By Anthonia Soyingbe / Senior Reporter
Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, a city founded in 1825, is very rich in history as well as natural endowments.
Chief of the natural endowments the city is known of is the Olumo Rock which was known to have provided shelter and protection for its people during the Kiriji inter-tribal war in the 19th century.
The rock made it impossible for the enemies to defeat Egba warriors thereby frustrating attempts to capture the town. Its reputation is such that it has become a must visit for first timers to the ancient town.
The settlement according to historical records was however started by some slave hunters who were reportedly pushed from Dahomey and Ibadan.
The village populations were then known to have scattered over the open country to take refuge among the rocks surrounding the city. It was from there that a confederacy of many distinct groups was formed but each continued to preserve their cultural, religious and social lifestyles likewise, the names of their original villages.
Abeokuta has produced eminent personalities in the nation’s social and political life and some of these include: former Head of State and President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Late Politician and Business mogul Moshood Abiola, former interim President Ernest Shonekan among several icons of the like of Nobel Laureate, Professor Oluwole Soyinka, Late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Late FRA Williams, Legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti among several others.
Perhaps one thing that has continued to stand the city of Abeokuta out over centuries is the fact that it has been able to resist the cultural pollution that usually follow civilization and development; making it a retirement or holiday town for those who thirst for peace and ideal environment to relax despite the political upheave in some parts of the country.
Many people have said that before the present democratic dispensation, Abeokuta enjoyed solitude night life but then what can really pass for night-crawling and clubbing in this ancient city began to manifest shortly after the return of democratic rule.
“With the return of democracy in 1999, we have begun to witness a new lifestyle in this ancient city”, said Bankole Oduwole, one of the big guys in town.
“We now see a lot of girls mill around Wetland Eatery located in Oke-ilewo a popular joint in the city who are known to hang out for some largesse of visitors to the new life of Abeouta.
“The opening up of the city by the present administration especially with the coming up of new edifices, night life is taking a new turn in Abeokuta”, said Oduwole.
It was a stunning experience for a town-returnee after a break in the life of the ancient abode in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece “abroad” as it were.
It was learnt that more stun would still come in the years ahead once many more Lagos guys take real good control of the city political landscape.
Eateries of all aesthetics and taste has become landmark structures at what used to be the driving and playing ground bordering the old OPIC building and the age-old Abeokuta Sports Club and Super Foods formerly located at Post Office Roundabout before it was located to the present site along Ita-Eko road.
Not even religious crusades are insulated. During a Reinhard Bonke crusade in the Stadium in year 2002, the first impression was that of a religious programme under the spiritual leadership of a popular servant of God, but not so when one looks deeper.
Many who claimed to have come for the crusade ended up in the various pepper soup joints and drinking bars that decorate the place. Some even took advantage of that “that small house” to do other fellowships. Little wonder no known religious programme had been recorded in the stadium in the past two or three years.
Along the Presidential Boulevard located in GRA, Ibara is a nude club, heavily patronized by government officials. These girls dance in their birthday suits or in their pants and bras to the delight of these men.
“It’s a reminiscent of the gogo nite; the ladies dance to current popular music and guys spray them with money, especially tucked in their bra and pants, a patron”, says a patron of the Club.
Opposite Mosun’s café, nude girls have a field day dehumanizing themselves for a pot of porridge that it may be difficult if not impossible to obliterate the guilt even after being born-again on either side- Muslim or Christian.
Alongside these nude clubs are very prestigious and responsible wine bars. The Chocolate City is one of such bars. Located within the prestigious exquisite Continental Suites, its chairman
Also burbling in town is the Sky Pavilion, overlooking the new OPIC tower and bordering Kay Plaza within the perimeter of the Central business district in Abeokuta. Operated by Tunji Sunmon one of the friends and business partners of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, the club is not only exclusive but restricted to the friends of Daniel in and out of government.
One other phenomenon that makes night life worth the salt in the city is the avalanche of Ofada Rice joints, notably at Omida market, Adigbe, Sapon and Kuto areas, all in the heart of the city, these joints stay opened till early as 2.00 in the morning. Various pepper soup joints and cool spots are springing up on a daily basis in the city.
Governor Amosun-led administration has contributed immensely to the resuscitation of nightlife in the city by putting in place some facilities such as newly designed road network with street lamps illuminating the roads at night.
Some residents of the city are optimistic that night life in Abeokuta would appreciate when the various on-going road construction projects are completed.
All in all, night life in Abeokuta particularly and Ogun State in general is picking up. These days, night crawlers have a menu to pick from.
Indeed it is new dawn for Night crawlers in Abeokuta the cradle of Christianity in Nigeria a city built under the club.
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