Mariam Akinloye
The Ijebu Obas in Lagos State, have stated that their association is to forge a common front amongst themselves and assist in bringing about developments in their respective domains, Lagos state and Nigeria at large.
The royal fathers from Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, and other parts of the state, who were hosted by His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Oba) Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and the Chairman of the group during the week, spoke on the significance of the forum with journalists.
Revered royal fathers who said that they played major roles in the emergence of the President – elect and Governor of Lagos State, said that the forum is important to not only the state, but also to the country.
Oba Shotobi, the chief host, said that the traditional rulers spoke with one voice on the Presidential and Governorship elections.
‘’This is the aftermath of the election where we played major roles in the nomination of Mr. Governor and President – elect. During the period, we spoke in one voice and we told ourselves that this is the candidate that will satisfy our yearnings and aspirations. That is the kind of association that we have established. We have common voice to determine what we want. We are the origin of Lagos State and we appreciate everybody for turning up today to register their membership, and their cooperation. We have come to stay’’, Oba Shotobi said.
‘’Issues that we discussed are for the progress of Lagos State and the progress of our people, to let them know that Ijebu people in the State are part of IBILE (Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos and Ikeja). We also discussed common objectives”, he added.
The Vice Chairman of the association, Oba Kamorudeen, the Oloja of Epe, said that the Forum provides platform for the Ijebu Obas in the state to chart way forward for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
‘’Well, this meeting is about getting together all the Obas of the ljebu speaking areas in Lagos State. You know there are Awori and Awaros, we are the Ijebu Obas in Lagos State. We hold meetings to get ourselves together and plan forward for the future of Lagos State and to make sure that whatever support that the Governor or the President needs are provided for them. We also support the government of the day’’, the royal father said.
‘’We thank God for the newly elected President who is a Yoruba man, and we always thank the whole Nigerians, most especially the Northerners for the support given to us, we will not forget it. It is in history that all Nigerians voted for the President and we can’t forget it in life. So, we are using the medium to say a big thank you to the whole Nigerians – Igbos, Yourbas, Hausas Fulanis, Itsekiris, Ibibios and others. These are some of the reasons for the meetings of Ijebu Obas.
‘’Well, the issues we discussed at this meeting are about the progress of Lagos State, first and foremost and, the progress of Nigeria. We also discussed about the unity of all Ijebu Obas in Lagos State with Aworis and other Lagosians’’, Oloja of Epe said.
Oba (Barr.) Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo and also the Secretary of the Forum, also stated that the Ijebu Obas platform was created to foster unity and advance progress in the state and Nigeria.
‘’This meeting is not only important to all the Obas that are here, but to the whole of Nigeria, particularly Lagos State. This is a forum created to foster unity among Ijebu Obas and other traditional rulers in Lagos State’’, he said.
‘’We gathered here today, to celebrate Lagos State and to celebrate Nigeria; to thank God for His mercies and the success of the conducted elections. And, to further pray for the unity and more rewarding blessings for all Lagosians.
‘’Today’s meeting is very important as you can see in the attendance which is very encouraging. Virtually, all the Ijebu speaking Obas are here today. In the light of that, I want to say that it has been a successful meeting. We had a successful deliberation on fashioning out ways forward for ourselves and we resolved to work harmoniously with the government of Lagos State’’.
The Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Epe, HRM Oba Olufolarin Olukayode O. Ogunsanwo, said that the Ijebu Obas platform affords members to propagate their common interests.
‘’The meeting of Ijebu traditional rulers in Lagos State is very important as we deliberate on issues of common interests and how to move our domains forward. More particularly because we have common interests; we have common festival; even the territory is very compatible. It is about compatibility; it’s about exchanging ideas to move our domain forward and also Lagos State’’, the royal father said.
Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, Ranodu of Imota, in his own contribution, said that aside the pursuit of developmental projects in membership domains, the platform also affords members who are from same ancestry the opportunity to protect their interests.
‘’The significance is in the nobility of Ijebu race. We are all from Ijebu communities and we were brought together through our ancestry to exhibit the nobility of the Ijebu race in Lagos State. These areas have been part of Lagos Colony, but we know where we came from and that is what we are exhibiting; to discuss developments in our various communities and present ourselves to Lagos Government and Nigeria in general, that we are a group of people who have not forgotten their ancestral backgrounds. We are doing that to protect our future for developments”.
Other royal fathers who were at the meeting are HRM Oba Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom; Oba Richard Ogunsanya; Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Bashir Shotomwa, Sekumade of Ipakodo; HRM Oba David Olukayode Raji- Eweye of Isiwu; HRM Oba Ahmed Moruf Olakunle Ogunaiki, Alagura of Agura; Oba Nelson Obayomi Ogunlaro, Olowo of Iwo-ikosi kingdom; HRM Oba Toheeb Yisa Oyedele, Onimedu of Orimedu land; HRM Oba Nureni Sikiru Odedina (Alugbin 1), Oniladeba of Ladeba kingdom; HRM Oba Olayinka Lukman Arowolo Adebambo, Gbadewolu of Araromi; HRM Oba Lamoriu Isiaka, Onimopo of Mopo; HRM Oba Asumo Ojamu Aderibigbe, Alayadelu of Odo Ayandelu; HRM Oba Elebero, Iwera Ibeju-lekki and HRM Oba Adewale Abdul Olofiajiye Orugbo, Iddo.
Also, HRM Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan, Onise of Ise land; HRM Oba Tawio Gbabameji, Itomu of itomu; HRM Oba Elisa Omoloru Adedape, the paramount ruler of Otta – Iddo Kingdom; HRM Oba Ojomu Hakeem Olusegun, Onilakowe of Lakowe Iwerekun Ibeju-Lekki; HRM Oba Adelani Adeniyi Adegbajo of Odugawojo; HRM Oba Waliu Olasunkanmi Ragala, Onibeju of Ibeju land; HRM Oba Mufatau Olanrewaju Adewunmi, Ogunlayo of Ogunloye land in Iwereku Ibeju Lekki; HRM Oba Babatunde Adebowale Muideen Balogun, Ajumose 1, Onisolu of Solu-Alade Ibeju, Lekki; HRM Oba Babatunde Balogun, Elejirin of Ejirin; HRM Oba Hafeez Olakunle Balogun, Kajerojaiye 1, Elejigbo of Lagbasa kingdom in Eti-Osa Local Govt; and HRM Oba Liasim Olumuyiwa, Onilekki of Lekki land.
