Dignitaries have arrived Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to grace the occasion of the coronation ceremony and presentation of staff of office to the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr Lekan Balogun.
Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi are among other dignitaries at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, venue of the ceremony.
Live from Oyo State: VP Yemi Osinbajo arrives Ibadan for the coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadan. Stay tuned for updates pic.twitter.com/0DWbdtOMCQ
— APC 🇳🇬 Support (@APCNigeria) March 11, 2022
I just arrived in Ibadan for the coronation of my friend, Senator Lekan Balogun, as the Olubadan of Ibadanland. Thank you, Gov @seyiamakinde, for the warm reception. pic.twitter.com/XgzrbFKvBL
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 11, 2022
Also at the event are, Chariman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Ex-Governors Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); and Deputy Governors, Murphy Orimisan Ayedatiwa (Ondo), Benedict Alabi (Osun), who are representing their governors.
Ex-Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro, of Lagos State is representing the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event.
The roll call also includes: Dr Frederick Obateru, Olugbo of Ugboland; the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubarkar, members of the Olubadan-in-Council including, high chiefs, Eddy Oyewole and Adebayo Akande.
Others are traditional rulers, political appointees and religious leaders including: the Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheikh Abdulganir Agbotomokekere; Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin of Republic, Tukur Burantai; the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; Cultural Ambassador of Yorubaland, Chief Mrs Mutiat Ladoja; Prelate Emeritus Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Makinde; a former Minister of Trade and Commerce, Dr Mrs Onikepo Akande; former CAN President, Oyo State, Pastor Benjamin Akano and CAN Chairman, Oyo State, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju.
The arrival of the Vice-President signalled the official commencement of the ceremony attended by thousands of Ibadan residents from home and abroad.
There is heavy security presence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as more dignitaries arrive the venue.
Major places like Iwo Road, Iyana-Church, Agodi, Gate, Mokola, Ojoo, Beere, Dugbe and all adjourning routes that lead to the Mapo Hall have security operatives in their good numbers.
While different groups of drummers showed skills to out perform one another, many traditional and social cultural groups were also on hand in various colorful outfits to celebrate the occasion.
