The much anticipated get-together in honour of Senior Chief Lakan Alabi, Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland and the first Culture Ambassador of the National Museum and Monument, Ile-Ife, who served four former Governors of old Oyo State as Press Secretary from 1983 to 1989.
The four former Governors were 1 Civilian and three military, the late Chief ‘Bola Ige, SAN, Lieutenant -Colonel Oladayo Popoola (now a retired Major-General), the late Brigadier-General Adetunji Idowu Olurin and Brigadier-General Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya, all of whom he served as Press Secretary between 1983 and 1989.
He was a four-time coordinator of the Sketch Press Limited and the pioneer, Public Affairs Manager of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited , from where he voluntarily retired as the pioneer General Manager of Corporate Services in 2007, after 17 years of meritorous service,
A statement by Comrade Awa Bamiji on behalf of the organizers stated that his 74th birthday celebration programme will hold on Sunday, October 27 , 2024
“Due to the prevailing gloom in the country and the World at large, we, the Organisers, have decided to scale down the above-named ceremony, as a sign of solidarity, pity and sympathy with the general Public on the economic situation of the Country, which now calls for all hands to be on deck immediately to assist this determined and promising Government in whatever way we can, towards steering the National Ship out of the painful effects of various economic reforms, as soon as possible for our collective relief and economic recovery.”, It stated.
It will be recalled that the celebrant, had five years ago , similarly scaled down his 70th birthday celebrations, due to the then ravaging COVID – 19 pandemic and the Lekki ,Lagos shootout to scare away the protesters that layed siege on the major ExpressWay for days, as against the initial appeal by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, during his physical meeting with their representatives at his office.
The celebration, which was initially billed to hold at Wole Soyinka Theatre, University of Ibadan (UI) Ibadan Oyo State, starts 10.00am with arrival of some prominent Imams from the family’s side, who shall offer prayers for the celebrant, Ibadan, Yorubaland and Nigeria, as a whole, at his Akobo General Gas home, in Ibadan.
A private reception will later be held for invited guests and professional colleagues of the celebrant at Ibadan South-East Local Government Traditional Council Chambers.
