The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has enjoined resident non-Ibadan indigenes to live peacefully with their hosts and cooperate with the Olubadan palace towards ensuring that nobody is unjustly treated.
Oba Balogun made the call, on Saturday, at his Alarere, Ibadan residence, while hosting the executive members of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Ibadan Zone, who paid him a congratulatory visit.
The Olubadan remarked that Ibadan has, for a very long time in history, become a melting pot of different nationalities and that would not change under his reign, saying rather, the Palace would encourage the metropolis to be more conducive for indigenes and non-indigenes alike.
To complement his gesture, the monarch declared the need for all to live peacefully among themselves, adding that the accommodating nature of Ibadans is second to none which accounts for the daily expansion of Ibadan to the joy and satisfaction of indigenes.
“It is however incumbent upon our visitors to reciprocate Ibadans’ good nature by shunning all forms of act capable of disrupting the age-long tradition of good neighbourliness and I want to assure you of my fairness to all in the relationship between the residents and the Palace, as a father of all,” the Olubadan stated.
Apex umbrella
The Chairman of ODU, Dr Ibrahim Adekunle, who led other members of the executive committee on the visit, explained that the union is the apex umbrella body for all sons and daughters of the ancient town of Offa and the Ibadan Zone of the union is on the visit to thank God for the grace granted Oba Balogun to mount the Olubadan throne.
Adekunle noted: “Ibadan has been a home to us where we are living and prospering within our respective capacities. We are here, Kabiyesi to felicitate you on this historic occasion of your ascension to the throne and assure Your Majesty of our unflinching cooperation and support with prayer that our God will grant you long life on the throne in sound and robust health.”
He described the reception accorded the members by the Olubadan as fatherly and said the members would go all out to do more in contributing their quota to the development of Ibadanland and the state as a whole.
Emmanuel Ukoh
