The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has chided Ibadan people for their failure to support the move by the present government in Oyo State to elevate traditional rulers.
The foremost traditional who made this submission at the formal presentation 36 brand new cars to newly promoted Obas in Oyo State on Monday in Ibadan recalled he was instrumental to the crowning of the Olubadan of Ibadanland in 1976.
He thus urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the good gestures by continue to contribute to the development of the state in their various domains.
Meanwhile, the Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, while presenting the cars said it was in line with his determination to enhance and modernise chieftaincy institutions in the state.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony which was held at the Governor’s car park, Secretariat, Ibadan, Governor Abiola Ajimobi stated that the government took the decision to promote the royalty by enhancing the status of royal fathers in Oyo State as being done in other states in the Yoruba-speaking south west region of Nigeria.
Governor Ajimobi, who recalled that the present administration elevated the status of some royal fathers to crown and coronet-wearing Obas, stressed that as an agent of change, he refused to be intimidated or perturbed in his government’s desire to further promote and modernise the institution because of it, believing that posterity would judge it right.
He hinted that upon elevation of Obas, the government has received avalanche of applications for elevation either from Minors to Part (2) Chiefs or to Crown-wearing Obas, thus, assuring that the government would leave no stone unturned on this exclusive prerogative with consultation with relevant stakeholders.
While reminding the royal fathers who were beneficiaries of the vehicles to see the gesture of government as a charge for them to further contribute to the development of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, however, informed some critics who might want to misinterpret this endeavour as extravagant spending that the State government decided to procure these vehicles because record confirmed that there were logistics, safety and security challenges facing royal fathers in the State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy matters, Hon. Bimbo Kolade described the event as another landmark in the history of Oyo State which is aimed at enhancing the status of traditional rulers in the State.
Prominent among the traditional rulers that benefited from the cars included Oba Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Balogun of Ibadan land, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi and many others.
Packaged by Oyedapo Oyewole and Dare Alesinloye
