The Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on Monday, May 6, paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, for engendering oneness, unity and love among the members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
The Olubadan-designate, who until his designation was the Balogun of Ibadanland, the position he held as the next person to the late Olubadan was at the Aliiwo family compound of the late monarch.
He was accompanied on the visit by three of the Advisory Council namely Osi Balogun, Ashipa Olubadan and Ashipa Balogun – Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi and Oba Kolawole Adegbola respectively.
Speaking through Oba Adebimpe after the team was received in the family compound by the Baba Kekere of the late Olubadan, Dr. Sen. Kola Balogun, Oba Olakulehin disclosed that it was the seed of love and unity planted by the late Olubadan that gave the fruit as being witnessed through the visit.
Describing the visit as historic, the Olubadan- designate remarked that the kind of camaraderie that existed among the members of Olubadan Advisory Council during the reign of his predecessor was never heard in Ibadan traditional history.
He recalled that the understanding between him and the late Olubadan was unparalleled as there was never any form of disagreement between the duo while the reign lasted.
He urged for the same bond among the council members during his reign, as he promised that he would build on the legacy left behind by the late Olubadan.
The Olubadan-designate urged the members of Aliiwo family to be thankful to God for the life and times of their departed patriarch.
“Though the reign was short in the eyes of men, the impact and the legacies brought to Ibadan during the short period should be enough consolation and source of gratitude to God Almighty,” the Olubadan-designate added.
Earlier in his welcome address on behalf of the family, Senator Balogun, a member of the ninth Assembly from Oyo South Senatorial District, praised Oba Olakulehin for the heroic and historic visit, emphasising that it had never been heard in history that Olubadan-designate visited the family of his predecessor.
Balogun, who was Baba-Kekere Olubadan to the late monarch, insisted that “the uniqueness of Ibadan remains unfathomable to the uninitiated when it comes to relationship, as Ibadan sons and daughters are always related as brothers and sisters, not minding the largeness of the metropolis.
“The outsiders always wonder why we always refer to one another as brothers and sisters, but what they don’t know is that the Ibadan indigenes have a way of being related either maternally or paternally.
“Where that does not exist, we become related through marriage. And if any of those mentioned is missed, then we become related through our common masquerade festival.
“So there’s no way an Ibadan man or woman can miss any of those four areas of interactions; and that is what makes one indivisible entity despite the largeness of our space and the bigness of our population.
“What we are seeing today is the demonstration of that oneness, and it is my prayer that the unity being demonstrated would lead to a big transformation, growth and development of our land.
“On behalf of our late patriarch and the entire Aliiwo family, I say a big congratulations to Kabiyesi for the grace of being nominated.
“It is our prayer that God Almighty will grant you good health and longevity on the throne.
“We are happy to receive you and want to assure your Majesty that the family will always be there for you, Kabiyesi,” Sen. Kola added.
In attendance to receive the visitors were the surviving Oloris of the late Olubadan; Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Head of Service in Oyo State, Chief Tajudeen Aremu; Aliiwo family elders; women group and the youths.
