Oba Ogunsanwo Celebrates Birthday In Style, Unveils 10-Year Master plan For Alara Kingdom

By Babatunde Kaka and Zainab Olanrewaju

• I see Ilara as a mini London in 10 years, says Ọba Ogunsanwo 

• Alara Felicitates with Nigerians on 60th independence anniversary. 

The Alara of Ilara, Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo, has reiterated his commitment to development and growth of Ilara, saying he sees a Alara kingdom as a miniature London in a decade time.

Oba Ogunsanwo expressed optimism and high hopes for Ilara kingdom and Nigeria, noting that 20 years of unbroken democratic rulehas brought strength and unity to the country.

The monarch made the projection on an occasion of his first birthday celebration after he was enthroned as the Alara of Ilara.

Oba Ogunsanwo, who spoke with EkoHotBlog, took time to appreciate guests who graced the event and offered prayers for journey mercies, prosperity and grace from God.

Speaking with Ekohotblog, Oba Ogunsanwo expressed his feelings about the celebration and why it was a momentous day.

He said: ” Today marks my first birthday celebration after my coronation. So for me, it’s a pace setter in, by the special grace of God, the number of years that I will spend on the throne of my fore fathers. So, it’s like I am celebrating my first anniversary, my first birthday anniversary on the throne. So, it is really really unique and you can see that the whole environment is ecstatic and everybody is happy.

Oba Alara also shared his experience, perspectives and challenges since ascension to the throne.

” The experience has been very very exciting and you know this is a community that is still developing, there are so many challenges in terms of infrastructure, youth empowerment and creating the right environment for investment. So because of that, there is a lot to do but I can see that the challenges are not insurmountable, we are gradually setting at it and by the special grace of God, by the time we are celebrating our first anniversary, we will have much to talk about and to celebrate at that time”, he said.

Oba Olufolarin further took time to briefly share his thoughts and experience on the journey so far about the upcoming 60th independence anniversary. He also gave insights on how Nigeria has fared as a 60 year old nation. He said:

” Nigeria will be celebrating the 60th independence anniversary soon, She is a beautiful country with a lot of potentials and the leadership have been doing their best but the full potentials of the country is yet to be fully tapped. So, I want to believe that in the coming years, very soon, we will have been able to achieve so much giving the right leadership, the right people in the right places and then If we harness all the resources together, Nigeria will be a more beautiful nation”

On the future projections of Ilara kingdom, Epe Division and Nigeria in the next 10 years, Oba Ogunsanwo was full of hopes for Ilara kingdom which he described as a ” small London”. He was also hopeful of a more united and developed Nigeria. He said:

” I see Ilara kingdom and by extension, Epe Division that is developed, a Mini London, a community that is able to bring out the best of all the resources, be it human or natural resources that has been given to us by the Almighty God. I see us realizing the full potentials of all those resources and by extension, our state, Lagos state and Nigeria as well. So in the next 10 years when Nigeria is celebrating the 70th independence anniversary, I am sure that Nigeria will be more united than this, we will be more developed than this and we will be more prosperous by the special grace of God “.

Alara also agreed with the perception that Nigeria’s over 2 decades of democracy has restored, stabilized or unified the strength and economy of Nigeria.

” Of course it has. Democracy has been stabilised. For us to have more than 20 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in the country, that tells a lot that democracy has come to stay and there is no other alternative other than a democratically elected government at all levels. So I want to believe that the modest achievements that we have made democratically would be more consumate and would reach its full potentials in the coming years.

“So, I wish Nigeria well, I wish Nigeria a happy birthday and happy Independence and I pray that the country will continue to grow from strength to strength, there will be more stability, more unity and almighty God will give our leaders the wisdom to be able to take up any challenge and make the best use of it to turn those challenges to opportunities for the benefit of humanity “, he said.

The event was graced by dignitaries and influential persons from different walks of like.

Among them are Hon. Saliu Adeniyi, Eredo LCDA Chairman and Executive members, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, Olugbon of Orile Igbon, (Vice Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs) and wife, Olori Abimbola Yetunde Ogunsanwo, Pastor Mrs. Funmi Adeniyi. princess Samiat Bada, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Chairman, Prince Ademuyiwa Oniwonlu, Oba of Ibeju Agbe, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara, Commissioner, Audit Service Commission, Engineer Dele Onabokun, (Former Commissioner for Works and Housing) and wife, Surveyor J.K Olayemi, Mrs. Temitope Sanwoolu, Otunba Taiwo Taiwo, the Alara Chiefs in Counci, Iyalojas of Eredo.

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