Prominent Nigerians and other
diginitaries on Monday thronged the Alake Palace in Abeokuta, to witness
the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Are Ago of Egbaland on the
former governor of Lagos State and leader of the Action Congress of
Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun
Gbadebo.
Hundreds of the ACN supporters took over every available space in the palace grounds and the adjourning streets.
Presidential Candidate for the Congress
for Progress Change, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.); the ACN
Presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections, Alhaji Nuhu
Ribadu; Governors of Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states attended
the occasion.
Elder statesman and former governor of
Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; the National Chairman of the ACN,
Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; and
other party chiefs were also at the ceremony.
While conferring the chieftaincy title
on Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Alake said, “He has
demonstrated high courage and commitment to justice. Tinubu has been an
irrepressible fighter for the protection of civil liberty in the
country.”
Also, Osoba, who is the Akinrogun of
Egbaland, said the ACN leader was honoured with the title because of
the role he played in the enthronement of the Oba seven years ago.
Osoba said, “Many people did not know
why Are-Ago is being honoured today. When the throne became vacant,
there were intrigues to stop Oba Adedotun Gbadebo from being the Alake
from the top, from the government and everybody. What people did not
know was that it was the Are-Ago that I called upon.”
Osoba also used the occasion to pay
glowing tributes to the late Oluwo Ake, Chief Segun Taiwo, and Chief
Alani Bankole, the father of the former Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.
Tinubu, in his speech on the occasion,
pledged his support for all the laudable projects embarked upon by Oba
Gbadebo in Egbaland.
“The development of Egba nation and the
people from today has become my major concern. I will support Kabiyesi,
the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and other royal fathers in
Egbaland, so help me God,” he said
Earlier, the Diocesan Bishop of Egba
West (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Samuel Ogundeji, in his sermon
during the thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake,
Abeokuta, urged the monarch and political office holders to be
sensitive to the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle
Amosun, said Tinubu and his wife deserved the chieftaincy titles that
had been conferred on them by the Alake.
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