By Otunba Moses Olafare
It is no longer news that the good people of the entire Ijesa empire have formally welcomed their new monarch, an astute maritime business magnate and former Deputy Governor of The State of Osun, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, Ajimoko III as their new Owa Obokun and Paramount ruler of Ijesa Empire.
The quality of massive turnout of the Crème De La Crème in the country who graced the occasion last Saturday in Ilesa is a clear attestation to the quality of Personality the handsome fine gentleman; Owa Adesuyi Hastrup enviably possesses.
The array of these powerful Nigerians at the event; Former President Obasanjo, Former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo, former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel accompanied by Chief Kola Onadipe, Rev Mother Esther Ajayi, Olorogun Sunny Kuku of the EKO Hospital and former Deputy governor of Lagos State and Otunba FEMI Pedro, to mention but just a few. There great personalities and others not mentioned who graced the occasion not only invited by Governor Adeleke, but also attracted to the event by the personality of Owa Adesuyi Hastrup who himself is among the movers and shakers in Nigeria.
IJESA TI L’OBA…..Similar to this coronation event was when Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, Ojaja II took his staff of office 10 years ago, in the year 2015 precisely, which was also jam packed by those who owned Nigeria as at then.
The the sitting Vice President of Nigeria Professor YEMI Osinbajo SAN accompanied by the then Southwest governors including Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state and late Isiaka Ajimobi of Oyo state graced the occasion to witness the coronation of the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race( No wonder they all attended in persons) Apart from being the Yoruba(if that’s our true name) number 1 traditional ruler, Ooni Ogunwusi was well connected to these great leaders who graced his occasion either through business endeavours or impactful socialisation.
Lest I forget the colossal presence of now President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who came in the company of the former APC’s National Chairman and Osun state former governor, Chief Bisi Akande and the host governor himself, Ogbeni RAUF Aregbesola. How many men and women of substance can we even remember to mention?
General TY Danjuma, his wife Senator Daisy Danjuma and Senato Florence Ita Giwa were all part of the coronation planning committee to ensure everything went well, and it really did.
It takes a great man to network great men.
I also recall, when the former Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olumide II had his 80th birthday celebration in Ile-Ife in the year 2010, I’m not good at forgetting such ‘Manigbagbe(unforgettable) day in history.
I saw governors standing up to relinquish their seats for other Very Important Personalities(VIPs) in fact, the then governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun state stood almost throughout the duration of the event attended by almost all the 36 governors in Nigeria, President Yaradua represented by Vice president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former president Obasanjo accompanied by his wife and daughter; Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, former Head Of State, General Yakubu Gowon who was a Keynote Speaker, the then President Boni Yayi of the Republic of Benni, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Head of State, General AbduSalami Abubakar, former Secretary General of The United Nations(UN) Dr Kofi Anna, the Asantene of Kumasi Ghana, Otumfor Ossei Tutu II, representives of Queen Elizabeth of England, the Senate President of Nigeria, Senator David Mark, the Almighty Esama of Benin, Sir Dr. Gabriel Igbinedion was chairman of the planning committee with his son, former governor of Edo state, Lucky Igbinedion as a member.
An indeed gathering of MEN not the BOYS. So far unbeatable!
I also witnessed the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo Atiba in Oyo state and I saw the network of important personalities who also grace the epoch occasion; the host governor, Engr. SEYI Makinde, his Deputy Governor, some members of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Commissioners, Local Government chairmen and their honourable councillors, Honourable member representing Oyo Federal Constituency at the National House of Representatives in Abuja and son of the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo Atiba, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi popularly called “SKIMEH” Senator Yinus Akintunde representing OYO in Abuja who was chairman planning committee, his predecessor, Senator Mulikat Sumonu and the Honourable Minister of Power who represented President Bola Tinubu, Chief BAYO Adelabu.
The word ,’Atobatele’ connotes a man with a kingly personality of colossal influence and great affluence.
The new Owa Obokun of Ijesa Empire, His Imperial Majesty, Owa Adesuyi Hastrup, Ajimoko III was perfectly an ‘Atobatele’
He was a very successful businessman before becoming the Osun state Deputy Governor in 1990.
He has since returned to his private life and private sector of the economy, maritime sector in particular where he has emerged as a leader.
He is someone who has so far conducted himself very kingly but in humbleness and without publicly.
UJESA TI L’OBA YEE RAN.
It is without prophecy to know that Ijesaland will begin thank the Almighty Olodumare for the type of king they now have in the person of the new Owa Adesuyi Hastrup.
I am not a seer but I can see this coming to happen soon.
The king is stupendously rich and ready to use not only his money but also his connections for the desirable development of Ijesa land. I even heard he has already started.
BABA RE A GBE O!!!
Signed:Otunba Moses Olafare,
Lowa Ada Compound,
Okerewe,
Ile-Ife.
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