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The Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths) has congratulated the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Ogbagba II, on the occasion of his 90th birthday and 64 years coronation anniversaries.
A statement by the Aare Apapo (President General) of the group, Comrade Awa Bamiji, described Oba Adetona as a very active, vibrant and formidable person.
He said the monarch’s 64-year resign has brought tremendous development to Ijebu land, adding that Oba Adetona’s paramount interest is the advancement of Ijebu land, Yoruba race and Nigeria as a whole.
“He is forward looking and highly respected in Nigeria. No wonder, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deemed it fit to confer on him the second highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), in appreciation of the laudable contributions of this custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, royal father and core progressive to the development of the nation.
“We are, therefore, raising our voice in concert to say many happy returns kabiyesi. Esin Oba, a je oko pe o,” Awa said.
The group also congratulated human rights lawyer, Barr Femi Falana (SAN), on the occasion of his 66th birthday anniversary.
Meanwhile, the Yoruba youths have commiserated with the families, friends and associates of the Speaker, Lagos State House Assembly, Rt.Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who lost his 83-year-old father, Pa Suleiman Atanda Obasa, in the early hours of Tuesday.
“Baba Obasa, a loving family man and community leader in his lifetime, was a successful businessman, who empowered many citizens and dedicated his life to the service of Allah and mankind as well as taking care of the needy and less privileged,” Awa said.
He added that the “death of our dear friend, brother and committed administrator, Mr Gboyega Soyannwo (GS), the former deputy chief of staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who died at the age of 55, was shocking, disappointing and totally demoralising but God Almighty knows it all.”
The group also mourned the demise of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former chairman of First Bank Plc and Elemona of Ilemona, Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, the father of Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to President Bola Tinubu, Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf.
“Though, they all left a big vacuum that would be extremely difficult to fill in the years to come, but we must take solace in the fact that they impacted their respective fields of specialisation and left a legacy,” the statement added.