Many people don’t know that Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, the Otunba Tunwase, The Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, The Asiwaju Of Ijebu Christians & The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House Of Ijebu is a close associate of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. We can tell you they are close. Every year, he extols the virtues of the Awujale during the Ileya period and the Ojude Oba festival. At this time of the year, he normally sends messages to the Awujale to congratulate him. Lets reveal the content of the messages.
“Alaiyeluwa, Kabiyesi, the annual Ojude Oba Festival is here again and my usual annual tribute to you, this time, comes with heart-warming affection and a deep appreciation to the Almighty God, our Creator, for all the joy in my heart. I sincerely appreciate the amazing grace of the same Almighty God we share together, much more for sparing our lives to celebrate yet another Ojude Oba Festival.
The Festival provides us- all your children and subjects, the period when we gather to pay you homage and demonstrate our affection for a very unique monarch, an exceptional father figure and the Paramount Ruler who has continued to endear himself to his people and who by divine grace, renews his strength annually, to make all Ijebus in unison to say, “Kabiyesi k’ade pe l’ori, Ki bata pe l’ese. Our prayer is that your reign will continue to bring joy, prosperity and robust health, all in abundance to all of us your children, the entire Ijebu race, at home and in the Diaspora”.
We have every cause to rejoice and be thankful to the Almighty God for being with us. I cannot but sing our famous song, “o ye ka dupe, 0 ye ka dupe, Ara san, Ategun fe, Ijija, ko gbe wa lo, oye ka dupe”. In the last four years, you and I have had to thank our God in attaining the iconic age of 85 and with serious appreciation, we both had the opportunity of remaining grateful to our God, showing the people around us the affection we have for each other.
Your deep love for me and family particularly, over the years, has demonstrated an unflinching affection towards us in such a manner that I cannot but continue to say it everywhere that the good Lord has tied our souls together. Coming from our highly respectable Royal father, it gives me an insight into your uncommon kind nature and also your sincerity.
It has totally informed one of my main preoccupations in life, which is never to make myself unworthy of such stu pendous affection from the Royal father of all of us, Ijebus. I continue to express my profound appreciation, Kabiyesi.
I will continue to say it to everyone that cares to know that you have been divinely prepared for your position as the Royal father of all of us, Ijebus and from time to time, you have always been able to endear yourself to all of us. Apart from being the Olori Ebi (the head of the family, by the grace of Almighty God and interestingly not in contest by all who admire the grace of our God), as your Olori Omo–Oba (the head of princes and princesses), I will continue to lead the way in showing our appreciation by being very close to you and showing my total loyalty to you. I thank you very much and immensely, the good Lord, our Maker that you have been unrelenting in showing that you appreciate my regular homage and tribute to you.
I want to say it without fear of anybody that year to year and on a daily basis, the appreciation of all Ijebus for the way you extend yourself to their different requests and yearnings, has remained such that the annual paying of homage, should no longer be the only occasion we should show our appreciation. Reason is because you have continuously earned our affection and our adulation, Kabiyesi.
I pray that the good Lord who has generously endowed you with the wisdom, the enthusiasm and the candour with which you handle-the .affairs of Ijebu and of all your Ijebu children at home and in the Diaspora will continue to give you many more years of joy, good health, longer reign and satisfaction in all that you endeavour to do for your people. My dear wife, Abimbola and all my children join me in paying this homage.
We pray that you and your family would continue to enjoy abundant good health, individual attainment of success in your different endeavours, prosperity and the satisfaction that the good Lord remains with you all your life. Amen.
Kabiyesi, K’ade pe l’ori, Ki bata pe l’ese”.
