Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that he
accepted in good faith,the chieftaincy title conferred on him and his wife by
the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, based on the monarch’s
objective assessment of his performance as governor in the last two years.
Governor Ajimobi and his wife, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi
were on Saturday installed as the Aare Atunluse and Yeye Aare Atunluse of
Ibadan respectively by the Olubadan in his palace.
The ceremony, presided over by the traditional ruler and the
Olubadan-in-Council, was graced by eminent personalities from all walks of life,
including Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Adams
Oshiomhole (Edo) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Others included the National Chairman of Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun
Osoba, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, the Aare Musulumi of
Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, while the governors of Kano,
Niger, Cross River, Plateau and Ogun States were represented.
Governor, while speaking shortly after his formal
installation along with his wife and the presentation of certificate, expressed
profound appreciation to the Olubadan for deeming it fit to bestow the honour
on them.
He described the Olubadan as a highly revered and principled
traditional rulers who would not dole out chieftaincy titles to anybody who did
not deserve it, no matter the person’s status in the society.
``We are all very proud of the Olubadan of Ibadanland,’’ the
governor said, adding that he had been offered several chieftaincy titles which
he had turned down.
``But I have no choice than to accept this honour, coming
from the highly revered royal father as the Olubadan. I know that he doesn’t
just dole out chieftaincy titles anyhow. He is a man of no mean achievement and
he is highly principled. He has done us, the sons and daughters of Ibadanland
proud. I am, therefore, very pleased with the titles,’’ he said.
He said that he was particularly pleased, especially as he
was being recognized by his kinsmen in Ibadan for his outstanding achievements
since he became governor two years ago.
``Ibadan people are very tough. They are not given to
frivolities. If they deem it fit to honour you, you should know that you are
really worth it,’’ Governor Ajimobi said, thanking the Central Council for
Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and the Ibadan Elders’ Forum for their usual support.
He pledged that the honour would further spur him into
performing more than before in his quest at transforming and repositioning the
state for socio-economic development.
All the Ibadan traditional high chiefs who were present at
the occasion took turns to eulogise the governor who they said had done Ibadan
proud through his outstanding performance.
