The Olufi of Gbongan-land, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi at the weekend marked his 25th year on the throne with the conferement of outstanding chieftaincy titles on the deserving sons and daughters of the community.
Those conferred with the chieftaincy title include Dr Olori Agnes Aderonke Adetoyese, Bolanle Wale Babalakin(SAN), Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Oladimeji Asabi, and Dele Momodu, among others.
Oyeniyi was decorated as the Yeyeruwa of Gbonganland, Babalakin was decorated as the foremost son of Gbonganland, Ondo CP, Oladimeji as Otunba Bobaseru and his wife Yeye Otunba Bobaseru of Gbongan land, Dele Momodu as the Akirogun of the land among others.
In his speech at the event, the monarch expressed happiness and appreciation to God almighty for keeping him alive and for journeying with him right from 1988 he ascended his father’s throne saying, God has been his strength as he provided all the things needed to lead his subjects alright.
He, however, charged the title holders to use their titles to bring more development to the town and to wherever they find themselves saying it is not meant to oppress the poor or for abuse of authority.
Oba Oyeniyi also urged them to put God first in whatever things they might have been doing so as to be greater than what they were known to be before.
He prayed for them and appreciated the Governor of the state and other dignitaries that were present at the anniversary.
In his own speech, the governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, those that were decorated were great personalities of note and outstanding scholars in the society.
He called all the true sons and daughters including youths of the land to emulate and follow in their footsteps saying that those decorated were worthy personalities who had contributed immensely to the development of the town and the state.
“I’m delighted to know that the title holders are worthy sons who are scholars and professors. Gbongan is known as a great town with great people. I urged all the sons and daughters to emulate these great people.
“Since the inception of Gbongan, we have not heard of anyone either in diaspora or home amongst them caught in any criminal act and we are using this medium to appeal to the younger ones to emulate the scholars and great personalities in the town and follow their footsteps.”
Also speaking, Babalakin appreciated the Olufi of Gbongan for counting him worthy to be decorated as a chief and also appreciated the lawmakers and dignitaries who were present to grace the occasion.
He assured that Gbongan town will be a mega city in the years to come and appealed to the state governor to come to their aid in some areas with broken roads.
Some of the dignitaries at the event were, Arole Oduduwa Olofin, Oba Adeyete Enitan Adewusi Ojaja ll the Ooni of Ife who was represented by Oba Solomon Adebusola, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyeyede Of Ipetuland, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Odundun Deji of Akure who came in company with the Ondo CP, the Orangun of Oke- Ila among others.
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