Why we should not stampede Buhari

A new dawn and epoch of optimism has been bequeathed on the Nigerian landscape by the decisive victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 2015 presidential poll. The victory, indeed, followed a long drawn battle which had the whole country, nay, the continent and the world, on edge. There were palpable fears that the country could implode and descend into unimaginable chaos.  However, the aftermath of the elections made many believe that President Buhari’s victory was divinely ordained, as all naysayers and doomsday prophets were proved wrong. Rather than the predicted doomsday scenario, the whole country was enveloped in   relief, joy and peace following the victory of the ‘Peoples General’. This has understandably triggered off great expectations.

These high expectations of the majority of Nigerians are not totally unexpected, given the level of rot and uncertainties on our national landscape prior to the presidential polls. Hence, the victory of President Buhari can be adjudged as the outcome of “the peoples’ referendum” on who should direct their affairs for the next four years.

Since the swearing of the president into office on May 29, a lot of “water has passed under the bridge” as the proverbial saying goes. One thing that has gained currency and prominence is the legendary impatience of majority of anxious Nigerians at the perceived slow pace at which the Buhari administration has taken off. Just as informed watchers have predicted, the burden of expectations which the Buhari administration is likely to face from many Nigerians is enormous. It has, therefore, become imperative to set the records straight, so as to help manage the expectations that people have of the new administration.

The haste which many impatient people want the new administration to embrace cannot be in the best interest of Nigeria   and Nigerians. This is because of the fact that a meticulous and deliberate process of administration is certain to be more beneficial for the greater interest of the country at this time. From the reports of the transition committee headed by the respected Ahmed Joda, it is obvious that the new administration of President Buhari is starting from a shaky ground. This points to the fact that there is a Herculean task before the new administration.

It is also public knowledge that the previous administration did not pass on vital information to the Joda-led transition committee almost throughout the interregnum between the elections and swearing in. Not surprisingly, this slowed down the pace of the transition committee and delayed it in coming out with a comprehensive report about the general state of things in the country.  It is this report that is expected to “chart the road” and serve as a working template for the new administration of President Buhari.

If we take a cursory look at the trajectory of past events in the country, we will observe that most of the policy flip flops and policy reversals with their attendant confusion and distortion in the polity were caused by haste and inadequate study of policy trends and objectives.

The country has suffered much from this in the past, and we cannot afford to continue to follow this same path of “too much motion and too little movement”.

A corollary to this fact is for us to appreciate the size and state of the country/federal bureaucracy which Buhari is inheriting. In order for a smooth take off of this new administration, comprehensive and careful planning needs to be carried out.

In project management and administration, the need to get the planning stage right is very important. This is because all other stages in the project /administration life cycle depend on the planning stage. Once the planning stage is gotten right, it can be taken for granted that all other things will work well if meticulous care is applied.

The best analogy that suffices here can be likened to the foundation of a high rise building which must be solid and deep enough for the entire high rise building to stand upon.

Nigerians should give the President enough time to plan the trajectory of his administration, because if this is done, we shall all benefit tremendously from it.

Besides, for the “change” mantra of the administration to be really meaningful to all and sundry, much time needs to be dedicated to the planning process for a full maximization of the different dimensions of the change we so much desire.

It is also trite to remind us of the level of rot in the system which this administration is inheriting as well as the financial constraints imposed on oil producing nations globally by the drop in oil price. Most sectors of the Nigerian economy are at their nadir point. With the economy in so such a bad state, part of strategies which the Buhari administration has adopted to bail the economy out of its dire straits is the desire for a very lean government. This is expected to lead to a drastic cut in the number of ministries and even federal parastatals. This commendable approach of the new government requires time, so that a workable framework for the operation of the expected change can be produced. The anticipated effect of this is the expected savings the government will make in overhead costs which will be ploughed back into the development of critical infrastructure.

Another area in which some critics have attempted to stampede the new administration is in the delay in constituting the new federal cabinet, and the appointment of persons into other key offices. Most of us can attest to the modest and silent achievements of the administration in the past one month, even without key appointments being made.

