This is the order the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, ought to have passed, instead of the demolition order given on the Olore Arabic and Islamic Reformation Centre in Ojoo. This decision appears not to be well thought out and lacking in deep understanding of the situation on ground.
Sheikh Abdul Rasheed Olore, may his soul rest in peace, was my dad’s friend. I have had cause to meet him on several occasions. He had visited our house in Oyo. In those days, my late father, while he was alive, took us along on visits to Baba Olore’s house in Ibadan. Baba Olore, though no one is perfect; was a true man of God.
For those who don’t know Baba Olore; his name is Sheikh Abdur-Rasheed Olore. He was a popular Islamic figure in Yorubaland, especially Ibadan. Olore, in those days, was a household name in Oyo State. His Ile Kewu (Islamic school) is one of the impactful Islamic schools in the Southwest of Nigeria. After the Markaz of Sheikh Adam in Agege and Ma’adul Arabiy in Elekuro, Ibadan, I think Olore comes next.
Oh, some people are still wondering where the Centre is located? OK; let me offer a brief description of the location of the School. Olore Reformation Centre is around Ojoo in Ibadan. It is a popular centre in Ojoo. It is one of the milestones you meet on your way to Oyo town. While coming from Lagos, after Iwo Road, just focus on your right hand side. The centre is conspicuously located in the heart of the Ibadan.
The Centre occupies a relatively large expanse of land, with different structures; ranging from a mosque, residential apartments and sundry facilities. Specifically, the building that accommodates the inmates has seven rooms (Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). I deliberately listed these numbers to give a succinct depiction of how the centre operates. Rooms 1 – 3 are meant for those who have become addicted to all sorts of social vices and crimes (drugs, gangsterism, alcoholism, violence, robbery, cultism and murder). Rooms 3 – 6 are for those who have been yielding, gradually, to rehabilitation and correction. Room 7 is mainly for the senior inmates – those who have completely yielded to rehabilitation and turned over a new leaf
Against what is widely touted in the mainstream media, Olore Reformation Centre is not illegal: it is duly registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission with certificate of incorporation of the incorporated trustees of Olore Arabic and Islamic Reformation Centre. Also, all the inmates undergoing reformation in the Centre are not kidnapped on the streets. They are children, whose parents deliberately took there for correctional services. Before any child is admitted, the parent must have obtained a form, filled and signed it – with a pledge of monthly stipend for the upkeep of his/her ward. There is nothing like forceful incarceration or detention.
Let me reveal more to you about this particular centre. Some parents, after taking their children to Olore, never go back to check on their welfare. Where do you want the owners of this Centre get fund to feed these hapless wards? During the lifetime of Alhaji Arisekola Alao and Baba Lamidi Adedibu of blessed memory, they took it upon themselves to cater for the financial needs of this Centre. Monthly, they sent money to assist the owner. Alhaji Arisekola was doing all these as part of his responsibilities as the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland. Today, Alhaji Dawud Akinola Damak is the new Aare Musulumi, after the sudden demise of Baba Arisekola. What, in specific terms, has been his contributions towards the sustenance of the Olore Reformation Centre? I doubt if there is any.
Establishing a reformation centre is not new in today’s world. Individuals or centres like these are partners in progress with any serious government. Setting up of correctional facilities by private individuals is one of the cardinal systems adopted in advanced countries on societal edification. In the UK, private owners of rehabilitation centres are supported by their governments. They don’t abandon them to their plights. No, they don’t. The two reformation centres founded by the Oyo State Government are non-functional. Ask the Oyo State Government, when last has any of those in charge visited the places? How much is the annual budgetary provision for the two centres? None!
As much as I will implore Engr Seyi Makinde to seek professional advice on this issue; however, without sounding partial, my candid opinion about activities in the Centre is that crude and antiquated methods are employed and deployed in the process of reformation. Why chaining them? Why starving them? Though, I am not so sure of the torture aspect of the training. Starving the inmates and subjecting them to untold hardship and dehumanising conditions is wrong and ungodly. These need to be looked into and corrected.
Nevertheless, demolishing this edifying Centre is not the right step to take by any responsive and responsible government. This is a private property – legally owned by some law-abiding citizens. People have the right to own property without fear of demolition or intimidation by the government. More so, the purpose of this Centre is virtuous and commendable.
You may wish to ask if this Olore Reformation Centre has any tangible, positive impact on the society. I swear by my last day, yes, it has enormous impacts. Hardened criminals and urchins have received reformational healing. Drug and alcohol addicts have been salvaged. Children, who would have constituted diabolical menace to our society have turned out to be patriotic citizens. Armed robbers, hired assassins and kidnappers have been rehabilitated to become scholars and great fathers and mothers to their children. Orphans and widows have been blessed through the activities of Olore Arabic and Islamic Reformation Centre. If this is not a voluntary and praiseworthy assistance to the government and its people, I wonder what other appellation we can label it?
What this Centre needs is government’s assistance and kind support. Also, there is need for technical and professional guidance from private and public experts. The Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde, needs to be alive to its responsibilities by offering kind support to the Olore Reformation Centre, not demolishing or obliterating this worthy heritage.
