Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has promised to build on the legacy of his immediate predecessor, the late Oba Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
This was as he urged members of the Olubadan In Council to continue to maintain the bond that existed between them during the reign of Oba Balogun.
The nominated 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan-designate stated this when he paid a visit to the Aliiwo Family Compound of the late Oba Balogun, on Monday.
These were contained in a press release by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola.
The Olubadan-designate paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, the late Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, for engendering oneness, unity and love among members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
Speaking through Oba Adebimpe, the Olubadan-designate disclosed that it was the seed of love and unity planted by the late Olubadan that gave the fruit as being witnessed by the visit.
He said the visit was historic, stating that the kind of camaraderie that existed among the members of Olubadan Advisory Council during the reign of his predecessor was never heard of in the traditional history of Ibadan.
He recalled that the understanding between him and the late Olubadan was unparalleled, noting that there was never any form of disagreement between the two of them while the reign of Oba Balogun lasted.
Oba Olakulehin called for same bond among members of the Council during his reign, promising that he would build on the legacy left behind by the late Olubadan.
The Olubadan-designate urged the members of Aliiwo Family to be thankful to God for the life and times of their departed patriarch.
“Though the reign was short in the eyes of men, but the impacts and the legacies brought to Ibadan during the short period should be enough consolation and source of gratitude to God Almighty,” Oba Olakulehin added.
The Olubadan-designate, who was the Balogun of Ibadanland, the position he held as the next person to the late Olubadan, was accompanied on the visit by three of the members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
The three members included Osi Balogun, Ashipa Olubadan and Ashipa Balogun- Obas Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Abiodun Kola-Daisi and Kolawole Adegbola respectively.
Oba Olakulehin was welcomed into the Aliiwo Family Compound by the late Olubadan, Dr (Sen) Kola Balogun, among other members of the family.
In his welcome address on behalf of the family, Senator Balogun, a member of the ninth National Assembly, praised Oba Olakulehin for the visit, emphasising that it had never been heard in history that Olubadan-designate visited the family of his predecessor.
Balogun, who was Baba-Kekere Olubadan to the late Olubadan, said “the uniqueness of Ibadan remains unfathomable to the uninitiated when it comes to relationship as Ibadan sons and daughters always related as brothers and sisters, not minding the largeness of the metropolis.
“The outsiders always wonder why we always refer to one another as brother and sister. But what they don’t know is that Ibadans have a way of being related, either maternally or paternally.
“Where that does not exist, we become related through marriage and if any of those mentioned is missed, then we become related through our common masquerade festival.
“So there is no way an Ibadan man or woman can miss any of those four areas of interactions and that is what makes us one indivisible entity despite the largeness of our space and the bigness of our population.
“What we are seeing today is the demonstration of that oneness and it is my prayer that the unity being demonstrated would lead to a big transformation, growth and development of our land.
“On behalf of our late patriarch and the entire Aliiwo Family, I say a big congratulations to kabiyesi for the grace of being nominated.
“It is our prayer that God Almighty will grant you good health and longevity of live on the throne. We are happy to receive you and want to assure your Majesty that the family will always be there for you, Kabiyesi.”
In attendance to receive the visitors were the surviving Oloris of the late Olubadan, Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu, mni, Aliiwo Family elders, women group and the youths.
