Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun on Sunday dedicated the National Honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) conferred on him by the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari to Ibadan, which he described as his Mecca and Medina.
Oba Balogun was reacting to the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, listing the first class traditional ruler among the recipients of the 2023 Special National Honour Award and one of the 23 eminent Nigerians to be conferred with CFR, the third highest honour in the land.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the first class monarch, Oladele Ogunsola, an elated Olubadan said the honour was bestowed on Ibadan which produced him and of which he’s just a symbol as he thanked see outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour and recognition.
According to him, “I’m grateful to the Almighty Allah for the grace and gift of life that made me to see this glorious moment, not only for me, but my Aliiwo ruling house dynasty and Ibadan as a whole. It was least expected because the general belief was that the administration had wound up. I cherish it as a treasured parting gift from the outgoing government”.
Olubadan, who prayed for a good post-tenure life for President Muhammadu Buhari and his family said, “on behalf of both my immediate and extended families, my members of the Advisory Council, the Baales and Mogajis, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), and Ibadan sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, I express gratitude to the outgoing President and pray that he would live peacefully after his tenure”.
He specifically acknowledged and thanked his kid brother and the outgoing Senator of the Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Kolawole Balogun for his unalloyed support and cooperation, stressing that his role and efforts in the conferment of the honour and several other areas of his life since becoming the Olubadan are too numerous to quantify with a prayer that Almighty Allah would bountifully reward his labour of brotherly love.
Oba Balogun used the occasion to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Sen. Kashim Shettima once again as they take oath of office on Monday with a charge to take the country farther than they are meeting it, adding, “Your Excellencies have a yeoman job at hand and what we can only do for you is to continuously pray for you for the wisdom and knowledge of the Almighty Allah to succeed and by His grace, you will succeed”.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
