Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Rep. Benson, Eshinlokun, other dignitaries grace occasion
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Oba) Barr. Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Emugoriade I, has called on investors in all sectors of the economy to look towards the Igbogbo Kingdom for their businesses.
Oba Kasali said that his kingdom’s door is wide open for social and economic activities that will bring about development and prosperity.
The monarch, who is the General Secretary, Ijebu Obas in Lagos State, made the appeal at his 6th Coronation anniversary/grand finale of the 34th Igbogbo Day Celebrations, held at the Zumrrattul Islammiyyah Secondary School compound along Igbogbo/Bayeku Road, Igbogbo on Saturday, November 26, 2022.
The Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and APC Senatorial candidate for the Lagos Central, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun was honoured with the Adeboruwa Special Award at the ceremony.
Oba Kasali, expressing his joy at the success of this year’s celebrations, called for investments in the areas of banking, health, education and agriculture among others.
“I have unlimited joy welcoming all our distinguished guests, sons, daughters, citizens, friends of Igbogbo Kingdom, people of goodwill and many important others I cannot possibly mention individually at today’s occasion, the climax of the series of programmes we have executed over a 10- day period today in the celebration of our community”, Kabiyesi said.
“My joy is derived from the goodness of the Almighty God who has, in His infinite mercy, blessed us all to witness another IGBOGBO DAY. Join me to thank Him and ask Him for a greater celebration next year.
“I need not over-emphasize the essence of IGBOGBO DAY. This multi faceted event was conceived many years ago by patriotic sons and daughters of Igbogbo Kingdom for re- awakening and rejuvenation of possibly docile energies which will in turn put the Kingdom in the front row of genuine development through the use and promotion of its human and material resources
“Distinguished guests, citizens and friends of Igbogbo Kingdom at home and in the diaspora, ladies and gentlemen, at this juncture, I beseech every lover of development in the economic/ industrial circle, education, health and indeed, in every conceivable sector of national development to look towards us as we open our door wide in open to embrace potential key players in manufacturing, banking, health, engineering, agricultural and other feasible entrepreneurship which will hopefully berth in this Kingdom in the near future under very friendly complementary platforms in the Kingdom”, Kabiyesi said.
While charging residents to continue to work in various communities for the development of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Oba Kasali also commended the organizers of the annual event which span about two weeks and usually being staged to bring indigenes of the kingdom; both at home and in diasporas, and residents together to contribute to the development of the community.
“To the rest of us, we can roll our sleeves and ensure that we do not relent in our various community-building activities which are nothing but commendable and as we do, may all such efforts be blessed”, the royal father prayed.
“I thank the successive Planning Committees which have organized this important socio-cultural cum economic programme from inception. They derserve my commendation for all the efforts they have put in, no doubt. There all- important goal, as inferred earlier was (and still is) that Igbogbo Kingdom must excel.
“In this 34th edition of IGBOGBO DAY, the planning committee managed to put both the cognitive and psychomotor domains of our youth elements to task and this, we have seen, attracted instant accolades from some participants apart from the remote life- stabilizing benefits awaiting participants.
“The vigorous energies of the committees must inspire all lovers of Igbogbo Kingdom to lend a hand of support and sow a crucial seed without restraint. To build an Igbogbo Kingdom of repute is a task that must be done. However, this task is relatively an easy task when everyone does not look back and eagerly writes his or her name in the sand of time”, Oba Kasali said.
Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency who chaired the occasion, described the day as a unique one, while also congratulating Oba Kasali for his 6 years developmental reign as the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
“Today’s occasion is unique in many respects. One, it is a National Thanksgiving Day, two, the Igbogbo Day celebration coincides with the 6th Coronation Anniversary of the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Barr. Abdul-Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, and significantly, the campaign flag-off of our revered leader and All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State”, he said.
“Consequently, it is only logical for me to be thankful to God Almighty on behalf of our Kabiyesi for sparing his life on the throne of his forebears in good health, and as well for His mercy on him, while praying to God to crown our election campaign efforts with ‘new glory’ in 2023 as typified by the theme of this year’s Igbogbo Day Celebration.
“Let me state unequivocally that Igbogbo kingdom is one of the luckiest Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State as it prides of a learned fellow as the king with the combination of a vibrant, cerebral and proactive Local Council Chairman supported by hardworking councilors and public officials. This kind of permutation can only attracts massive development which we can all see and feel in Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA”, Rep. Benson said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Defense who is seeking re – election, also commended the organizers of the community celebrations.
“The annual Igbogbo Day Celebration has continued to serve as a platform to bring together sons and daughters of Igbogbo Kingdom; home and abroad, for developmental purposes and also strengthen the culture, traditions and socio-economic development of the kingdom”, he said.
“I must commend the 2022 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee for the youth-oriented programme, which featured English Debate, Yoruba Debate, Science Exhibition and Quiz competition with handsome rewards for the students in the community”.
Also in his speech, Hon. Benson thanked the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo; Chairman, lgbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, CDAs, CDC and the general residents and others for their support for his representation.
Also speaking, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and host of the day said that the annual celebrations have served as a development platform for the community.
“It is good to note that this anniversary which brings home and together all the good people of Igbogbo kingdom has been a major platform for the development of the kingdom and its people over the years”, he said.
“The anniversary gives the kingdom the opportunity to evaluate, to re-assess, to plan and to strategize towards its development and growth for the good and happiness of the indigenes and other inhabitants it well. It is therefore an anniversary that we all look forward to year in year out.
“Whist it is important to note that Igbogbo Kingdom has attained some measures of growth and development over the years consequent upon the efforts and sacrifices of our ancestors, grandparents, fathers and mothers as well as the contemporary institutions.
The council boss called on all stakeholders to be part of the efforts to develop Igbogbo into a community with economic prosperity and social harmony.
“ It is very important to use the opportunity of this anniversary to remind ourselves that we must all continue to look forward to greater, bigger, brighter and newer developmental strides that will eventually make Igbogbo not only an exemplary kingdom within the ikorodu divisions but also an icon of the development in the entire Lagos state. This drums home the correctness and aptness of the theme of this year’s theme for this all- important 34th Igbogbo Day Anniversary celebration -OGO TUNTUN”, Daini emphasized.
“In achieving this, it is important to state that all hands must be on desk. At the stakeholder in the development of our kingdom must rise up and constructively and positively contribute their own quotas in the aspects of development that desire.
“We must make all effort and sacrifice that are necessary for ensuring peace throughout the nocks and crannies of Igbogbo kingdom for without peace all the difficult to ensure progress and development. We must all cooperate to work together for ensuring the achievements of the various developmental strides such as infrastructural development, improve healthcare system, improve educational system, food production, good housing, security of lives and properties,human capital development, which will bring the new glory Ogo- Tuntun” to us in Igbogbo kingdom.
“In closing, please do kindly permit me to state that we shall all work and achieve the new and desired glory for Igbogbo kingdom and the work start now”, he added.
Joining the Adeboruwa at the grand finale were traditional rulers, elder statesmen, state functionaries, eminent personalities and thousands of Igbogbo residents and friends.
