunity to create a memorable experience to foster unity among the families, residents and the community.
“Ajah is peaceful and developing, we want the peaceful coexistence to continue even between us, residents and the Ajah Ilaje waterside community.
“All of us are one and we will continue to live as one to foster unity and development,” the community leader said.
A key feature of the event was the collective effort of all 52 families of Ajah, who rallied around the Baale, also known as the Olomodi of Ajah, Chief Ismail Ishola Adewale Adeleke Adamson, Ojupon VI, to create a memorable experience. It is also important to observe that the Olumegbon family did not participate in the event.
The Afinnih Family triumphed over the Alayande family in the second edition of the Ajah Indigenous Football Tournament for 2024, a competition that brought together all 52 families that makeup Ajah land.
Afinnih Family staged a comeback to win 5-4 in penalties against the Alayande after the pulsating match ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
In an earlier third-place game, the Ologbin family thrashed the Ogosemo family 5-0 in a one-sided game.
The LOC Chairman of the event, Alhaji Kazeem Odunlami emphasized that the attendance at the event reflects the true state of affairs in Ajah, especially on the fact that the Olumegbon family has never been part of Ajah or its activities.
Odunlami added that the yearly celebration was meant to further unite and ensure peaceful coexistence among the 52 families comprising Ajah community.
According to him, the children in the community are not left out as a lot of programmes are organised for them to carry them along.
Chief Ismail Ishola Adewale Adeleke Adamson, Ojupon VI, the Olomodi and Baale of Ajah, led a peaceful procession to the Ilaje and Egun Communities on the waterside, where he pledged his support and vowed to maintain the longstanding historical ties with the visiting settlers.
Both communities reaffirmed their allegiance to the Baale and promised to stand by him against any opposition. They also presented him with gifts, which he reciprocated in kind.
The Baale later joined the Children’s Funfair party where he presented them with gifts.
The community expresses its warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to the Governor of Lagos State, while respectfully urging His Excellency to pay heed to the voices of the Ajah people and steadfastly uphold the law, thereby rejecting attempts to subvert the traditional rulership of Ajah Kingdom.
The organizers noted that the matter of who is entitled to the Obaship of Ajah is currently before the High Court of Lagos State in suit No: LD/6432GCMW/2019, with an order that parties should maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the matter.
Mr Oduwole Olusegun, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ajah Ilaje Community on the waterside, lauded the Baale of Ajah for fostering unity amongst the communities for more development in the area.
