AJ: The city of stars

Rotimi Ameachi, the fearless and strong willed Executive Governor of Rivers State, who would neither bow to the Nebuchadnezzar’s’ of Nigeria, in spite of the obvious furnace of coercion, nor would he succumb to the principalities and powers of the ruling People Democratic Party  (PDP); rugged and craggy in the pursuit of his ambition, was made in Ajegunle.

In the same vein, Temipre Silver, the former Bayelsa governor whose 2007 election victory was nullified by the election tribunal following a case brought to it by the opposition ACN candidate, Ebitime Amgbare; thrown out of office for three months and again came to power having won the new election ordered by the Supreme Court; bold enough to disagree with President Jonathan over the affairs of the oil rich state, and walked alone following his failed reelection bid, is another rugged product of Ajegunle.

Joseph Modupe Johnson CFR, (30 March 1912 –-15 June 1987), a radio broadcaster in the early 1940s, who later became a politician and was elected into the Ibadan District Council, and became the first and only ever non-indigene to serve as the Chairman of the Ibadan District Council at Mapo Hall. J. M Johnson, as he is popularly call then, who later became a Nigerian Federal Cabinet Minister and served in internal affairs, later in labour and social welfare and Sports, acting twice as Prime Minister in the coalition Government, who went on to distinguished himself by resigning as the President of International Labour Organization (I.L.O) over the admission of Apartheid South Africa as member, a feat many consider as taboo in Nigeria of today; under whose administration as Sports Minister the National stadium in Lagos was built, once lived in Ajegunle. In fact, as the first Minister of Sports, J. M Johnson was going to work from his Ajegunle’s residence.

Samson Siasia, the former Super Eagles striker and handler, whose doggedness brought glories and honour to Nigeria and Nigerians both as a player and as a coach, was also made in Ajegunle.  Taribo West, the former solid rock of the Eagles defense, who almost bleeds to death in the colour of Nigeria during the football match between Nigeria and Sweden in the 2002 world cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, is product of Ajegunle. Jonathan Akpoborie, Emmanuel Amunike, Ifeanyi Udeze, Ikpe Ekong, these are few of the real starts out of Ajegunle.

Football icons like: current Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Peter Rufai, and Victor Agali; present Nigeria football stars like: Obafemi Martins, Victor Nsofo , Chenedu Obasi, Mikel Obi, Dickson Etuhu, though may not openly admit it, they however have all at one time or the other gone through baptism of football in Ajegunle which set the tone for what they eventually becomes in world football. Some section of Nigeria’s football fraternity actually sees Ajegunle as the “Mecca of Nigeria Football.

In producing stars for Nigeria, Ajegunle is not restricted to the production of football stars. Ace Comedian Bright Okpocha,(aka Basket Mouth); whose mouth has brought happiness and rib cracking laughter to many both home and abroad, also had his own baptism of comedy in Ajegunle which in no small way contributed to his present status in that industry.

This city holds in esteem, the likes of Danfo Drivers, Kc Presh, Ghetto Soldier Jonh Asiemo aka Daddy Showkey, Papa Fryo, Caliban-Trybe, Mighty Mouse, John Oboh, Marvelous Benji, Rasta Levy, Uncle P (former PMAN Chairperson, Ajegunle chapter and many others.

Some, not knowing what Ajegunle stands for, have erroneously opined that, AJ is a slum city inhabited by the downtrodden in the society who must jostle for survival. But, Janathan Akpoborie, former Super Eagles striker, an Ajegunle’s product himself, disagreed in strong terms with such insinuations. He said Ajegunle people are not less privileged. He said Ajegunle has produced more than entertainment stars.

Jonathan Akpoborie, told Businesday that, it was really interesting for him growing up as a child in Ajegunle.  According to him, the different estates seen around Mile 2 are places they call white sand then. “I think those places were sand filled by Lagos state government. When they sand filled the places they left them for few years. That was when I was growing up. So, we had so many places to play football”, he said.

