Nigerian Government to Honour Monarch with Ecological Intervention

Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan

The Federal Government of Nigeria has agreed to honour the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, with ecological intervention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to mark his first year anniversary on the throne.

This was the outcome of a meeting held in Abuja, in the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ecological Project Office, where Oba Balogun was described as a nationalist and deserving of anything that would enhance the good living of his people.

Oba Balogun was installed and presented with the Staff of Office, by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland on 11th March, 2022, but the occasion of his first year on the throne could not be celebrated due to the general elections across the country at the time.

Ahead of the first year celebration rescheduled for the middle of May, the monarch had requested for an audience with the SGF on the ecological issues affecting his domain, Ibadanland, and in response to the request, a meeting was convened and approval granted to address the issues, as raised by the monarch.

Represented at the meeting by a team led by the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr Kola Balogun, the monarch acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government in the past, especially the channelisation of Ogunpa stream, but remarked that there’s still much to be done, especially in the area of erosion and other earth threatening environmental hazards.

Responding to the request by Oba Balogun, the Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s Office, Sheu Ibrahim, who presided over the meeting, praised the Olubadan for his concern for the welfare of his people, stressing that Oba Balogun had over the years showed in deeds and thoughts his love for the people without bias for tribe or religion.

Recalling that the Olubadan’s nationalistic posture informed his recent appointment as the Chancellor of Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education in far away Kano State, Ibrahim assured the monarch that if for time constraint, the ecological intervention did not meet his first anniversary celebration as being planned, it should be taken that he had received it as his first anniversary gift from the Federal Government.

Sen. Kola Balogun (left) with the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Sheu Ibrahim, (right) at the meeting held in Abuja.