BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
Prominent Nigerians, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice-President Atiku Abubarkar, were on hand on Friday to witness the installation ceremony of Oba Olalekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Other leading personalities at the event were the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; the Deputy Governor of Osun, Benedict Alabi; and his counterpart from Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Ambassador of Republic of China to Nigeria, Cui Jiauchun, was also present.
First class monarchs who were present on the occasion were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; and the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan.
Also in attendance were Oba Yusuf Adeleye, the Olubaka of Okaland in Ondo State; Oluwo of Iwo; the Okere of Saki and Aseyin of Iseyin.
Also present were a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasidi Ladoja who doubles as the Otun Olubadan; and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, who represented Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The programme was officially declared opened at 11:14am with the recitation of National Anthem, Oyo State Anthem as well as Ibadan Anthem.
The opening prayers were said by Christians, Muslims while the traditional prayer was said by the Araba Awo of Ibadanland.
Moshood Ayanyemi Atookowagbowo led other Ibadan drummers to welcome the guests and well-wishers to the occasion in a traditional way.
The 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland was ushered into the venue at exactly 11:50am.
Following his arrival, traditional chiefs, Mogajis, religious leaders, leaders of various associations in Ibadanland paid homage to the new Olubadan.
