By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been called upon to rebury late Chief Ayo Elegba, who won a Laurel for Nigeria at the All Nigerians Festival of Art and Culture on December 17, 1972.
Road expansion at Owo had affected the grave of the late icon, which had to be exhumed to allow for reburial.
In a letter written by the family of the deceased dated 17th October, 2018 and signed by Chief (Mrs) Remilekun Bamisile, the daughter of the deceased, she stated that the deceased was given a befitting burial by the then Western States Government of Nigeria at the Health Centre Iyire which was the only public place at the time Elegba died.
“Late Chief Ayo Elegba was a native of Iyire, Owo, Ondo State. He was a local musician who represented the then Western States at Kaduna in Kaduna state in December 17, 1972 during the All Nigerians Festival of Art and Culture. His group came first in all West Africa.
“On their way coming back home after the competition, their group was involved in a fatal motor accident which claimed the lives of 18 of them including late Chief Ayo Elegba, the leader of the group.
“However, the Government of Western States decided to give all the deceased befitting burial and they were buried in a public place as a mark of honour for the roles that they played. Hence, late Chief Ayo Elegba was buried at the entrance of Health Centre,Iyire Owo.
“We are appealing to you, Governor Akeredolu because the grave of Chief Elegba was marked by your government recently for the purpose of expanding the road. We are not objecting to the expansion of the road which will bring more developments to Iyire community,” she pleaded.
She appealed to the governor to take the necessary steps to ensure the corpse of their father is reburied in another public place at Iyire township, adding that late Chief Elegba was also a father of many people as well and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu himself.
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