New Sekumade of Ipakodo Gets Staff Of Office

Kunle ADELABU
-Governor Ambode charges traditional institution to maintain peace

It was jubilation galore as Oba (Engr.) Basiru Aremu Sotonwa, emerged the 2^nd Oba of Ipakodo and received his Staff of Office from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday , February  1,2018.
The new Sekumade of Ipakodo also adopted ‘Osomeku 1’ as his title name.
The Sekumade throne had been vacant since the demise of Late Oba Hassan Jimbo on May 29, 1999.
At the ceremony which was held at the  Ikorodu Ferry Terminal in Ebute, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, the Governor charged the new Oba and other traditional rulers in the State to maintain peace and order in their respective domains.
Governor Ambode was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami.
“I am delighted to be part of this memorable and historic occasion of the official Installation and Presentation of Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment to His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Engr) Basiru Aremu Sotonwa, Osomeku1, as the new Sekumade of Ipakodo” ,Governor Ambode stated
“It would be recalled that the people of Ipakodo in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area were persistent in their request for a traditional ruler after the immediate past Oba joined his ancestors years ago.
 
“The request passed through due process and the Government approved the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Engr) Basiru Aremu Sotonwa, Osomeku1, as the Sekumade of Ipakodo.
 
“On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, l congratulate your Royal Majesty for this special honour which the people of Ipakodo Community bestow on you.
 
“It is our fervent prayer that the Almighty creator will bless your reign and guide you aright in the discharge of your Royal and Traditional duties so that Peace, Tranquility and Progress may reign supreme in your domain.”
 
The Governor also enjoined the people of Ipakodo to give maximum support to the new traditional ruler.
 

“To the entire people of Ipakodo Land, all sons and daughters home and abroad, l rejoice with you on this auspicious occasion and urge you to give unalloyed support to the new monarch in order to enable him to continue to safeguard the sanctity of this sacred and highly reserved institution”, the Governor requested.
 
 
The Governor equally enjoined royal fathers to remain a rallying point of communal cohesion and maintain peace and order in their domains.
“Let me remind you that the institution of traditional Obaship in our society, regardless of the advent of modernism, remains a rallying point for the generality of our people and it has been serving as a veritable vehicle for the dissemination of Government policies and programmes and for the mobilization of the populace for same”, Governor Ambode stated .
“As a custodian of the culture and tradition of your people, you should be seen as a rallying point for the maintenance of communal peace and social development”, he added.
He revealed that a total of 21 new Obas and 128 Baales had been installed since the inception of his administration in 2015.
“At this juncture, let me inform this gathering that the present Administration, since inception, had installed a total number  of 21 new Obas and 128 Baales and Chiefs while  12 Obas were reclasified across the State”.
Hon. Folami in his welcome address, which was read by Mr Fola Padonu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stated that the Installation was in line with the registered declaration regulating the selection of the stool of Sekumade.
“Today’s Installation came after the State Government had scrutinized and accepted that due process had been followed in the selection of the Sekumade of Ipakodo”.
Speaking after receiving the Staff of Office, Oba Sotonwa thanked the Governor, Lagos State Executive Council and the Ikorodu Division Council of Obas and Chiefs for their  support.
While also thanking the ruling houses in Ipakodo, Oba Sotonwa assured them that all the outstanding issues regarding the Sekumade stool would be resolved soon.
“Be assured that all outstanding issues relating to the stool will be given urgent and adequate attention”, the new Kabiyesi assured.