Governors, senators, COAS, others storm Ekiti for Oluyin’s coronation
By Mike Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti
Iyin-Ekiti community, one of the most ancient towns in Ekiti State turned a mecca of sorts on Saturday as eminent Nigerians besieged the town for the first coronation ceremony of the traditional ruler of the town, HRM Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaye, the Oyiyosayeuyin III, Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti.
The event which kicked-off at the palace of Oluyin with the installation of eminent personalities from all walks of life had the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim, thirty other Senators, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and ten other Army Generals in Attendance, Nigerian NewsDirect has confirmed.
The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, in their separate addresses at the occasion appealed to Nigerians not to abandon the federal government in the fight against bandits, terrorists and kidnappers.
Making copious reference to the issue of terrorism and kidnapping across the six geopolitical zones, the top government functionaries, urged Nigerians to perceive security as a collective battle, rather than sectional.
The Senate President who was being conferred with the chieftaincy title of Akorewolu of Iyin-Ekiti by Oluyin, HRM Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaye told the gathering that the title will spur him to do more and make life meaningful to humanity.
Lawan, who represents Yobe North, stormed the town in company with over 30 Senators, including the Federal Lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who donated a coaster bus to the Oluyin-in-Council.
Lawan, who thanked the monarch for the honour, said: “The Nineth Senate has done what we need to do to make Nigeria great. Our leaders who set a vision for the country came from different constituencies, backgrounds, religious inclinations, but they had a vision that Nigeria should be best in Africa.
“So many challenges were faced, but those leaders dealt with some of them and subdued them. Other subsequent leaders also had a vision to make Nigeria a country that will be progressive and develop.
“Like our former leaders used to do, we are also dealing with these challenges despite our political, ethnic and religious differences.
“Now, we are facing security challenges all over the country. Political, religious and traditional leaders must come together. Whether the problem is predominant in the Northwest or Northeast or Southwest or East, all hands must be on the deck to resolve all these challenges.
“As a matter of urgency, we should come together as a people and deal with these challenges, most of them if not all of them and make Nigeria a great country. No part of Nigeria can entirely face the problems facing the country and tackle them all.”
Lawan described Bamidele as a reliable politician, who values integrity, propriety, professionalism and development of the country, especially Ekiti State.
“The Senate passed a bill establishing Medical university here in Iyin Ekiti through a bill sponsored by Senator Bamidele. I will make sure I lobby President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill, so that the university can take off in time.”
Other Senators who graced the occasion in company of the Senate President include: Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Barau Jibrin, Sadiq Umar Suleiman, Kola Balogun, Ayodele Akinyelure, Chukwuka Utazi, Aisha Dahiru Binani, Mohammed Sani Musa, Surajudeen Basiru Ajibola, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, Francis Fadahunsi, Adelere Oriolowo, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (the host) and also Clerk of the National Assembly, Architect Olatunde Ojo.
Also speaking about the dreaded insecurity situation facing Nigeria, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, said the Nigerian Army is working tirelessly to secure the nation.
Yahaya said his men and officers were achieving the task by containing the activities of terrorists and bandits, killing and kidnapping the citizens, thereby subjecting the nation to unnecessary chaos and panic.
“The Armed Forces are doing their best to secure the nation and we will continue in the task of making Nigeria free from this present insecurity situation.
“Security is the business of everybody, all stakeholders, particularly the community leaders. It is the responsibility of every Nigerian. We appeal to Nigerians to join us in the task of securing the nation.
“We are ready to work with other sister agencies to secure our nation. We are also tapping from the experiences of those that had served before us in the Armed Forces to guide us in our present task of securing our country Nigeria,” Yahaya said.
In his address, the monarch of the town Oba Adeola Ajakaye said traditional rulers, as custodians of culture and tradition, only honour credible individuals who have displayed high moral values and integrity in the society with chieftaincy titles.
He called on the awardees, the honourary chieftaincy title holders in the town and the indigenes of the town to come back home and develop the town and make it a cynosure of other towns in the state.
While addressing his constituents, the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, said he would continue to work hard to attract dividends of democracy to Ekiti State.
Bamidele applauded the leadership of the Senate for their glowing passion to work with the executive arm, to bring development to all the 109 Senatorial districts across the nation, Nigerian NewsDirect reports.
