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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2012
PEOPLE THE NATION
AN EIGHT-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY
Though a work day, last Monday did not look like that in Abeokuta, when former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi, were installed the Aare Ago of Egbaland and Erelu Aare Ago of Egbaland. Their family, friends and political associates witnessed the ceremony climaxing the seventh coronation of Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there
•General Buhari flanked by Aare Ago Tinubu and Erelu Aare Ago Tinubu
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T was a colourful day in Abeokuta, the headquarters of Egba Confederation. The weather was clement. The palace of the paramount ruler, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo was filled to the brim. Ake and its environs were agog with festivities. From sunrise to midnight on that historic Monday. There was no dull moment. Eminent Nigerians thronged the ancient city for the installation of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Aare Ago of Egbaland and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as Erelu Aare Ago of Egbaland. Dignitaries, including politicians, captains of industry, top military brass, the clergy and laity, and traditional rulers, were in one accord at the ceremony, which climaxed the seventh coronation anniversary of Oba Gbadebo. On the stage entertaining guests were three popular musicians:Juju maestro Sunny Ade, Commander Ebenezer ObeyFabiyi and Fuji crooner Abass Akande Obesere. The generational bent appealed to the young and old, who danced and danced. It was a busy day for guests, who also accompanied the celebrator, his family and chiefs to St. Peters' Cathedral, a stone throw from the ageless palace, for a thanksgiving service officiated by Rev. Samuel Ogundeji. The huge crowd of well wishers and visitors was unprecedented. At a time, prominent Egba chiefs vacated their seats for some personalities. Political differences dimmed as leaders of ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress
Their glorious moment •Egba monarch honours Tinubu, wife for Progressive Change (CPC) and other parties warmly embraced. When the arrival of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and former Federal Capital Territory Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, was announced by the master of ceremony, the audience cheered them to no end. Associates, friends and relations were in celebration mood. "If a political statement is being made, it is that the Jagaban Borgu is a crowd puller any day", observed Joe Igbokwe, a political activist, adding: "The summary of it all is that the Leader is waxing stronger". It was an understatement. An elderly politician, who was excited by it all: "It looks like when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was installed as the Odole of Ife by Oba Adesoji Aderemi". Another said it evoked the memory of Awo's installation as the Odofin of Owo by the late Oba Olateru Olagbegi. Yet, another elder in the crowd said the ceremony was reminiscent of the conferment of the title of Ajagunla of Ado-Ekiti on the departed Yoruba leader by his friend, Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi. Alake Gbadebo was all smiles as he waved his horsetail to the crowd. His costume; a neat brown lace on which dwelt long, roving red beads, evoked the memory of his illustrious
grandfather, the late Alake Ademola Gbadebo, a fashionable monarch who visited King Edward in London in 1904 in his royal regalia. Unlike when he was in active military service, the retired colonel walked calmly to his exalted seat, amid cheers by his subjects, dancing to the ageless traditional drum, Gbedu. As the Egba warriors who ushered him in fired some shots into the sky in a dramatic manner, the paramount ruler exuded joy. He was accompanied by his devoted wife, Olori Tokunbo Gbadebo, the amiable daughter of the famous Yoruba author and politician, the late Chief Joseph Odunjo. But Alake's guest, the Olowo-Eko of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, could not resist the invitation to the dancing floor before taking his seat at the high table. Drummers and other cultural troupes burst into 'Eyo' songs peculiar to the Lagos Islanders. As the monarch took to the dancing floor, shouts of "Olowo-Eko Baba Fuad' filled the air. Around 3.15 pm, the man of the moment, Tinubu, stormed the venue in a grand style. Sighting him from afar, the drummers changed the beat, with itierant cultural troupes chanting his cognomen. When the
Tinubus were led to the high table, all the dignitaries rose in their honour. A charismatic Tinubu fell into the warm embrace of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Ogun and Lagos counterparts, Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Babatunde Fashola (SAN). He shook hands with Pa Lateef Jakande, ACN leader and Akinrogun of Egbaland Aremo Olusegun Osoba, prominent Egba chiefs waiting to administer the oath of allegiance on him, and some members of the planning committee who were ready to take him through the installation rites. Later, he bowed to other elders, traditional rulers and community leaders before waving to his associates in acknowledgment of their kind gestures. The former Lagos State governor was decked in a deep blue "Aso Ofi". His wife, Senator Oluremi, wore a white 'buba' and blue 'iro'. She was full of queenly tenderness as she knelt down in reverence for the Egba female chiefs led by the Iyalode, Mrs. Alaba Lawson. As she paid obeisance, her admirers, including Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, Yeyesewa of Lagos; Mrs Kemi Nelson, former Lagos State Commerce Commissioner, Mrs. Teju Philips and wives of public officers from the Centre of Excel•More pictuers on page 26