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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has dedicated the National Honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) conferred on him by outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari to Ibadan, which he described as his Mecca and Medina.
Oba Balogun was reacting to the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, listing him among the recipients of the 2023 Special National Honour Award and one of the 23 eminent Nigerians to be conferred with CFR, the third highest honour in the land.
In a press statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday by the Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, an elated Olubadan said the honour was bestowed on Ibadan, which produced him and which he only symbolises. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour and recognition.
“I’m grateful to the Almighty Allah for the grace and gift of life that made me to see this glorious moment, not only for me, but my Ali Iwo ruling house dynasty and Ibadan as a whole. It was least expected because the general belief was that the administration had wound up. I cherish it as a treasured parting gift from the outgoing government,” he said.
Olubadan, who prayed for a good post-tenure life for Buhari and his family, said: “On behalf of both my immediate and extended families, my members of the Advisory Council, the Baales and Mogajis, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), and Ibadan sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, I express gratitude to the outgoing President and pray that he would live peacefully after his tenure.”
He specifically acknowledged and thanked his younger brother and the outgoing Senator for Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Kolawole Balogun, for his unalloyed support and cooperation, stressing that his role and efforts in the conferment of the honour and several other areas of his life since becoming the Olubadan are too numerous to quantify, and prayed that Almighty Allah would bountifully reward his labour of brotherly love.
Oba Balogun used the occasion to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and vice president-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima as they take oath of office, with a charge to take the country farther than they are meeting it.
“Your Excellencies have a yeoman job at hand and what we can only do for you is to continuously pray for you for the wisdom and knowledge of the Almighty Allah to succeed and by His grace, you will succeed,” he said.
