EPE News

Aladeshonyin Of Odo Noforija Celebrates 70TH Birthday In Style, Calls For Govt Support

Published

4 years ago

Oct 3, 2020.

Afolabi Hakim

By Babatunde Kaka and Zainab Olanrewaju

Calls for government support in developing Noforija
Appointed Patron Of Nigeria Football Supporters Club

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

Yesterday, 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.

In a bid to show love, support and compassion to one of their own, traditional rulers from far and near filled the venue of the event. Notable among them are Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Elejinrin, Alayandelu, Olowu of Owu Ikosi, Gbadebo of Langbasa, Oba Igbooye, Alade Uraka of Poka, Alaketu of Ketu Epe, Onirokun of Irokun, Ogegbo of Ibonwon, Oloja of Epe ably represented by his chiefs, while Aladeshonyin-in-Council Chiefs were not left out.

The unconditional love for Oba Ogunlaja, a reputable disciplinarian, cheerful giver and influencer as described by a host of his friends was so inexplicable that he had to shuffle between his royal palace and private chalet to give everybody present at the event the expected sense of association and unparalleled hospitality.

In his address, Aladeshonyin said Nigeria must take a cue from mistakes of the past if it was going to overcome its challenges.

He expressed his gratitude to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for celebrating him and supporting his dream for Odo-Noforija Kingdom.

The visibly ecstatic monarch, while speaking with EkoHotBlog, said his experience and challenges over the years have not been insurmountable by virtue of being a royal blood who is well prepared to lead his people to the promise land.

He said ” For now, I am short of words because I am seeing what I don’t even expect.So, what do you want me to say than to say thank you. You know I am from a Royal family, so, I don’t believe that there are much challenges because there is no how you will be on the throne and you will not encounter challenges. As a Royal blood, if God wills that you are going to be on the throne, you must be ready to experience the so called challenges. And once you are on the throne, if you look for the solution to the challenges, things will work out.

On Nigeria’s independence journey, leadership in the country and future projections for his beloved Kingdom, he said the country needed to learn from it past mistakes.

“We keep on learning because it is a continuous anniversary.Wherever we are witnessing the independence, we need to make correction from our past mistakes. Gradually, I am sure things will normalise itself ”

” I can not do it alone, you know when you are on the throne, you always focus on development. This can be through either State or Federal government. You let them know the problem of your people and so I am quite sure once you start pushing, definitely, you will get the desired results.”

Ambassador Oluwakemi Ogunfuwa, President, Football Fans Club of Nigeria who also attended the event with her band boys spoke with Ekohotblog.

While decorating both Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja and Oba Kolawole Aliru as patrons of the club, that singular act rolled back the years for the two kings who reminiscent on their youth days as footballers. While Oba Ogunlaja revealed to the gathering that his nick name was “any angle” in the high school, Oba Kolawole Aliru revealed that he was supposed to play for the Nigerian Super Eagles alongside his close friend and prolific striker, Rashidi Yekinni but his duty by then stalled him. Both kings appreciated the kind gesture of the NGO and promised to throw their support behind the NGO.

Ambassador Ogunfuwa said, ” There are lots of reasons why we are here. This is my mother’s land and I am a native of Epe. Secondly, we felt it will be nice to come and celebrate with Kabiesi and thirdly, to decorate him as one of our patrons for the kind of king he is. We need his wealth of experience and advise as an NGO to move on with our activities.

“Joggling the ball by the Kabiesi is not a surprise to me because wherever the football fans are, this is what happens whether off or on the pitch. When we are part of an event, this is what we do and it is always very colourful with our band, the way we dress in green white green. We stand for health and fitness”.