He said even in Ajegunle itself, kids had so many places they could play football.  “There was a small field around Alao bus stop call Maracana; that was our own Ajegunle Maracana stadium. Though, as a child my peers and I didn’t have all of the modern equipments a child could have, but we had each other. It was really fun. It makes you smart by growing up at that time in Ajegunle except you are an idiot or you are stupid. Ajegunle will educate you in so many ways. I was lucky during my time I grow up with very smart people and most of them are outside Nigeria”, he said,

Jonathan Akpoborie, who started his professional career with Julius Berger before moving to U.S in 1990, and playing in German top flight football with the likes of Hansa Rostock, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg between 1995 and 1999, scoring 143 goals in the process, insists that the people living in Ajegunle should be seen as peculiar people.  He said there was something peculiar about growing up in Ajegunle.

“Some of the kids in Ajegunle try to capitalize on whatever talent they have and you can see them overall in different fields including: music, comedy, sports and all through the entertainment businesses and coming to well educated people in Nigeria.  Ajegunle people are very ambitious especially those that take whatever they are doing very serious. They have this believe that they can make it”, he said.

The former Super Eagles forward, who was part of the Nigeria team that won the first edition of the FIFA U-16 Championship in 1985, scoring in the final against the then West German, said Ajegunle’s successes are not just in the entertainment field; adding that Ajegunle was well represented everywhere. “Maybe some people may not want to agree that they are products of Ajegunle for whatever reasons, the truth is still many of them were born or raised in Ajegunle. I don’t think anybody who had lived in Ajegunle, would be ashamed of the place. Ajegunle is actually contributing to the society”, he said.

He lamented the neglect of Ajegunle by successive government, pointing out that there were some areas that still seriously need the attention of those in authority; stressing that those areas have been left unattended to for many years. “Those are things I think the present government in Lagos state should be thinking about in order to help develop the place for the benefits of the country”, he said.

Speaking further on the exploits of the Super Eagles so far, he said while it was significance for the country winning the Nations Cup for the third time and going to the Confederation Cup for the first time, but it does not give the pedigree to say the country was going to win the World Cup.

“If you look at the team, the team has flop and they have not addressed some of the issues with the team. Like I said, we have arguably a good team, but we all know in Nigeria, I am not talking with sentiment now because I have seen so far. We have a good team in the attack and midfield but our defense is not ready yet for any competition outside Africa. We still need to work on our defending. When we do that, we can now sit down and say how we want to plan and strategize what we want to achieved at the World Cup. We have enough time to work on our defense”, he said.

Commenting on the eight months salary currently owe Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi, the former FC Saarbrucken striker said it was a wrong response to a very serious matter for an official to say someone’s bonuses was enough to take care of him.

“Somebody who has done so well for the Nation and is being owe eight months salary. I don’t see anybody owing members of the House of Representative or the Senates seven months’ salary. All these people are serving Nigeria and Keshi is also serving Nigeria. We are talking about the coach of Nigeria’s Senior National Team! They should pay him his money and let him focus on the job ahead. It is actually shameful for us to be talking about this kind of thing. The other day I heard on the radio when one of the Sports Ministry’s officials said the NFF would get enough money to prosecute whatever programme they need before the world cup. They should please do it as quickly as possible. The preparation for the world cup starts now. Not in three months’ time! So, whatever money they want to give to the NFF they should do it as quickly as possible”, he said

Brief Background of the LGA Ajegunle belongs to

Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area as known today was one of the three councils under Badagry Division since the issuance in 1986 of the administrative Divisions (establishment) Edict which broke Lagos state to five administrations: Lagos Island, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and Ikeja.  The two other districts in Badagry Division are: Egun-Awori and Awori district.

With the subsequent enactment of Local Government Edict of 1976 by the state government, the former three District Councils: Egun-Awori, Ajeromi-Ifelodun  and Awori districts were merged together and brought under one umbrella-Badagry Local Government . These three district councils constituted what was then known as Badagry Local Government with Badagry being the administrative headquarter.

The boundary stretched East wards from Apapa in Lagos to Seme border in the West. It’s bordered in the South by the Atlantic Ocean and in the North by Ogun state, Ikeja and Surulere Local Government respectively. The total number of local government in Lagos at the time was eight.

