ABEOKUTA– The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III on Saturday installed High Chief Akeem Olabode Mustapha as the 9th Osi of Egbaland.
The installation ceremony took place at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta in the presence of the cremé de la cremé in the society, both in Egbaland and beyond the shores of the country.
The Alake while describing the new Osi of Egbaland, commended the new Egba Chief for his patience, resilience, commitment and perseverance when it seems all hope was lost.
Alake however charged the new Osi to use his good office for the benefit of Egbaland, Ogun State and the Country as a whole, adding that his cognate experience would greatly help him in the discharge of his responsibility.
Speaking with Newsmen at the reception held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), the new Osi of Egbaland, High Chief Olabode Mustapha thank the Alake of Egbaland for his leadership qualities and the role the monarch played in his installation as the Osi.
“Firstly, I feel thankful to God almighty for making this happen. For giving me the strength and the tenacity to hang in there even in the face of odds because at some point, it looks like it was over, but because of my faith in God, I knew it was going to happen”
“I have been introduced to the other 3 monarchs in the Egba kingdom, and I believe this is the beginning of good things to happen to the Egba nation.” an elated Bode Mustapha said
Mainwhile, the chairman planning committee, Chief Bukola Olopade describes the new Osi as an enigmatic, near perfect human being whose wealth of experience will come to bear in the development of Egbaland.
“It’s extremely difficult to describe a man, that is enigmatic in the way he does things. He is a near perfection of a man. He is a man of class, a man that depicts so much intellect, that I have come to realize now to be an assets not only to Egbaland, but to the whole of Ogun State and Nigeria”.
Notable personalities who graced the occasion includes, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun ably represented by the Chief of Staff, Alh. Shuaib Afolabi, the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Subair Bakre, former Ogun State Governors, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel
Others includes Oba Fatai Sowemimo, Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Mrs Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuwape, amongst others.