The modest achievements in the improvement in the general security situation, the reduction/near absence of vehicular queues at filling stations across the country, the improvements in the power situation, the expected commencement of operations by the nation’s refineries, the goodwill and renewed interest in Nigeria by the international community and so on show that there may be no direct correlation between the time of setting up a federal cabinet and achieving positive results. Besides, the ascension of the Buhari administration into office can be likened to a people’s revolution, based on a desire for a fresh start. In other words, painstaking search needs to be carried out to identify credible Nigerians who share the passion and vision of the People’s General for a new Nigeria.

The issue of appointments needs not be over-flogged as there is existing precedence set by previous administrations where appointments into key offices were not done for as long as sixty days after the inception of those administrations.  It is important for us to appreciate the president as someone who has been around for some time. Nigerians should rest assured that he is not coming to lead a rookie administration.

By nature, the president is not given to impulsiveness. He cuts the image of an administrator who always thinks through his actions before he takes them. When such actions are eventually executed, the finesse of such actions is enduring and clear for all to see.

The Buhari administration is a project for all Nigerians in which everyone is a stakeholder. Hence, we should not attempt to stampede the administration, but rather support it for the general good of all.

Do Not Throw Away Watermelon Seeds

Did you know that watermelon seeds are very healthy? They contain fiber that
is essential for the functioning of the digestive tract , help in case of parasites ,
and are also excellent as antibiotic assets .
Watermelon seeds contain citrulline , which is known as an antioxidant. Citruline
dilates blood vessels, and has a positive effect in case of hypertension , angina
pectoris and arteriosclerosis.
How to properly use watermelon seeds?
We will now present a specific recipe that is very efficient in the fight against Е.
Coli . However , you can use the recipe in another occasion .
Ingredients needed :
– Water
– 30 watermelon seeds
Method of preparation :
Put some water in a bowl and add around thirty watermelon seeds. Put the
seeds in a pot on the stove and boil for about 10 minutes . Once you remove the
pot from the fire leave it to cool . Strain the resulting mixture and store it in the
refrigerator.
You can drink just the water , but if you do not like the taste you can combine it
with any natural juice.

Drink Pineapple Water In The Morning For 7 Days And These 10 Things Will Happen

Your daily routines help building up resistance to a certain disease or tearing it down. In this article we will discuss more about the benefits provided by healthy morning rituals, such as drinking fresh pineapple water before your breakfast.

Pineapple contains a lot of less known micro-nutrients It is packed with bromelain and vitamin C, and these both aid in every healing process in the body.

1. Fights Inflammation : Bromelain has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It helps the body eliminate toxins by fighting off inflammations that affect tissues and organs. Regular consumption of pineapple aids in the treatment of arthritis and sports injuries by reducing inflammation and relieving pain.

2. Healthy Weight Loss : Thanks to its high fiber content, pineapples take more time to digest, and thus makes you feel full for longer. Pineapple water prevents sugar and fat cravings. Thiamine converts carbohydrates into energy and boosts metabolism.

3. Flushes Parasites From Liver and Intestines : Bromelain has anti-parasitic properties. Some studies have shown that a three-day pineapple fast kills off tape worms.

4. Proper Thyroid Function : Pineapples are rich in iodine and bromelain. These help in the treatment of many autoimmune disorders, and relieve thyroiditis-associated symptoms.

5. Balanced Electrolytes : Potassium found in pineapples make your body stronger and maintain proper electrolyte balance, thus preventing cramps or injuries.

6. Flushes Out Heavy Metals and Toxins : Pineapple is packed with fiber, enzymes and antioxidants that clean the body from heavy metals and toxins.

7. Digestive Aid : Bromelain stimulates the body to digest proteins more efficiently.

8. Strengthens Gums, Whitens and Preserves Teeth : According to Dr Frawley, bromelain is a natural stain remover. It breaks up plaque efficiently.

9. Improves Vision : Beta-carotene and vitamin A are essential for eyesight. A study published in the Archives of Ophtalmology has shown that 3 or more servings of pineapple a day reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), which is cause number one of vision loss in elderly.