With the emergence of civil administration in October, 1979, the then Governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande further split the local government in Lagos to twenty-three. Badagry Local Government was consequently divided into three autonomous councils namely: Ojo (former Awori district, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Badagry.

However, the structure was short-lived following the Military Coup led by General Mohamadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon that ended the civilian regime in 1983. The consequent was the nullifying of all the local government councils created by the civilian government between October 1979 and December 1983.

As a result of that restructuring, the Lagos state government, under the then governor of the state, late Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, who was at the time a Commodore, reverted to eight local governments created during the 1976 local government reforms.

Realizing that the defunct civilian administration between (1976-1983) could not accomplish the aims and objectives of the 1976 Local Government Reform, the then Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, Late Major General Tunde Idiagbon set up a 20-man committee headed by Alhaji Dasuki to among other things, reexamine the existing structure, functions and financial resources of Local Government administration in the country.

The Dasuki led committee in its report, noted that system of local government in the country under the 1976 reforms had more of operational than structural problems on creation of new local government. The committee then recommends that, if new local governments were to be created at all, it should not be less than ten years interval.

The implementation of the Dasuzi’s Commission recommendation in Lagos started 1989 and 1996 when, among the new local government created, Ojo was carved out of Badagry Local Government (1989) and later (1996) Amuwo-Odofin and later Ojeromi-Ifelodun Local Government were created out of Ojo Local Government, bringing the total number of Local Government in Lagos to twenty; excluding the controversial Local Government Development Authority created by the Bola Tinubu led government in the state.

Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government currently covers about 2,216 hectares of land with 97% development area leaving 3% comprising gutters, canals and swamps. The Local government is geographically 11 ft below the sea level and virtually half of total landscape is reclamation of swamp and mash. Its dense population comprises of diverse populated settlements, towns and communities made up of people of diverse ethnic origins/nationalities and cultures.

Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government is made up of Nine Political Wards, each represented by a councilor. The local government area is essential residential and is best described as a semi-urban community with overtly retail economic.

First Settlers of Ajegunle

BusinessDay investigation has shown that, the first tribes to have arrived at Ajegunle were the Itsekiris, the Ijwas and the Urhobos in the 1920s and 1930s respectively; all South South sojourners. Their fishing profession was said to be largely responsible for the choice to settle in Ajegunle because the city is surrounded by water.

Also, the tribes of stars that have emerged so far from Ajegunle is seen my many as relic of former ancestors. Larger percent of stars that have emerged from Ajegunle are either South South or South East. Presently, tribes outside the Yoruba dominated Ajegunle.

In the early 1970’s, Ajegunle was referred to as a mini Nigeria by the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon in his speech during his visit to the city. In truth, Ajegunle is more than a mini Nigeria as nationals across ECOWAS are found there. Not only does Ajegunle consist of tribes in Nigeria, but also people from West African cities.

Boundary in Ajegunle

Sixty eight years old Festus Ezeobi, an indigene of Anambra state, who said he has lived in Ajegunle for over fifty years, told BusinessDay that the reason a particular place is call boundary in Ajegunle was because it served as demarcation between Western Region and Lagos Colony.

According to him, Ebubedike, the first non-indigene to win a seat in the Western House of Assembly was raised in Ajegunle. “He beats Obasi the Ankra to the seat. Ajegunle is a big city that comprises many tribes. That is why it’s call jungle city. Gone are the days when there used to be fighting here. We co-exist here now peacefully. Government should come and develop Ajegunle because we have produced great stars for the country. The government should try to ensure the current peace in the area is sustained”, he said. 

  Neglect of Ajegunle by successive government

Ajegunle, according to some elders, has survived attempts of being wiped out through negligence of those in position to direct its resources to its development. However, fortune seemed to have smiled on the city when it was named as the headquarters of Ajeromi- Ifelodun Local Government Area which was created in 1996.

Some of the traders and residents of the community complained of being over-taxed in the name of generating internal revenue in order to meet-up with developmental projects in the area. They alleged that in many cases, traders and artisans are forced to pay 3 to 4 different taxes and more, such as trade permit, lock-up shop permit and radio/TV license.

