Y Olubunmi OsotekuOyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has, on Tuesday, presented the Staff of Office to the new Soun of Ogbomosholand, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye.
The official coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to the 21st Soun of Ogbomosho was held at the Soun Township Stadium, Ogbomoso.
While presenting the Staff of Office, Governor Makinde congratulated the new monarch and urged him to work for the unity of the town, the state, and the state Traditional Council as a whole, appealing to all those who contested the stool of the Soun of Ogbomosho to sheath their sword and withdraw their court cases in the interest and peace of the town.
He noted: “The contestation for the throne is behind us and I am looking forward to those in court withdrawing their court cases by end of this week as a show of love for Ogbomosholand. So, the people fighting must stop. If they don’t, as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, we are in the fight together and I will ensure we fight them with everything within the powers of the government.
“I am a believer in the Constitutional roles for our traditional rulers and I will appeal to our new Kabiyesi to work for the progress of the state,” the governor affirmed.
Leading the dignitaries that witnessed the historic event is a former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Others are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented by Sir Olusegun Adekunle; Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi; and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
Positive impact
In his remarks, Professor Osinbajo extolled the virtues of the Soun and expressed optimism that the people of Ogbomosholand would soon begin to feel the positive impact of the new monarch.
Osinbajo said: “The person who is the new Soun is my close and intimate friend. What I know about him that makes me happy that he is our new king is that he is a man who loves people and humanity and I am sure he will show the love.
“He is a truthful person. He doesn’t lie. All I see about him is that a king must love his people and be truthful. God will help you and support you,” he prayed.
In their separate goodwill messages, the SGF, Senator George Akume; governors Abdulrahman (Kwara) and Adeleke (Osun), commended Governor Makinde, the new monarch and the people of Ogbomosholand on their choice, and prayed for the success of the new monarch.
Great potential
In his acceptance speech after receiving his staff and instrument of office from Governor Makinde, Oba Ghandi called on all stakeholders, including government at the federal, state and local government levels, and indigenes of Ogbomosholand, to work together to ensure that Ogbomosho fulfils the great potential that the Almighty God has imbued it with.
Ghandi said: “Let my coronation be a celebration and a collective reaffirmation of our shared destiny. I intend to be a King to serve you all irrespective of religion, gender or other things that may differentiate us. The strength of our Kingdom lies not only in the crown I wear but in the bonds that bind us together: the bonds of loyalty, respect and mutual understanding.”
He disclosed that his service is premised on a clear vision of a prosperous and peaceful Ogbomosholand which rests on a detailed 25-year plan, to be unveiled in the coming months, promising to serve the vision with all he has.
He said the relationships he had built over the years within and outside Nigeria, the experience he had garnered from running several successful businesses, and the skills garnered from more than 30 years of pastoring churches and other pastors has been useful.
Also present were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Olu of Warri, Ogianne Atuwase III; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun; and Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale, among other traditional rulers.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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