Kunle Adelabu
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu and the First Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, has stated that Ikorodu Division has always been having cordial relationship with the military formation attached to the division.
Oba Shotobi said this when Brigadier General A.S.M. Wase, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Maryland, Lagos, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
General Wase was accompanied by the Commanding Officer, 174 Battalion, Odogunyan, Ikorpdu, Lt. Col. E. A. Soetan, Major . O. Egbata, Military Police Officer, 9TH Brigade, Major T. Emuren, Operation Officer, 9TH Brigade, Major A. Sanusi, Commanding Officer, Unit of the 9th Brigade and Lieutenant J. G. Pam, Intelligence Officer of the brigade.
Also in his entourage were Major S. G. Okon, Courter Master, 174 Battalion, Major O. R. Joel, Maintenance Officer and Lieutenant Y. U. Sa’adu.
Oba Shotobi, in his address, stated that the new Commanding Officer of the 9th Division of the Nigerian Army is always welcome in Ikorodu.
“I know that you have come to assist us in ensuring that there’s security and peace in our community. This visit will allow us to know the new Commanding Officer that has been posted here”, Oba Shotobi said.
“You are here today to know that we are the closest to the grassroots. We are the first to know what is going on and call your attention to it.
“You have come to get our blessings in Ikorodu and you should feel free to come here at any time because the door will always be open for you.
“In this area, there is no cause for alarm with the calibre of military personnel that are being posting to the 174 Battalion. They have been diligent officers who have seen our community as part of their primary assignment”, Oba Shotobi said.
The royal father said that his palace always installed the Commanding Officers posted to the 174 Battalion as Chief, in acknowledgement of their dutifulness and cordial relationship with the community.
Oba Shotobi added that the date for the installation of the current Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lt. Col. Sholotan, would be communicated to the Commanding Officer of the 9th Brigade.
“In actual fact, whoever is the Commanding Officer of the 174 Battalion is usually made the Baale (traditional chief) of the formation and the chieftaincy title is still waiting for the current C.O. We are going to reschedule his installation and we will let you know when he is going to add another feather to his cap”, Ayangbure said.
“He (Commanding Officer 174 Battalion) has been wonderful and we have been having things in common at all times. He has been briefing me about their activities and we have been interacting very well.
“I want to salute all the officers of the 174 Battalion for always being there for the Ikorodu Division in general.
“I feel proud of you because I have never found anyone of you wanting, especially in getting yourself involved in land matters which is our own crude oil in Ikorodu”.
He commended the Brigadier General and his team for the visit.
“I thank you all for deeming it fit to come here to pay a courtesy visit to us in Ikorodu. Military activities will not be derailed but prosper during your own time”, Ayangbure said.
Brigadier General A.S.M. Wase, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 9th Division Nigerian Army, while apologizing for his inability to visit as previously scheduled due to other official engagements, added that his visit with his men was to request for the royal father’s guidance.
“We are here today for a courtesy visit. As we are here sir, we would like to request for your guidance and we wish to seek your cooperation in maintaining peace and order in your domain and Lagos State as a whole. Thank you sir”, he said in his brief statement during the courtesy visit.
While speaking with journalists, General Wase said that he was in Ikorodu to familiarize himself with the Battalion and further the synergy between the military and the community.
“The purpose of my visit is to familiarise myself with the 174 battalion, one of the units under my command which is situated in lkorodu”, he said.
“After the visit, it is customary to pay a courtesy visit to the royal majesty.
“The visit is in furtherance of the synergy that exists between us and the community and to seek for cooperation in the area of maintaining peace in the domain and that’s basically the reason why we came here”, General Wase said,
Lt. Col. E.O. Sholotan, Commanding officer, 174 Battalion, Odogunyan, Ikorodu who also made short remarks, said that he was at the palace with his GOC who just recently took charge of the 9th Brigade.
“We are here today to pay a courtesy call on the Oba (Oba Kabir Shotobi) which is very important because of the synergy that exists between the military and the traditional institution. I am here today with my commander who takes over the command of the Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment, on the 24 January 2022”, he said.
“He came this morning to pay a courtesy call on my battalion and he has deemed it fit to pay a visit to the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu”, he added.