According to the elders, sometimes, the waste-carriers may not even come for two months, thus forcing many people to dispose their refuse on the major roads. The implication of this is that, many streets in Ajegunle have become refuse grounds thus causing serious environmental hazard for the people and blockage of drainages and septic tanks.

All efforts to speak to the Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local government,  Kamal Abioddun was met with stiff resistance when BusinessDay visited his office in Ajegunle three consecutive days. His Personal Assistance (PA), one Mr. Ibrahim demanded for a letter before his boss could be seen.  As at the time of filling in this report he had yet to respond to the letter sent to him.

 Ajegunle still in the business of producing football stars

Eniola Eretan, the Proprietor of Ilaje Football Club, said one of the disadvantages Ajegunle’s grassroots coaches have had to face was the coming of established national team coaches to lure football stars that they have nurtured without compensating the grassroots coaches who had labour to bring out the hidden talents in these players.

He said the likes of Ndubusi Chukwuyenre  (aka Wowo) who was with both the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles was one of such products. “Brown Ideye who currently plays for Super Eagles is our product. We grassroots coaches gain nothing. They will just come here and kidnap our players without given us anything for our labour. This is not fair”, he said.

He also said growing up in Ajegunle can make one a star in his/her chosen field if such individuals are the serious type. “When you come here, you can pick Eaglets, Under 21 and 23 and including Super Eagles players. I have a player here Kalejaiye Benson who is currently playing for Eyimba Football Club. The NFF should come to our aid. It’s not just about money. They can also organize seminars for us. Some of us would have love to attend the National Institute for Sports (NIS), but we cannot afford it. They should help us in areas like that”, he said.

 Grassroots Coaches and Players ask Ex-international to give back

The Eyimba player, Kalejaiye Benson, who have also play for Guzor FC and Shooting Stars FC respectively, said he believe he has got what it takes to play for the Super Eagles, saying he was only waiting for the calling. “Ajegunele is a place where you can find stars. The only problem I am having is that: some of these big stars you are mentioning should be giving back to the society that contributed to who they are today. In Ajegunle today, in spite of the footballers the place have produced, I don’t think we have genuine football academic. That is an indictment on the ex-players who were products of Ajegunle”, he said.

Female Football in Ajegunle

Young Talented Queens Female Football Club

Similarly, John Iremirem, the Head coach of Young Talented Queens Female Football Club, said the ex-international are not helping matter in some regards. “Some of them started from here and they know what it takes to come out of this jungle and become a super star.  We have Siasia, we have Amunike and the rest of them. When they have an assignment they don’t look inward where they are coming from; they preferred outside, while there are a lot of stars dying here. Everything is not about money. They can also come and encourage these young girls.  Just coming here alone will encourage these girls because it’s not easy for a girl to be a footballer in Nigeria. It’s very easy for girls to gets discouraged playing football. Just come and tell them there is hope because you started from here”, he said.

He said, his team, started three years ago, comprises ladies from secondary school. “After our exploits back to back in the Principal Cup, we decided to come together to form a female team. Last month we won a promotion ticket to Professional League 1. Our main objective is to see these young lads grow into various levels of the National Teams and get clubs outside the country also”, he said.

He said three of his girls have been invited to the camp of the Falconets in Abuja. The female coach, who lamented lack of sponsors of grassroots football in the country, said the NFF female department has a lot to do. “Like the league we went to play, there were a lot of errors and foul play. Such things would really discourage girls from playing football. Josephine Chukwuneye and Ebere Okoye currently with the Super Falcons are my products”, he said.

Young Talented Queens in a training session

Three girls of the team, Ayo Omonsuyi, Elizabeth Nwanchukwu, and Chiwendu Jojo invited to the camp of the Falconets expressed optimism that they have what it takes to be part of the team. While attributing the invitation to the work of God, the three girls said the invitation was a sign of morning not only for them, but for the entire team having seen the dark parts of been female footballers.

NATHANIEL AKHIGBE