Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Asiwaju Title, A Well Deserved For Him – Political Leaders
The newest Asiwaju of Ibeshe land and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Asiwaju Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya, has stated that his new position is a confirmation of his leadership in the grassroots where he is based and part of.
Asiwaju Olusanya, who said that he is happy with the title which he described as a representation of President Bola Tinubu who also bear the title in the grassroots, also added that it is a further call to duty, and assured that he would use it to bring more developments.
He spoke at a press conference and rally commemorating his installation and that of his wife, Chief Mrs Olukemi Olusanya, as Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju of lbeshe, on Saturday, December 28, by His Royal Majesty, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibesheland.
At the Olubeshe of Ibeshe’s palace as part of the installation process on the same day were His Royal Majesties (Oba) Engr. Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Chief Olusanya, brother to the new Asiwaju of Ibeshe among others.
“What we are celebrating is leadership at the grassroots. A leader that is accepted, relevant, caring and associate with diverse categories of people in the community.
“The title captures the definition of my leadership. When you say Asiwaju in Yoruba structure, it represents all the diverse tendencies in the community and beyond that, he is seen as somebody who is leading at the forefront to galvanise energy, resource and thoughts of the people.
“He harmonises thoughts, resolve conflicts and ensure that everybody has a sense of belonging”, he said.
While accepting it as a further position of responsibility, Asiwaju Kaoli said that he is expected to be the representative of his people with the government by ensuring that their yearnings and expectations are met.
“The leadership that is also bestowed on me by that title of Asiwaju, I take it as a responsibility to also do more than the community saw in me to have bestowed that title on me.
“What the community expect is that we are able to know their feelings; get feedback from the grassroots and know what they want to see from the government. These people see us as the representative of Mr President, because I have served with him.
“So, we must take the feedbacks from the community and find a channel to pass the feedbacks to Mr President, and also to bring information from the government to educate and inform the people at the grassroots about the hope in this new government”, he said.
Asiwaju Kaoli reiterated that the government of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda will transform the country and placed Nigeria on the path to greatness.
“There is hope in this government. We are very confident of that. We are confident because he is somebody that we have worked with over the years and we know his antecedents, ruggedness, determination and goals to improve tremendously on whatever that he inherited.
“That was what he demonstrated when he was the governor of Lagos State, and we are sure of him. If God allows him to be in office for two terms of eight years, Nigeria will not be the same.
“That is the message that we are bringing to the grassroots in Ikorodu Division and Lagos State by extension, and that is why we are very happy with the title of Asiwaju of Ibesheland, representing a microcosm of Asiwaju of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, Asiwaju Kaoli said.
A two – term Commissioner and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Lanre Balogun who served with the new Asiwaju of Ibesheland, said that the honour bestowed on his friend is truly deserving because of his roles in the community over the years.
“Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya has been a very close confidante and friend. We have been in the same political alignment for the past 30 years, and he has been very committed and loyal to the course of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are opportuned to have served together in the cabinet of Lagos State, during the second term of Asiwaju Tinubu. He didn’t serve in Fashola’s administration which I also served.
“His new title as the Asiwaju of Ibesheland is a very important one. It is a position of authority and a position bestowed to be a leader of that particular community and its environs. He has actually been doing this for quite a while.
“As you can see, he is embraced by the entire community and I wish him all the best of luck, and he will do well serving the community”, he said.
He narrated how Asiwaju Kaoli used his position as a community leader to influence the construction of the Ibeshe road by the government of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, as the governor of Lagos State then.
“I can recall that this whole place was infrastructurally deficit before the intervention of Babatunde Fashola, as vehicles could not come in from Ikorodu, but for his persistent and that of God, the road was delivered.
“As a matter of fact, the governor called me and ask if they would be able to maintain the road if constructed, and Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya signed that if the road is constructed, that he would personally oversee its maintenance”, Prince Balogun recalled.
Aarebinrin (Hon.) Princess Folashade Olabanji -Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government also speaking, described the new Asiwaju as a builder, transformer and moulder per excellence.
“This is a celebration of one of the greatest quintessential leaders of all time who for us, is not just a leader, but also a father, mentor, role model per excellence and a life transformer.
“He has spent decades in this community when he could be living in luxury elsewhere, but he has chosen here to add value and quality of life to the people”, she said.
Princess Olabanji – Oba, who is also the National Chairman, Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen in Nigeria, emphasized the new Chief’s contributions to educational developments of young boys and girls who are today leaders in their respective fields.
“When you talk about education and because of him, I will probably count so many of our sons and daughters that have gone on to unleash their great potentials and are now leaders all over the world.
“We are proud of him. We celebrate him”, she said.
A procession consists of political leaders, party members and residents took place after the presss conference, starting from Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya’s house to Ibeshe, during which many residents identified with him.
Also in attendance at the press conference were Alhaji Badru Enifeni, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani and Mr Lookman Olusanya, the first son of Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya among others.
