…Photo: Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (second right), his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (second left), the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku (left), representing President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide (right) at the centenary birthday service of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I at the Cathedral of St. Peter’s Church, Aremo, Ibadan on Monday…
…From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…
The Abuja bomb explosion of Monday compelled President Goodluck Jonathan to make a last-minute cancellation of a scheduled visit to Ibadan, where he was billed to be the Special Guest of Honour at the much-publicized Centenary Birthday anniversary of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade Odulana.
It was reliably gathered that the President’s advance team was already in the Oyo State capital prior to the gory incident which occurred in the early hours of the day.
However, President Jonathan who, hitherto, had repeatedly assured the people of Ibadanland of his commitment towards the royal father’s Centenary anniversary, was represented at the Birthday Thanksgiving celebration held at the Cathedral of St. Peter Aremo, Ibadan, by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku who was accompanied by five other Ministers. They are Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for the FCT; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture; Hon. Musliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for Defence; Dr. (Mrs.) Omotola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology; and Hon. Jelili Adesiyan, Minister of State for Police Affairs.
The crème de la crème of the society from different parts of the country including the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi and his Ogun State capital, Senator Ibikunle Amosun similarly graced the occasion.
Mr. Maku, who apologized profusely for President Jonathan’s unavoidable absence at the historic celebration called for a minute silence for the repose of the souls of the people who lost their lives at the Abuja explosion just as he enjoined the congregation to pray for continued peace and prosperity in Nigeria.
The Minister remarked that while most of the insurgencies in the country could be linked to the forthcoming 2015 general elections, “there is no reason whatsoever for any Nigerian to be violent.”
He also assured that the electoral processes would be transparent.
The Minister eulogized the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lana, whom he described as “a shining light in exemplary leadership and a king among kings who has always been promoting peace and prosperity among his subjects.”
Maku also described Yorubaland as a place of diversities where Christianity, Islam and traditional religion thrive peacefully without one hindering the existence of others saying “should religion crisis erupt in Yorubaland, that is the end of Nigeria.”
Speaking earlier, Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State attributed the Olubadan’s noticeable longevity to his “pure heart that is devoid of hatred to his fellow man.”
According to him, Oba Odulana harboured no hatred or bitterness against anyone and asked the present generation of Nigerians to learn a critical lesson from his life.
“Those who knew him, even pre-his ascendancy to the throne, speak eloquently about a man who typifies honour and nobility. He has an attachment to the place of humanity in the scheme of things. Perhaps in the fact that Kabiyesi constantly ventilates his heart from the consuming fire of bitterness towards his fellow man and his sworn avowal to always do good to everyone can be found the secret of his longevity. We all have one lesson or the other to learn from this purification of the heart from the cancer of hatred,” he said.
While extolling Oba Odulana as a gentleman and a man of honour, he said the monarch typified the Yoruba classification of a honourable man.
“In the Olubadan is a demonstration of the elusive concept of Omoluabi. The Omoluabi, for the purpose of clarification, is that man who carries nobility, human goodness and trust around him like a pouch. With Kabiyesi, you know where you stand as he does not suffer fools gladly.
“In him you find the discipline of a trained soldier, the consummate nobility of a gentleman and the astuteness of a man of honour. His own politics transcended the type found on the streets today; it was the politics of a statesman. To a statesman like him, politics could not be worth its salt until it transforms the lives of the collective citizenry and repositions society on the path of transformation,” the governor said.
Ajimobi also extolled the Olubadan as one of the first sets of people to acknowledge the urban renewal initiative of his administration.
“As a fitting demonstration of his acknowledgement of our effort in this regard, Kabiyesi bestowed on me the traditional title of Atunluse of Ibadanland, the remodeler/beautifier of Ibadanland. This was at a time when our political opponents were throwing tantrums at us for deeming it fit to take away the dirt of Ibadan and regain us the global respect of a modern economy,” he said.
Governor Ajimobi also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said would have been at the centenary celebration but for the unfortunate tragedy that befell the nation earlier in the day.
The Anglican Diocesan Archbishop who presided at the thanksgiving service, Most Revd. Segun Okubadejo, had earlier in a thought-provoking sermon described the event as “a unique Birthday anniversary in view of insecurity and high mortality rate in the country.”
The cleric enjoined the celebrant to re-dedicate his life to praises to God Almighty who has been gracious to him.