Igbajo town in Osun state will soon become the new agricultural hub of Osun state. That is the wish of the new Owa of Igbajo, Dr. Ademola Stephen Kayode Makinde. He was speaking at the official ceremony of the presentation of staff of office to him by Governor Ademola Adeleke at his palace in Igbajo.
He said to cheers from the crowd, “Igbajo is an agrarian community, during my reign we will develop that trade. There was something I said backstage during the installation ceremony. I will repeat it here. Igbajo is an agrarian town, I want to promise every one of you; during my reign, I will support you in the trade. I will encourage each clan to form a cooperative body, you will decide the type of farming you want to do, either livestock or seed planting or whatever, I will give each clan the seed money that you will use judiciously. Together we will make Igbajo the agricultural hub of Osun State.”
Earlier, the monarch had expressed his gratitude to the governor for allowing due process to be followed in arriving at his choice for the throne. He said, “My Excellency, I appreciate you so much… this gentleman governor, if he were to use politics, I am not a politician. If he were to use any other affiliation, I dont belong. In fact, this may be the second time I have met him. The first time, I couldnt talk to him. He was in Abuja, at our club, … And some of his friends …invited him. Today is the second time. So, if it were to be affiliation, I am not fit for this. But he set the ball rolling, saying, ‘just go and do due process.’ And it is that due process that brought this result that we are all celebrating today. My governor, silver and gold I dont have, but for returning the glory of my father’s house that some people had wanted to elude us, all your heart desire shall be granted by God.”
Oba Makinde told a story of how his ascension may have been foretold. He said he had an unusual encounter with late Oba Famodun 11 in 1978, when he was a member of Boys’ Scout Club and was on duty at an event at the palace ground. The old Kabiyesi, perhaps saw that he was not standing erect, asked him if he was sleeping, to which he replied in the negative. Oba Adelani Famodimu 11 further requested about his background, and when he told him he said, “You are even from a royal family. Do you like this position?” And the new king, who was a little boy then in primary two, said he loved it. Oba Famodimu 11 then asked ‘what position do you think I am talking about?’, he answered, ‘Kingship’, and, according to him, the late monarch concluded, ‘It is said!’
Oba Makinde made a request of the governor before he departed from Igbajo. He told Adeleke that whatever division exists in Igbajo came about because of a road that was done halfway by the government. Though, he acknowledged that the local government chairman had spoken about it, the monarch said he wanted to reiterate it to the governor. His appeal was that completing the road would renew the unity in the town. There and then, Governor Adeleke said, ‘It is done!’ And the crowd greeted the response with a shout of joy.
The governor said he reversed the decision of the former administration because it was at variance with the Chieftaincy Law of 2005. Having given room for due process which produced a popular choice for the town, Adeleke said, “To whom much is given, much is also expected. The government expects your maximum cooperation and support.”
In attendance at the ceremony were the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, members of the state cabinet, traditional rulers and Oba Makinde’s in-laws among others.