10. Anticancer Protection

The journal Planta Medica published a research according to which bromelain is superior to chemo drug 5-fluorauracil in the treatment of cancer. Researchers explained:

“This antitumoral effect [of bromelain] was superior to that of 5-FU [5-fluorouracil], whose survival index was approximately 263 %, relative to the untreated control.”

Ofada Rice: A Local Delicacy With Health Benefits

Ofada Rice, also known as brown rice, is a local, Nigerian unpolished rice which is non-genetically modified. It is the short, robust and brown rice planted mostly in Ogun State and some other states in western Nigeria.

The delicacy is very popular in the South-west region of Nigeria, but many who eat it, are not aware of the health benefits of ofada rice. The rice is also good for those aspiring to lose some weight.

Weighlossnigeria.com tells us more. Read below:

1. It has about twice the fiber content of regular white rice. Fiber plays a significant role in our digestion process. Because of this high fibrous content, brown rice is known to be one of the most effective natural colon cleansers which aids weight loss.

2. It lowers the level of LDL cholesterol aka bad cholesterol. Having a high level of bad cholesterol in the body is a primary reason for excess weight because it LDL causes insulin resistance and when this occurs it naturally stimulates the body to store fat.

3. It has two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach and promote a sense of satiety, or fullness after a meal. This helps to prevent overeating and weight gain. That is the equation for fat loss; eat less and burn more!

4. While the insoluble fiber is also known as cellulose which is indigestible and has less transit time through the body. In general, the higher a food’s fiber content, the lower it tends to be in available calories. That’s why you can eat a very large serving of salad, which is almost all fiber, and still eat very few calories. And high-fiber diets also tend to be less “energy dense,” which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food. Thus when you eat brown rice, you are actually eating fewer calories

5. Insoluble fibers also helps the body get rid of some dietary fat. As it goes out of the body via the excretion process it grabs fats and carries them all the way through to the colon, where they are bundled together and eliminated from the body. Hence brown rice is preferred by people dieting to lose weight.

6. Brown rice controls blood sugar and diabetes. It does this because of the presence of soluble fiber. Soluble fibers swell up upon contact with water and forms a viscous gel. This slows down the passage food along the alimentary canal and gives the body ample time so that the nutrients from food is properly be absorbed. This slows down the release of glucose into the blood.

7. Brown rice is important for a healthy heart. Researchers at Temple University School of Medicine report that brown rice is a better choice over white because it has an ingredient that protects against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

8. It reduces  the severity of asthma because it’s a rich source of manganese and magnesium. ust one cup of brown rice will provide you with 88.0% of the daily value for manganese

9. Because of this rich source of magnesium it lowers high blood pressure, reduces the frequency of migraine headaches, and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. With a diet low on magnesium, calcium can gain entry into the nerves and overactivate it. Magnesium helps regulate nerve and muscle tone by blocking the entry of calcium into the nerve, preventing its contraction and keeping it relaxed. Besides, Magnesium is necessary for healthy bones as well.

10. Brown rice provides an excellent source of whole grain for people with gluten allergy and thus can substitute for numerous whole grain foods. People with Celiac disease cannot eat proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and wheat because the gluten contained in them damages the lining of the small intestines so that essential nutrients cannot get absorbed properly, and it (gluten) also triggers an abnormal immune reaction.

11. Brown rice protects the body against cancer particularly it substantially reduces the risk of colon cancer because of its high fiber content and the presence of selenium in the brown rice. Selenium is a trace mineral that induces DNA repair and synthesis in damaged cells and inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Selenium is an antioxidant and is essential for thyroid hormone metabolism and immune function.

12. Selenium plays a critical role in cancer prevention as a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, which is one of the body’s most powerful antioxidant enzymes and is used in the liver to detoxify a wide range of potentially harmful molecules. When levels of glutathione peroxidase are too low, these toxic molecules wreak havoc on any cells with which they come in contact, damaging their cellular DNA and promoting the development of cancer cells.

13. Brown rice diet contains a high amount of fiber great for cleaning the colon. In your gut acts as a drain cleaner, grabbing passing nasty toxins such as pollutants, chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals. It cures constipation and intestinal blockage.

14. It is rich in manganese. Manganese can help to keep our bones healthy and strong. It also helps to synthesize fatty acids and cholesterol.

