|
When Daniel Got the Verdict of Ogun Obas
-By Adegbenro Adebanjo
The occasion was the commissioning of the New Conference Centre
for the use of traditional rulers in Ogun State but it turned
out to be a valedictory gathering where the obas from all
corners of Ogun State passed their verdict on the eight year of
Stewardship of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration. Oba
Michael Sonariwo, Akarigbo of Remo and the current Chairman of
the Ogun State Council of Obas set the ball rolling inside the
glittering new hall adjacent the sprawling Obas Complex, Oke
Mosan, Abeokuta shortly after the Ogun State Governor had
commissioned the edifice on Thursday March 31, 2011. Oba
Sonariwo said the consensus verdict of traditional rulers in
Ogun State is that the OGD administration had recorded giant
developmental strides in all facets of human endeavor especially
the transformation of the social cultural values of the people.
He said since the inception of the State the pride of place
accorded the traditional institutions by the outgoing
administration has been unprecedented. He listed the
achievements recorded under the watch of Governor Daniel to
include the construction of the Obas Complex which he said has
become a model in the south west geopolitical zone, holistic
repositioning of the institution of obaship ,the classification
and upgrading of Obas and the State of the art conference
centre. Oba Sonariwo said the governor’s laudable achievements
have been written with indelible ink and would remain a source
of inspirations to generation yet unborn.
Oba Gbadebo Oni, the Olu of Imashai and acting Chairman of the
YEWA Council of Obas said Governor Daniel has changed the status
of the State from a sleepy civil service enclave to a
commercially vibrant entity . He said the YEWAS have
double reasons to be grateful for the contributions of the
Governor to the development of the Ogun West Senatorial District
and for supporting the aspirations of the YEWAS to produce a
governor for the first time in the history of the State. He said
the many criticisms that have come the way of the governor were
because of his intimidating achievements. He said in spite of
criticisms from some quarters nobody can deny the fact that
the Governor has turned Ogun into a model State. Oba Adedotun
Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland said Governor Daniel was
able to record remarkable achievements and make the difference
because he is not a typical politician but a professional in
politics. For the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the
Daniel administration would score first class were it to be
graded. Said the paramount ruler, “You have done very well, I
can assure you that after you leave office even your detractors
will praise you. All the bickering and hecklings are all about
politics, it does not represent the genuine verdict of the
people of the State about your stewardship. The Genuine verdict
of the people of Ogun State is that you have done excellently
well,” Oba Adetona said to thunderous ovation from the
traditional rulers present.
Otunba Daniel in his response said the attention paid by his
administration to the traditional institution was deliberate and
was done to continually harness the contributions of the
traditional rulers to the development of their domain and the
State. While thanking the Obas for what he described as their
superb support for his administration, he enjoined the royal
fathers to extend the same level of cooperation to his
successor. Otunba Daniel also admonished the obas not to
allow the development of the State and the people to be
sacrificed in the worship of ego of an individual or group. The
Governor also publicly asked the royal fathers to pardon any
errors of omission or commission that may have been committed by
his administration saying it was never the intention of his
administration to dishonor any monarch or the sacred institution
of obaship
Are Tunde Alabi, Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs said the Daniel administration has delivered
on all its promises to reposition tradition institutions in the
State. He described the new Complex as a robust testimony to the
pride of place the custodians of the culture and tradition of
the people are held by the Daniel administration. He said the
conference’s Hall main auditorium has the capacity to
accommodate over two hundred monarchs while the gallery has
capacity to seat 102 guests. He said with the new conference
Hall, Monarchs in the State now have a befitting ambience to
continue their robust contributions to the development of the
Gateway State.
|
