James Sowole in Abeokuta
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has disclosed that the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was the brain behind his (Gbadebo) choice in becoming the traditional ruler of the ancient town.
Gbadebo disclosed this at the weekend while speaking at the Adire Hall, located in Ake palace, venue of the special award and luncheon which was part of activities to mark the annual Lisabi Festival.
The monarch going memory lane and in appreciation of Osoba’s role towards his emergence, recalled that it was the former governor who was the first person to put a telephone call across to inform him (Gbadebo) to start preparing for the royal stand after the passage of Oba Oyebade Lipede.
Gbadebo said following the involvement of Osoba, and for his (Osoba) genuine zeal and love towards him, he was spurred and hence, decided to show interest and commitment in attaining the royal seat of his forefathers.
“I want to appreciate the role of Akinrogun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who was the first person to call me to prepare for the throne after the passage of Oba Oyebade Lipede. He called to congratulate me and tell me to start preparing for the stool. I now said am ready to take the heritage of my forefathers”, he explained.
The monarch added that he is pleased that unity and cooperation are much among the traditional rulers in Egbaland and beyond, and specifically appreciated Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola for equally injecting love among the traditional rulers through his conduct.
The first-class traditional ruler on the awards bestowed on some Egba indigenes stated that the award was necessary to show appreciation to the awardees given their contributions to the growth of Egbaland, assuring that it is going to be a continuous exercise.
The soldier-turned-royal father pointed out that in the history of Egbaland, he was the first traditional ruler to maintain one wife, and recalled that even his late father who was a traditional ruler in the ancient town paraded ten wives.
The monarch appreciated his wife for tolerating him even after over five decades of marriage, pointing out that this is even despite his profession as a soldier, businessman, and traditional ruler, stressing that he would continue to ensure that peace does not lack in his domain.
Earlier in his speech the Chairman Planning Committee of the Lisabi Festival, Chief Rasheed Raji, explained that a celebration is an annual event organised to bring all Egba sons and daughters home and abroad together with the view to showcasing robust and rich culture and tradition.
“This yearly event is also done to celebrate and bring to memory legacies our forefathers bequeathed on us. We don’t want their efforts to be in vain. The essence of this gathering is to recognize individuals, groups/societies/organisations contributions to the growth and development of Egbaland and Nigeria by extension”, he emphasised.
Raji who is the Ashipa of Egbaland added that the ceremony will equally provide a platform to raise funds to sustain the festival and to make it more robust and take it to an international standard.
“To achieve the above aims and objectives among others, a high-powered committee with reputable and international experience personalities was constituted. They toiled day and night. They sacrificed their time and energy to midwife this epoch-making programme”, he added.
The committee boss who was a two-time Nigerian military governor appealed for support and sponsorship for the subsequent editions, assuring that such support will be used judiciously.
Meanwhile, the awardees include Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Olatunde Abudu, Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, Hon Olawale Edun, Hon Bosun Tijani, Most Rev Jasper Peter Akinola, Princess Mojibade Omotade, Fola Adeola, Tayo Aderinokun (posthumous), late Agura of Gbagura Sabir Bakre and Prince Adeyanju Lipede.
