Traditional rulers and prominent natives of the Egun and Yoruba communities of Ijofin, Igbeji and Owo in Ipokia local government, Ogun State, yesterday, celebrated the 100 years of existence of the first internal boundary of Nigeria.
Following the amalgamation of 1914, the first international boundary between the Bristish-run Nigeria and the French-run Benin Republic was situated at Ijofin.
The Commissioner of the state Civil Service Commission, Honourable Abayomi Hunye, said that the late Johnson Whehuwede, an Egun man, was the one chosen by the British authorities to hoist the flag then known as Union Jack to mark the boundary between Nigeria and the French-controlled Dahomey.
He said the centenary celebration became necessary and important to the people as one of the forefathers was the one who hoisted the flag of the colonial master, Britain, during the event.
According to Hunye, “history has shown that the Egun have played significant roles leading to the creation of the entity today called Nigeria.
It is worthy to note that the Union Jack, as the British flag was then known, was hoisted by an Egun man, the name of who was Johnson Whehuwede.”
Present at the occasion were, the Ololo of Ijofin, Oba Moruf Awode, Onigbeji of Igbeji, Oba Sunday Aihawu and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Patrick Akwanu and many other traditional chiefs.
A former Director General in the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Michael Kiki Gadonu, enjoined all natives of the communities to come and develop their ancestral homes noting that if government refused to help them, they should result to self-help.
The community leadership regretted that government did not participate in the event.
The first Customs office structure was also built there, but deserted and dilapidated.
