Aladeshonyin At 70: Lagos Commissioner, Council Chairman, Others Shower Encomium On Oba Ogunlaja

By Babatunde Kaka and Zainab Olanrewaju

The essence of life is definitely to influence lives positively especially when one has attained high positions. Obviously, the aura of benevolence that clothes Oba Ogunlaja JP surely added more honor, prestige and pride to his humble person.

On 2nd october, 2020, all road led to the royal palace of Aladeshonyin and Paramount Ruler of Odo-Noforija Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja (JP). It was indeed a good day to be alive in that the palace became a mecca of guests, family, friends and well wishers. Nothing could have prompted highly placed men and women in the society to throng the ancient Odo-Noforija Kingdom, Eredo, Epe Division other than the monumental 70th birthday celebration of Aladeshonyin.

The unconditional love for Oba Ogunlaja, a reputable disciplinarian, cheerful giver and influencer as described by a host of his friends was so inexplicable.

Number one citizen of Eredo local council development area (LCDA), Hon Saliu Adeniyi, eulogised Oba Ogunlaja. He highlighted his contribution to the development of the council.

” Kabiesi is a veteran, he is a major power and influence in Epe division. He’s been very active in everything that we have been doing. He was an active politician before he became an oba and he still shows us every time that he has the passion. Any time there is a political issue or when we are in need of someone to help us shake the table a little bit, Kabiesi always comes handy. We’ve benefitted from his wisdom, influence, activities around and we have also enjoyed his support at the council. He has done a lot in mobilizing the rest of the Obas towards particular goals that we set as a government.

So, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, we are here in solidarity with him, to assure him of our continuous support and prayers and also to wish him a very happy 70th birthday. We wish him more years on the throne of his forefathers and we hope and pray that he will continue to contribute his quota to the development of Odo-Noforija kingdom, Eredo, Epe Division and Lagos state as a whole. We are very happy and we felicitate with him”.

In his remarks,  Mr. Garbadeen Olabode, Commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission and Director General, Eternal Care Foundation, felicitates with Oba Ogunlaja.

He stated that he came in respect of culture and tradition together with identifying with Oba Noforija, he also extolled the virtues of Aladeshonyin and thereby advised the Royal father to encourage promising youths and keep up the good work for his people.

“Well, I am here for culture, I am here out of my respect for culture and tradition. Our Kabiesi is a custodian of our culture and tradition. When you talk of culture and tradition, you know how they shape our lives in a kind of way that they help us grow up from childhood, the kind of values we imbibe, starting from the values that we inherited. And so, this Kabiesi today represents them and so when a landmark occasion like the 70th birthday is being celebrated, I have to identify with him.

Mr Olabode showered praises on the personality of Oba Ogunlaja, describing him as a cheerful giver and accommodating Royal father. He also said some words of advise to the celebrant. He said,

“He is a Kabiesi that gives. He is generous and he is accessible. He is good spirited. He loves his people, he mixes and interacts easily. So, it endears him to me and I have a lot of respect for him. Despite the age difference between us, he has same respect for me. He is somebody that I cherish and I congratulate the people of Odo-Noforija Kingdom for having a character like him as their traditional ruler ”

” I will advise him to keep up his character. He should continue to maintain peace in his community, he should continue to encourage promising youths as he is doing. And he should continue to be around because some traditional leaders don’t come around, they oversee everything from a distance. He is always around and he should continue to do that”

On the current leadership situation which has led to infrastructural deficits in the country, without excluding himself, Mr. Olabode advised called on leaders to have the fear of God and lead a changed life for the masses to live happily.

” Everybody should have the fear of God. If we have the fear of God, we will be in the right position today. We should not close our eyes to the sufferings of the people. the suffering is much and there is total collapse of infrastructure. The infrastructure is zero. We can not live any meaningful life without infrastructure, talking of road, power, water, school and so many others that can make life better for the people. We need to buckle up and they are doable. If they do it in other countries where they have less resources, then we can even do it better. Why we are not doing it, I don’t know but I am appealing to us, I am not excluding myself, we should have a change of heart, change of attitude and we should fear God