15. It is rich in Naturally-Occurring Oils which are the healthy fats which help normalize cholesterol levels.

16. It is a perfect Baby Food. Brown rice cereal or brown rice itself is the perfect baby’s first food due to the dense natural nutrition and fiber it contains. This is a much better choice than refined white rice/corn cereal products because rapidly growing babies and toddlers require nutrient rich diets to help maintain rapid growth cycles.

17. It heals candida yeast Infections because of its high fiber which can help sensitive digestive systems to heal from an overgrowth of candida organisms.

18. Finally, brown rice is simply delicious and a fantastic staple for both vegetarian and vegan diets. Brown rice can be used as a white rice alternative in most vegetarian recipes and provides a full, rich and somewhat nutty flavor. Brown rice flour can be used for vegetarian pancakes, breads and other baked goods. All in all, brown rice is clearly the an amazing healthy choice.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO FIGHT GUM DISEASE & CAVITIES

The teeth are a direct reflection of your whole body wellness, and if you consume a healthy diet, then your teeth and gums will be healthy too. There are certain foods that can be thought of as a double-edged sword, in terms of keeping your body healthy and cleaning your teeth at the same time, and people need a more clear understanding of these items for better oral care.



Most Americans consume a diet that is highly acidic, inflammatory, high in sugar, and pretty much a toxic nightmare. Eating this way causes the blood to become acidic, and when that happens, the body pulls minerals from anywhere it can to correct the pH, but this leaves fewer minerals for bones and teeth.

The average American is significantly inflamed throughout the body, typically because people eat too much sugar. However, certain fats are also inflammatory by nature and the American diet is full of inflammatory fats, which makes matters worse.

Below is a complete and holistic approach to gum disease and cavities and most other mouth ailments as well. Holistic is the key, because for the mouth to heal, the body has to be in good overall health. For the body to heal, the gut has to be balanced and healthy too.

Foods to Avoid For Good Oral Health

Certain foods are a mess for our teeth and gums, and unfortunately many of the common foods most Americans eat today, are types that help destroy our smiles such as:

Refined Foods
Sugar
Acidic Foods & Drinks
Processed, Packaged Foods
If you eat sweets, find types that clear out of your mouth quickly. That means stay away from lollipops, caramels, and cough drops that contain refined sugar. The good news is some studies have shown that chocolate, especially raw cacao is not as bad as other sugary treats. If you are going to consume sugary foods, do it with your meals. Your mouth produces more saliva during meals, and this helps to reduce the effect of acid production and also helps rinse pieces of food from the mouth.

Beyond sugary treats, you should give up carbonated soft drinks, as they are the leading source of added sugar among kids and teens. Besides being loaded with sugar, most soft drinks contain phosphoric and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel.

If you eat a lot of starchy foods that can get stuck in your teeth like soft breads and potato chips for instance, you need to be sure to be brushing and flossing more.

Watch for substances that dry out your mouth such as alcohol and many medicines. If medications are the cause, consider talking to your health care provider about getting a fluoride rinse, or a fluoride gel for brushing your teeth

Limit between-meal snacks. If you crave a snack, choose something nutritious and good for the teeth such as nuts & seeds. Sesame seeds are especially good at reducing plaque and at helping build tooth enamel. They are also very high in calcium.

Drinking more water can help prevent tooth decay, because water cleans the mouth and helps produce saliva that deposits essential minerals into the teeth. It keeps gums hydrated and washes away particles. Also, get into a routine where you brush your teeth twice and floss once a day.

Natural Tips That Provide Excellent Oral Health

To promote oral health, we need to be eating more whole, raw produce such as vegetables & fruit, however there are other foods that heal. Below you will find the list of “Good Guys” in for fighting tooth decay.

Fiber-Rich Fruits & Vegetables

Foods with fiber stimulate saliva flow, which is a natural defense against cavities. Not only does saliva wash away food particles and clean your mouth, about 20 minutes after you eat something, saliva begins to neutralize the acids attacking your teeth. Opt for crisp fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery, brown rice, quinoa, and legumes.

