‘Not obsessed with land grabbing’: Tributes as Alaaje commissions market, hall, marks birthday (PHOTOS)
Abdulrazak BELLO
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Tributes poured in for the Alaaje of Aaje, Aaje-Ologo, Ogbomoso, His Royal Highness Oba Reuben Adesina Amao Osunbiyi Amao 1, Wednesday, as he held a triple event including celebration of his 68th birthday, commissioning of a cattle market and an event hall he built in his palace at Aaje.
Several dignitaries attended the event some of whom are Mogaji Stephen Ilufoye Layode (Mogaji Odunaro of Soun Ruling Dynasty of Ogbomoso), Seriki Sabo Ogbomoso, Alhaji Sheu Babalola (a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police), Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ayinla (CEO of Ragaray Executive Suites), Rev’d Dr John Adetutu (a retired Baptist clergyman), Rev’d Adeoye (also a retired Baptist clergyman), and Chief Imam of Sabo Ogbomoso.
Many speakers at the event described Oba Adesina Amao as “humility personified, focused, loving , and a philanthropist.”
“Anyone who knew him from childhood would recognise he’s destined for greatness. From his carriageway, reserved nature and comportment you will know he’s on divine assignment. Thus, l am not surprised when he emerged a traditional ruler of his people,” a childhood friend said.
Oba Amao disclosed he has special love for the Hausa and the Fulani people “because when l was nobody in Sokoto an Hausa man Zakare, facilitated my being enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force (from where he got deployed into the Department of State Services, DSS). They will always occupy a special place in my heart. Many times l travelled to the northern part of the country in trailers without paying a dime, conveyed free by these northerners.”
Alaaje Ologo who recently got re-ratified by the Oyo state government as the authentic Alaaje of Aaje, is focused on changing the fortunes of the community located in the western fringe of Ogbomoso North local government.
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He has embarked on various developmental projects including road rehabilitations, facilitating schools and is indeed presently working on getting a public secondary school established in his domain and this hopefully will take off next September. He also runs a rural based non-governmental organisation, Abigail Ebun Asakun Amao Widowhood Foundation (named after his late widowed mother), dedicated to giving succour to widows and orphans.
“He is God – sent to Aaje, he has given us visibility. He liberated us from the claws of our overbearing neighbours. And he is not the usual traditional ruler obsessed with reckless land selling and grabbing. He is a modern monarch focussed on development. Long may he reign,” a resident told ogbomosoinsightonline.com.
