Kunle Adelabu
The six years reign of His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of lkorodu, has been described as a turning point in the annals of Ikorodu traditional history and infrastructural developments.
This was the verdict of some of the eminent personalities in Ikorodu Kingdom that attended the prayer/performance session by the traditional groups in Ikorodu in commemoration of the sixth year anniversary of the crowning of Oba Shotobi.
Oba Shotobi was crowned with the traditional beaded crown at the ancient Oloja palace located at Ajina on August 2, 2015.
Chief Wasiu Adekunle Laibe Oyenuga, the Olootu Omoba Lasunwon, the royal family that produced Oba Shotobi, while describing the monarch’s reign as fascinating, also thanked the people of Ikorodu for their support for the palace.
“The six years have been very fascinating. I thank the people of Ikorodu for supporting our Oba in the last years”, Olootu Lasunwon said.
“He has done much for the Ikorodu community. There is no regret at all about his reign.
“I will continue to appeal to the people of Ikorodu to continue to give him support all through his reign.
“I appeal to people to always come directly to him to make any complaint or observation or contact those of us that are his ‘Ministers’ and they are assured that such would be attended to.
“His reign has been peaceful and our family is proud of him for not letting us down”, he said.
The Otunba Ekuewu of Ikorodu Kingdom, Otunba Olugbenga Ajenise – Kuti, said that there has been progress because the monarch is a leader with vision and has dedicated subjects that have been assisting him in executing the vision.
“The last six years have been very fantastic. We could see progress going on here and there. When you have a leader with a vision and determination, administration will just be like a chess game with things just falling into places”, Otunba Ajenise – Kuti said.
“We have a leader with a vision and he’s being supported by faithful, diligent and loyal supporters.
“So far, so good, we have made a lot of progress in Ikorodu but still looking for more. According to Kabiyesi’s vision, you will see that Ikorodu will be London in Nigeria”, he said.
To Chief Olatunji Joseph Aluko, the Baale of Owutu, the emergence of Oba Shotobi as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu is a turning point for Ikorodu.
“The emergence of Kabiyesi as our Oba in Ikorodu is a turning point”, Baale Aluko said.
“I was born and bred in Ikorodu and spent my early years in Ikorodu too and as a result, l am fully aware of happenings during the tenure of past Obas, but this era is a turning point in the history of Ikorodu.
“Talking about development, it has been marvelous. Our Kabiyesi acts as if he has been on the throne for the past 20 years. The experience we have been seeing cannot be quantified.
“He is a blessing from God that produced him as the number one citizen of this kingdom”, he said.
Prince Adegboyega Odofin , the Secretary, Lasunwon Ruling House, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that Ikorodu Kingdom has been moving forward since Oba Shotobi ascended the throne of his ancestors.
He also said that the monarch has been ensuring that those that he conferred traditional titles upon are people that are capable of assisting him in achieving his vision for Ikorodu.
“Ikorodu has been moving forward and not backward in the last six years of his reign. There have been many state projects executed across lkorodu division and many are still under construction while many are still going to be embarked upon.
“There has been development at Ita – Elewa Youth Centre and also at the General Hospital, Ikorodu. There is also Rice Mill in Imota, the newly constructed Itamaga – Ijede road, as well as the ongoing Igbogbo and Agric road road. Alaiyeluwa played major roles in bringing about these projects.
“As a learned Oba, he has been ensuring that those conferred with titles are people of impeccable characters and those that are capable of assisting him in moving Ikorodu forward. Among them are the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya and others.
“Where we are now is (the Ayangbure palace extension building) was built within the three years of Oba Shotobi’s ascension to the throne”, he added.
