Let’s Get Reconnected Again, Ijan Monarch Tells Subjects

• Coronation anniversary gets underway 

Dare Daramola 

As clock ticks and preparations peaked on his one year coronation anniversary, the Onijan of Ijan-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebanji Lawrence Aladesuyi, has called on all his subjects at home and in the diaspora to get reconnected with one another in love, peace and harmony with a view to rekindling the light and lost glory of the peaceful town. 

Oba Aladesuyi, the Afayagbekun II, made the plea at a recent zoom meeting with members of the committee vested with the task of ensuring a hitch-free and successful coronation anniversary, which holds between Thursday October 5 and Saturday October 7, 2023, in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State. 

“There have been skirmishes, distrust and a huge disconnect among our people. They are hurt, angry and disunited over a lot of issues. But, we cannot continue to live like this. All I can do is to plead for peace, genuine love, unity and harmony amongst us. It’s natural and human to disagree. But, it’s best to agree at some point for peaceful co-existence,” Oba Aladesuyi said. 

He added: “Let’s all plead, appeal and talk to our people. Peaceful co-existence, love and harmony will engender the valued results we all crave for. Let’s all come together as one, to achieve that common goal that will bring about unprecedented growth and development to our town. 

“No Kabiyesi can do it alone. The co-operation of all of you, sons and daughters and leaders of Ijan is sacrosanct. So, let’s work together,  get the people reconnected with themselves to move the community forward.” 

Responding, the Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Coronation Anniversary, Prof. John Olujobi, assured the monarch of a roller coaster coronation, noting that the event is not really about the Kabiyesi, but about the generality of the people of the town. 

“Let’s not deceive ourselves, without the town, the people, there’s no king and vice versa. So, all we are doing is to bring about renewed love, peace and unity amongst our people. We don’t have a choice other than to be committed to whatever will bring back our lost glory and put our town back to the high ranking status it was before. 

“Ijan Ekiti in the days of yore wasn’t second class. In terms of social values, academics, cultural heritage, we know our position. No one can shy away from that fact. It’s high time we took back that position as we rally round our Kabiyesi to fly the enviable flag,” he admonished. 

“A lot of indigenous social, cultural events and festivals that were moribund before have been revived. Communal peace and harmony amongst the people is palpable. And the icing on the cake for our people at the moment is the restoration of electricity supply to the town by the Ekiti State Government with the untiring efforts of some notable leaders in the community and the Kabiyesi after almost a decade of power outage,” Olujobi further explained. 

Highlights from the committee meeting indicated that the coronation anniversary will  commence on Monday, October 2, 2023 with Inter-denominational Services, a Media Briefing/Kabiyesi Queen Presentation at the Palace that will herald the three-day programme. 

On Thursday, October 5, there will be a Symposium/Career Talk at the Ijan Town Hall, while on Friday, October 6, Jumaat Service holds at the Ijan Central Mosque. 

Other events, such as Football Final Matches, A Night-Out with the Kabiyesi and Cultural Displays, among others, are scheduled for the three-day programme. 

The high-point of the programme will come up on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Palace Grounds where chieftaincy titles and Special Recognition Awards will be bestowed on prominent people for their exemplary roles in human capital development and public service. 

The programme will come to a close with  Special Thanksgiving Services, which will hold in selected churches on Sunday,  October 8, 2023 where all and sundry will join the Kabiyesi to give thanks to God. 

Oba Adebanji Lawrence Aladesuyi, the Afayagbekun II, ascended the throne of his forebears in October 2022, a year after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Samuel Oyewole Fadahunsi. 

On receiving his staff of office from former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi (now late), the kabiyesi promised to work at re-uniting and promoting lasting peace in the community. This, to a greater extent, the monarch, who is also a technocrat, trained pharmacologist, journalist and University of Lagos alumni, has done.