Dignitaries from all walks of life converged on Ikire, an ancient town in Osun State, to felicitate its monarch, Oba Olatunde Falabi, on his 90th birthday and 30th year on the throne as the Akire of Ikire kingdom.
Those in attendance at the three-day event included the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Ojo Abiodun; the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Lere Oyewumi, a senator representing Osun West; Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly from Irewole/Isokan Constituency; and some other top government functionaries.
Also in attendance were many traditional rulers in the state, such as Oba Samuel Oyebode Oluronke (Olokuku of Okuku); Oba Kayode Afolabi (Alapomu of Apomu); Oba Saka Matemilola (Olowu of Owu); and so forth, as well as the representative of Mr Bola Oyebamiji, who is MD/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority, and several others.
In his sermon at the thanksgiving service on Sunday, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of RCCG congratulated Oba Falabi, who is also a pastor in the church, on attaining the ripe age of 90 and thanked God for his peaceful reign over the years, amid landmark achievements since he ascended the throne over 30 years ago.
He enjoined the congregation to seek after the fear of God and always pray for peaceful co-existence in the community, Osun State, and Nigeria as a whole.
On his part, Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Ojo Fafa Abiodun, showered encomiums on the monarch whose reign, many testified at the event, has transformed Ikireland with landmark developments in infrastructure, the economy, education, and politics.
The governor, in a statement, wondered which town in Osun State, apart from Ikire, currently has a serving senator, a serving commissioner, and a member of the State House of Assembly.
He therefore urged the people of the community to embrace peace and rally round the Akire while hoping for further developments.
Other speakers extolled the great virtues of Oba Falabi in different spheres of life.
For example, Lere Oyewumi, a senator and a first-class chief in Ikireland, lauded the monarch for his encouragement and urged indigenes to further embrace partisan politics.
He recalled those days when people were begged to take up political positions in the town, noting that things have changed in that regard today.
Another high point of the event was the elevation of some prominent indigenes of the town, honouring them for their contributions to the development of Ikireland.
They include High Chief Omo Apesin of Ikire Kingdom land, who was elevated to a First-Class Chief in Akire-in-Council, and Senator Kamorudeen Lere Oyewumi, who was also elevated to a First-Class Chief in the ancient town.
Oba Falabi was, before ascending the throne, a practising and renowned pharmacist, entrepreneur, and farmer.
He was Chairman, Board of Trustees of Oba Falabi Foundation, CEO of Oba Falabi (Nig.) Ltd, and former Commercial Manager, Roche Nigeria Limited Lagos.
A fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oba Falabi’s paramount goal is “for an average indigene of Ikire Kingdom and indeed every Nigerian with or without the opportunity of relocating to a metropolitan Nigerian city and overseas to find fulfilment living in their fatherland.”
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