Kunle Adelabu & Olatunji Ademola
Eminent personalities within and outside Igbogbo kingdom on Thursday, October 31, 2019, graced the silver jubilee celebration of the installation of His Eminence (Barr.) Olorunfunmi Reuben Basorun as the Asiwaju (leader) of Igbogbo Kingdom.
The brief event took place at the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Emigoriade I, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo kingdom, in his royal message after eminent guests had paid tributes to the leadership role being played by Asiwaju Basorun in the development of Igbogbo, Ikorodu Division, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole, described the ceremony as a rare one which should be well publicised and documented.
“I cannot tell you how happy I am today. I congratulate every one of us. That this is happening today is something we will not forget in this palace. Let it go viral so that people will know that we are celebrating a great man with outstanding contributions to the development of Igbogbo” , Oba Kasali stated.
“This type of thing we are doing today is very rare in the society and I want everyone to congratulate themselves that such is being done here”.
The royal father described Asiwaju Basorun as a true leader
“I have been saying this and I will not relent in saying that you are a true leader. A lot of people have commended your leadership and contributions to the development of the community and that is how it is. You have been doing it and we are enjoining you not to stop”, the royal father stated while affirming Basorun’s leadership qualities.
“On behalf of Adeboruwa- in –Council, I say thank you and on behalf of myself and my entire household and Igbogbo people worldwide, we thank you for your support and assistance to the development of our community, state and the country as a whole”.
Also speaking during the celebration at the Adeboruwa palace, Hon Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture & former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, also eulogized the leadership epitomized by Asiwaju Basorun.
“Today, we are here to give thanks. What we are doing here is to celebrate with our father, Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun. You I’ll live long and celebrate many more achievements.
“We spoke recently and you told me that you still have many more things to do. This is what you have been saying in the recent time and I pray that God will give you the capacity to do all that your heart desires.
“I know that you have a place where you want to take Igbogbo to and God will help you achieve the dream. We are with you in this journey.
“I am happy with the king because many positive things have been happening in Igbogbo since his enthronement as the Adeboruwa.
“Even though that you mounted the throne at a young age, the community has been experiencing achievements, joy, happiness. We pray that you will live long”.
High Chief Tajudeen Duduyemi Onasanya, the Odofin of igbogbo, who spoke on behalf of the Adeboruwa-in-Council, also praised the celebrant’s leadership and his role in bring peace and development to Igbogbo.
“I’m grateful to be witnessing today’s event which is the 25th celebration of Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun’s installation as the Asiwaju of lgbogbo kingdom.
“As the Odofin of Igbogbo, I was a witness to Chief Basorun’s installation as Asiwaju of Igbogbo, and since then, Igbogbo has been witnessing many developments.
“I was the smallest of all the traditional chiefs in the photograph that we took at his installation ceremony 25 years ago.Only two of us are still alive today” , he recalled.
Chief Onasanya stated that the former monarch of Igbogbo Kingdom who installed Basorun as Asiwaju must have seen some qualities in him before bestowing such honour on him.
“Late Oba Johnson Fatola, the immediate past Adeboruwa, must have seen some things before bestowing the enviable title of Asiwaju of Igbogbo on Basorun. Though, we were not in good term then, but it wasn’t personal. We just differed on approaches to the development of Igbogbo. We were speaking different languages, but we meant well for the betterment and development of Igbogbo”, he stated.
“At a point, the situation got to the extent that the peace in Igbogbo was being disrupted but Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun rose to the occasion in restoring the much needed peace. He played big roles in the settlement of the dispute and we also thank the former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, and his deputy, whose administration set up a committee to look into the dispute then and Pa Basorun gave his maximum support despite the fact that he did not belong to the governor’s party”.
High Chief Onasanya, on behalf of the palace chiefs and entire Igbogbo people, thanked the celebrant for providing leadership for the community and facilitating developments.
“He has done a lot concerning the issues in the community. He’s here to give thanks for clocking 25 years as Asiwaju of Igbogbo and we, as Igbogbo people, are also thanking you for the good deeds you have done in the community”, he stated thankfully.
“If anyone is pissed off with you, it’s simply over politics. We, the chiefs in the Palace, use this medium to say a big thank you for the support you have been giving to the community. We hope to see many more developments and and gifts when you will be celebrating another milestone.”
He called on other highly placed individuals to emulate Asiwaju Basorun by contributing their own quota to the development of Igbogbo community.
Chief Onasanya also challenged the celebrant to ensure that youths in Igbogbo are brought together to work for the development of the community.
“The job that remains for Asiwaju at this time is to bring our youths together, support them and make them be useful for Igbogbo”, Odofin stated.
Dr Tunde Ogunlaja,in his own remarks, described Basorun as a man who has impacted immensely on social, economic and political spheres.
“I thank God that we all are witnessing this day. It has been a long time that I have known that Basorun was created as a leader by God, even before he was installed as the Asiwaju of Igbogbo. Asiwaju is like his birth name because we have been looking up to him since when we were younger”, he stated.
He stated that the celebrant has made his impact felt on the market, students and political circles among other areas.
“He plays politics the way it should work. He’s intelligent and educated. Whatever he’s ask to do, he I’ll research it well. This thanksgiving that you are doing is like a summon for all of us and God will make us learn from you in doing good things for the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Asiwaju Basorun, in his reresponse, thanked Oba Kasali and his chefs for their supports and cooperation.
“I thank the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo and his chiefs for their support and cooperation. The clothes I am wearing is the one that you presented to me as gift for my last birthday.
“I don’t know what I can use to appreciate your support and cooperation with me, that’s why I wear this clothes to this very special event.
He was full of thanks to God for how far He has taken him since childhood.
“I didn’t come here to donate but to give thanks to God almighty.
“At first, I rejected the title because I didn’t know what it entails but when Kabiyesi (late Oba Fatola) told me that Asiwaju position is not a traditional title, I later accepted it and I promised do whatever I can within my capacity to develop Igbogbo”.
Basorun presented three royal chairs for Igbogbo monarch to replace the old royal stools in the palace and five dozens of plastic chairs to the Adeboruwa pavillon.
Some of the other important dignitaries at the anniversary ceremony were Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Alebiosu, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the Governor Advisory Council (GAC), Prof. Ajetunmobi, Chief Dele Olowu and Chief Tunde Benson.