Dairy Products

The calcium, phosphates and vitamin D in cheese, milk, plain Greek yogurt, kefir and other dairy products are important minerals for the health of your teeth. The teeth are made mostly of calcium, and without enough in your diet, you risk developing tooth decay and other issues. An added benefit is that the calcium in these foods mixes with plaque and sticks to teeth, protecting them from acids that cause decay, while also helping to rebuild tooth enamel. You can get plenty of calcium from foods like Oranges, collard greens, Broccoli, kale, Edamame, Bok Choy, Figs, Sardines, Salmon, Okra, Tofu & almonds.



Green & Black Teas

Tea contains compounds like antioxidants that interact with plaque and either kill or suppress bacteria, which prevents them from producing tooth-destroying acid. This not only helps to prevent cavities, but also reduces inflammation and the chances of gum disease.

Sugarless Chewing Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can help remove harmful acid off your teeth. Sugarless gum containing xylitol has been shown to have decay-preventive qualities, as research indicates that xylitol helps inhibit the growth of oral bacteria that causes cavities.

Eat For A Healthy Gut

It is extremely difficult to have good oral health and poor gut health. Anyone with serious mouth problems should consider a detoxification protocol that repairs the gut, kills Candida and other parasites, and balances the gut microbes. Good health starts in the gut, and so does bad health.

Start with learning and consuming more prebiotic & probiotic power foods. A food that is prebiotic contains mostly fiber, that gut bacteria feed on, which produces fermentation by-products that benefit our health. Here are some of the most potent prebiotic foods:

Almonds
Asparagus
Bananas
Burdock root
Cereal grains (whole wheat, barley, rye)
Chicory root
Endive
Garlic
Greens (especially dandelion greens)
Jerusalem artichoke
Jicama
Kiwi
Leeks
Legumes
Mushrooms
Oats
Onions
Probiotic Power Foods are prepared by putting them in a slow cooker or a mason jar or otherwise letting the bacteria ferment the food naturally. Common bacteria, like lactobacilli, break down the sugars into acids, preserving the food and imparting a salty, tangy flavor. Fermented foods can provide fiber for our gut bacteria as well as more GOOD bacteria. Here are some of the most potent probiotic foods:

Fermented vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut, carrots, green beans, beets, lacto-fermented pickles, traditional cured Greek olives)
Fermented soybeans (miso, natto, tempeh)
Cultured dairy products (buttermilk, yogurt, kefir, cheese)
Cultured nondairy products (yogurts and kefirs made from organic soy, coconut, etc.)
Fermented grains and beans (lacto-fermented lentils, chickpea, miso, etc.)
Fermented beverages (kefirs and kombuchas)
Fermented condiments (raw apple cider vinegar)
Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has been around for a long time and involves swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Traditionally, sesame oil was used, but these days, coconut oil is recommended. To increase the potency, you can also use essential oils, such as peppermint, cinnamon, or clove with your coconut oil. Tea tree oil and oil of oregano are two good options, but they can get really intense.

Start off with just a small amount
Swish the oil around in your mouth (like you would with mouthwash) for 15 to 20 minutes.
Don't swish hard, or your cheeks will get sore very quickly.
When your time is up, spit it out, do not swallow it.
Other Tips For Oral Health

Floss Correctly Every Day

Most people do not floss correctly, if at all. Flossing is imperative for anyone with gingivitis because the sides of the teeth need to be cleaned so food debris doesn't feed the bacteria.

Ditch Toxic Toothpaste & Mouthwash

There are some "healthy" toothpastes out there, but make sure they do not contain any of the following ingredients like: Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), triclosan, any artificial colors or flavors, hydrated silica or alcohol.

You can also make your own toothpaste by following this simple recipe:

Equal parts of coconut oil & baking soda
Add essential oil like cinnamon or mint to taste
Add stevia (if desired) to taste
For 6 tablespoons of oil to 6 tablespoons of baking soda, add 10-15 drops of essential oil. Try peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange, rosemary or any others or any combination that sounds good to you. These essential oils provide more than taste, they also add other health benefits, so experiment with combinations.

