By Lanre Ogundipe and Olajide Laniyonu
On behalf of all of us at the _*IBILE G7 CLUB*_, it gives us great pleasure to wish His Imperial Majesty Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin our heartfelt congratulations on his coronation as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan land. Our association and affinity with our progenitor- _Lagelu, Oro Apata-Maja House of Ibadanland_ as indigenes, is strong and long-standing.
Our Club/Association is deeply rooted and founded on the continued sustenance of the traditions and culture of our forefathers and we greatly value the enduring interest and support in promoting our core values in *IBADANLAND!* .
We know and appreciate how much *Ibadanland* means to Your Imperial Majesty, and how much you value the great land, with love and passion. People of Ibadanland will not even forget the roles and contributions you have made over the years with your personal, traditional connections and with your background and vast experience, as you stepped through the lengthy ladder and the royalty curves.
These are indeed unequal sacrifices which made you a worthy father with an open mind who is fit, proper and well prepared for the exalted throne as the paramount Oba of Ibadanland!
Those of us in our Club and other people in Ibadanland too, are pleased to acknowledge the fact that all the men and women who had the opportunity to have crossed your path as you journeyed through life, are now having great testimonials of whom your Imperial Majesty Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakunlehin is, now that you are wearing *_the Greatest and the Father of all Crowns_* to lead us in the great megapolis of Ibadanland and its entire environs where your reign would be sacrosanct!
We are honoured for not only being genuine indigenes but also proud sons of the soil. The word IBADAN is our badge/title, and on behalf of all other sons and daughters of Ibadanland everywhere, both at home and in the Diaspora, we are delighted to show our love, care, respect and pledge to display to the fullest our loyalty to the cause of the entrenched/valuable customs and traditions of *IBADANLAND!*
We are also not going to be shy in our responsibilities and we shall be ready to pay the price for the defence of the ideals, norms and traditions of our dear Ibadanland which, all of us, including your Imperial Majesty, believed strongly and so dearly in!
Just as you have pledged a life of service to the your subjects and the people of Ibadanland, so is our own avowed pledge too, to support and serve the needs of Ibadanland to the glory and the memories of all of our renowned fore-beares!
Kabiiyesii, we greatly value the trust the people of Ibadanland placed in us to fulfil and to ensure that our core values are not trampled upon and we hope we will always be worthy of that trust and noble duty!
On this historic and joyous day, we remember our past royal fathers and their years of dedicated services and shining examples, for which we will always be grateful and remember with nostalgia!
From all of us, long may you reign; _The Imperial Majesty, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakunlehin – the ige-Olakulehin 1. Kabiesi Oba Allaleluwa Ige- Olakunlehin 1, Olubadan *tile Ibadan, K’ade pe l’ori o, Ki bata pe’lese Oba o, irukere Oba a di okinnin, esin Oba, a si je’ko pee pee o! ASE!!!*
