Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
The 10th Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukenu IV who will tomorrow be presented with staff of office by the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has given an insight into how he intends to rule Egba kingdom.
The 10th Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukenu IV who will tomorrow be presented with staff of office by the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has given an insight into how he intends to rule Egba kingdom.
In his manifesto, Oba Gbadebo said that his reign would be stepped in deep love and compassion for the citizens. "I envision a reign blessed by God Almighty; a reign steeped in deep love and compassion for the citizens. I envision a new era of unprecedented, progress, peace and concord among the various townships, homesteads and communities that constitute Egbaland."
Continuing, Oba Gbadebo said: "a reign that will be blessed by generations to come for its achievement in promoting the welfare of the citizen and for upholding and preserving our cultural heritage".
In his mission statement, the Okukenu IV promised to update, protect and preserve the traditions, values and the dignity of the institution of Obaship and the culture of Egbaland.
"I shall promote the welfare and the aspirations of her sons and daughters, at home and abroad, for personal and communal dignity, economic well-being and for unity, peace, progress and justice in the land by promoting understanding and cooperation between the government and the people, fellow Obas and chiefs, and among the faithful of the various religious beliefs and practices in the land."
The retired Army officer said he would build on the foundation of peace, concord and progress laid by "our immediate past predecessor by employing accumulated personal goodwill, derived from extensive contact in social, economic and political affairs of the country."
The Egba new monarch who promised to bequeath to posterity a legacy of service with dignity and integrity also stated that he would co-operate with government, "to re-position Egbaland for commerce and industrialization in order to maintain the age-long position of our sons and daughters as frontliners in various professions in the public affairs of Nigeria in particular and the world at large."
The first university graduate to occupy the Alake throne since the first Alake, Oba Okukenu in 1854 ascended the throne, said education would also be his centre-point, "in order to maintain the age-long position of "our sons and daughters as frontliners across the various professions as well as in the public affairs of Nigeria in international organizations."
Speaking on the institution of Obaship in the country, Oba Gbadebo who promised to uphold and preserve the values and the traditions of the institution's said: "We shall hold our office and carry out our duties with honour and dignity. We shall take steps to ensure that only honourable men and women are given traditional and other titles, no matter what their other attributes may be."
Oba Gbadebo who stressed the importance of inter-personal and mass communication also promised to create a website for the palace because: "Any human organization or institution that wants to survive in this technological age must remain accessible, dishing out information about itself and receiving information from diverse sources in return."