Stop or Reduce Smoking

Smoking anything like tobacco or marijuana can be very harmful to the mouth. So is vaporizing, but not as much so. If you have gum disease, but you continue to smoke regularly, the best you can hope for with this regimen is for things to stay the same and not get worse. Those who do this and continue to smoke, may notice that their mouth does not getting any worse, generally symptoms will improve, but their mouths may not completely heal.

Top 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Plantains

Plantains belong to the same family as bananas but they have to be cooked to be eaten. Plantains are delicious and can be found in many places in the world. Here are a few health benefits of plantains:

1,Plantains are very reliable sources of starch and energy.

2, Plantains contain a high amount of dietary fibre which helps ensure healthy bowels and reduces constipation.

3, Plantains have more vitamin C than bananas. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.

4, Plantains have more vitamin A than bananas. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin A plays a vital role in the visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucus membranes, and enhancing skin complexion.

5, As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly high in vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine). Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia, and to decrease homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body.

6,Plantains also contain folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. Folates (folic acid) are essential for healthy pregnancy.

7, Plantains also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well.

8, Plantains have more potassium than bananas. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium.

9, Plantains are famed to be diuretic and can help prevent kidney and bladder problems.

10, Plantains ease the discomfort associated with the menstrual period.

Sir. Olateru-Olagbegi II, KBE.

On March 29, 1941, at 04:00pm, Olateru was crowned Olowo of Owo by his honor, the Chief Commissioner, Western Provinces, G.G. Shute, on the grounds of the Owo Government School in the presence of a large crowd of onlookers. Thousands of people witnessed the occasion, including representatives from the other traditional rulers in Yorubaland and various organizations in Owo and environ.

Oba Olateru was born in 1910, three years before his father, Olagbegi I, ascended the throne. He had his elementary education at Owo Government School and during his school days, he was a keen and polite student, an avid athlete, who at every annual prize giving day received prizes for sportsmanship. He carried this habit of sportsmanship with him into his adulthood. He was an avid lawn tennis player and he won many trophies during his time. Even when he became Olowo, Olateru continued to carry on one of the sports that were the darling of the British officials, lawn tennis.

On leaving school, he became a schoolteacher but he later joined the Owo Native Administration as a treasury clerk. He worked at Owo as a tax collector but later, transferred to Ute and while there, he won the contest for Olowo.

Oba Olateru Olagbegi made provisions for more elementary schools and following his accession, the number of elementary schools increased from four (4) to twelve (12). The school population increased from one thousand, three hundred and thirty (1,330) in 1941 to three thousand, five hundred and sixty three (3,561) in 1950.

The Anglican Mission, a Christian denomination, had built Sts. John and Mary, two teacher training Colleges and post primary institutions for men and women and St. Catherine’s Grammar School for girls. The Roman Catholic Mission established St. Louis Girls Grammar School and St. Louis Hospital. Another Christian mission had built the New Church Grammar School.

The Methodist mission, one of the first Christian missions to establish a school in Owo, also joined the race for school construction at the post primary level by building the Methodist Grammar School, and later, Mr. Ajasin established Owo High School. Also established during Olowo Olateru Olagbegi’s tenure are Irekari Grammar School, Idoani and Ekamarun Grammar School, Ifon. Many secondary modern schools were established during his time. The West regional Government established the Owo Trade Center and the Farm Center. The people of Owo kingdom ascribes these educational opportunities to the wisdom and foresight of Oba Olateru Olagbegi, some says that great was the day and fortunate was Owo and her people when Olateru Olagbegi became the ruler of Owo kingdom.

The new king rebuilt the palace with an impressive facade, made improvements in areas of the palace which had become dilapidated and created modern amenities and conveniences in the place while preserving some of the old buildings with their traditions. There are still in the palace multiple compounds, Ughas (courtyards), both ancient and modern. It appears that many Owo people followed his example by erecting modern buildings.

During the time of Olowo Olagbegi II, there were newly laid streets throughout his domain with the main market, Ulede, having improved and modern stalls, (but no toilets, as the public toilets that were built by the colonial authorities were unhygienic and constituted a health hazard), as well as a motor park. Buildings of modern types were erected for the council offices and he was instrumental in the building of the Owo Town Hall, a small replica of the Mapo Hall, Ibadan at the Ugbo-Ogwata near Okiti Asegbo. Other amenities like the Owo Town Hall, Cooperative Assembly Hall, the National and Standard Banks, the supply of pipe borne water, electric lighting in the streets, a new imposing central mosque and a Muslim Grammar School, all coming into being during the time he was Olowo.

