Osinbajo charges new Akarigbo on development of Remoland

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By Sola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: VICE President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has urged the new Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, to utilize his traditional status to mobilize Remoland  indigenes from far and near to ensure the development of his kingdom.

Osinbajo gave the advice on Thursday at the installation and presentation of staff of office to the 19th Akarigbo, held at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu, Ogun State.

He described the installation of Oba Ajayi as a monumental historical occasion, even as he enjoined the first class traditional ruler to ensure his reign marks the coming together of Remo sons and daughters, for the progress of the kingdoom.

Osinbajo said at the event, which was attended by traditional rulers, within and outside Ogun State, top government functionaries, eminent Nigerians, captains of industry, and community development associations, among others, that the Akarigbo’s throne had long been a representation of enterprise and integrity.

The Vice-President, therefore, charged Oba Ajayi to combine his discipline as an accomplished accountant and a legal practitioner to rally his people for unity and progress.

“We are all witnesses to this monumental historical event,” Osinbajo said, adding: “The throne of Akarigbo has long been a representation of enterprise and integrity, therefore, the new Akarigbo must combine his discipline as an accomplished accountant and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to rally the people of Remo in unity, for the development of the land.”

He further said: “We are confident that your attributes will benefit Remoland. You also have a task of galvanizing your subjects towards the development of your domain, and ensure your reign marks the coming together of Remo sons and daughters for the purpose of developing Remo.”

The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also tasked the successor to the late Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo to be a champion of peaceful co-existence of the residents of Remoland.

Amosun told the 52-year-old monarch in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, and the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi and Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, among others, that as a symbol of the community, he should be an important partner in maintaining peace in Remoland.

He described the process that led to the choice of Oba Ajayi as democracy at work, while commending those who vied for the stool with the monarch for their show of sportsmanship.

Amosun charged the indigenes of Remoland to cooperate with the traditional ruler in order to surpass achievements recorded by the past Akarigbo.

He urged the ruler to cooperate and collaborate with security agencies in checking the influx of people with criminal tendencies from Lagos State.

The Governor, who tasked the traditional ruler to mobilize his subjects to pay their taxes, promised that his administration would continue to provide infrastructural development in the state.

Oba Ajayi, in his acceptance speech, tasked the people to assist the government of Amosun to cater for the needs of the growing number of unemployed youths.

The monarch also urged fellow royal fathers in the state to remain a crucial stabilizing factor in all the communities in the state.

“But to attain that glorious future, we have to work together as one large family. Government cannot do it alone,” he said, adding: “We have to supplement the efforts of government. We have to assist government to cater for the needs of our growing number of unemployed youths.”

He further said: “We have to carry our women along, those born entrepreneurs who have to juggle the challenge of the domestic front with today’s current realities of dwindling resources.

“Together, we must assist government to provide a peaceful environment in our communities so that the return of industries to Remo will continue to grow in leaps and bounds.”

“Today, we reach out to all brother royal fathers, particularly those in our great state. We commend them for holding fort and remaining a crucial stabilizing factor in our communities.  We have no doubt that we can chart a new and more enduring course for our people,” Oba Ajayi stressed.

Those who spoke at the event, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, congratulated Oba Ajayi and solicited people’s support to ensure his successful reign.‎

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