Immediately following Olateru’s enthronement, he brought forward the proposal for the establishment of a secondary school in Owo. The people of Owo had longed for this type of educational institution for a considerably long time. It is said that he believed that education, beyond the elementary level, would bring progress to the town and provide enlightenment to the people. In 1946, after some efforts on the part of the new king and his Edibo chiefs, the idea of building a secondary school became a reality when the premier secondary school in Owo, Imade College, named after Imade, the founder of the town was established. Imade College stands as a monument to the self-determination of Owo people and co-operation between the king, Olateru Olagbegi, and the people of Owo.

Before the establishment of the school, it became a problem to get suitable personnel among the citizens of Owo, with the requisite qualification and training, to staff the administration of the school as there was then no individual with the required qualifications among Owo citizens with the capacity to head the new secondary school as the qualification of a Bachelor’s degree and training in post-primary educational theory and practice were required by the British administration for the headship of a secondary school in Nigeria.

Olateru strove strenuously to realize the goal of training up an Owo citizen to attain the requisite qualification. He suggested that a ‘son of the soil’ be sponsored by the Owo community for further studies at the University overseas. As a result, after consultation with some old students of St. Andrews College, Oyo, Mr. Michael Adekunle Ajasin was selected to go to Fourah- Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and (now the University of Sierra Leone).Mr. Ajasin obtained a Bachelor’s degree in history from Sierra Leone and a diploma in Education from the University of Durham, England. He returned home to head Imade College, Owo. Following his return to Nigeria, Ajasin became the principal of the school.

Following Olateru’s ascent on the throne of Owo, progress and development became the norm in the kingdom and that there had not been any time in Owo history when she had seen so much advancement and progress in education, town planning, health, religion, agriculture and administrative reforms. But we have to remember also that there had not been any such time in Owo history and in Yorubaland as a whole. Olateru was fortunate to rule at a time of great progress in Nigeria, especially in the Western Region. But a critical assessment of the period reveals that it was also a turbulent and sad era.

Although the era witnessed, at the outset, an unprecedented advancement in education and enlightenment and an economic boom derived from cocoa production and sale, and general prosperity, Owo people also continued in the path of their frontier-like culture of political turbulence, instability and unpredictability. As soon as he ascended the throne, the new king resuscitated the Owo Inner Council which then became, as in the past, the executive council of the land.

In 1944, in consultation with this Council, he mulled the idea of creating the twenty four new chieftaincy titles, called Aragbagbaiye. In 1957, these citizens, chosen by the people, became members of the Inner Council but with a proviso that the titles would not be hereditary. The Aragbagbaiyes: for Igboroko- (1) Aladenika-Olusemola; (2) Adetula-Olufisan; (3) Justus Okoro; (4) Giwa Amadu-Egbewa; for Iloro- (1) Samuel Adeloye- Aboluwodi; for Ehin-Ogbe- (1) Jombo-Olanunma; (2) Badejo Oloka-Olora; for Isaipen: (1) Olanipekun Oyegun; (2) Jacob Dapo Aisida; for Ijebu: (1) Babatunde Ogunbodede- Ashara.

Later, in 1947, the Owo Town Council, with elected members who were the representatives of the people with fifty per cent of the council members being non traditional chiefs, both men and women, came into being. The Olowo exercised authority and ruled with his Inner Council. Under the guidance of the District Officers E. N. C. Dickinson, J. F. Hayley and W. K. D. Macray and with the cooperation of Chief (then Mr.) M. A. Ajasin, a re-organized District Council came into effect. The Council began to work to democratize according to the provisions of the Richards Constitution which came into effect in 1946.

Administrative Committees were formed and members were appointed and placed in charge of the different departments of the council. It was still the traditional order but with a facade of progress.

May God continue to bless Owo Kingdom with good leaders of purpose and may the soul of the departed leaders rest in peace. Ase.