SPECIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM HON. VICTOR OYBAMIJI OYELAYO TO A RENOWNED ICON, A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR, A HUMANITARIAN, AN ERUDITE INTELLECTUAL, AND A PHILANTHROPIST OF NOTE, HIGH CHIEF DR BABAJIDE AGUNBIADE, FNSE, ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF HIS ONE-YEAR CORONATION ANNIVERSARY AS THE ATOBAASE OF YORUBALAND BY THE LATE ALAAFIN AND HIS HISTORIC INSTALLATION AS THE ASIWAJU OF FIDITI BY HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OBA SAKIRULAHI OYEWOLE OYELERE EEDU II, THE ONIFIDITI OF FIDITI ON SUNDAY 28TH AUGUST,2022.
Your appointment and subsequent ascendancy to the exalted position of ATOBAASE OF YORUBALAND was, without mincing words, like putting a square peg in a square hole, as confirmed by the late ALAAFIN himself, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, during your installation before a mammoth crowd of people of Timber and Caliber from all walks of life, in his words Kabiyesi posited that the title ‘ATOBAASE’which literally means Someone who is fit to be King is a very rare title that can be bestowed ONLY upon an intellectual giant, a renowned Icon with a golden heart who according to the late Alaafin is given to Dr .Babajide Agunbiade, FNSE in recognition of his Royal heritage, Intellectual achievement, contribution to Yorubaland social and economic development and your intervention in various developmental projects globally. Dr. Babajide Agunbiade started from a humble beginning as a young Industrial and Production Engineer from the premier University, the University of Ibadan, to the enviable position of Executive Director at National Oilwell Varco, the World’s largest Oil and Gas equipment Manufacturing Company with headquarters in Houston, Texas USA.
Your strict adherence to your Philosophy of Life of “Truth, Justice, and Equity,” which you consider as “fundamental and germane prerequisites to an enduring social order and that right will always prevail over might,” led you to the establishment of Jide Agunbiade Foundation which has done a great deal to put smiles on the faces of both the low and the mighty across social strata in the society, with his Foundation, the Jide Agunbiade Foundation, Dr. Babajide Agunbiade, FNSE has executed several community support and development projects in his own ancestral hometown of Fiditi as well as across Oyo State and indeed around Nigeria. The conferment of the chieftaincy title of ATOBAASE OF YORUBALAND by the highly revered Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is in recognition of Dr. Babajide Agunbiade‘s many laudable projects in community development, the honour he has brought to the Kingdom and his numerous achievements in his chosen profession as well as his impacts on many lives across the globe.
Little wonder then that our own highly revered Kabiyesi and indeed the first beaded crown King in the annals of history of our Town OBA SAKIRULAHI OYEWOLE OYELERE EEDU II, THE ONIFIDITI OF FIDITI and The ONIFIDITI-in-Council saw an enigma and deemed it extremely traditional and expedient to confer on an illustrious son of the soil, an accomplished Entrepreneur, a Business Guru,an Oil magnate,a social Juggernaut, a Dogged fighter, a Bridge-Builder and a community Leader par excellence who used his business cum social acumen in collaboration with his bossom and long time friend and the indefatigable Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE to give our beloved Town FIDITI exactly what the agrarian community wanted at the nick of time with the historical nomination, approval and eventual installation of an energy, brave and vibrant middle-aged Man as the first beaded crown King for our Town which ordinarily is a clear case of giving the people exactly what they wanted at a given time. As a matter of historical importance, the issue of controversy surrounding the installation of a new Oba of Fiditi for almost thirteen solid years after the demise of the last occupant has nearly become a curse on the Town, but for the intervention of Dr. Babajide Agunbiade along with the untiring efforts of His friend and the Executive Governor of our State, Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE our Town might have up till date be in darkness, the special title of ASIWAJU OF FIDITI, a well-deserved chieftaincy to a cultural Ambassador par excellence, an intellectual wizard, a Humanitarian, a great Achiever, an epitome of success, an embodiment of humility and a man of history and indeed Dr. Babajide Agunbiade is History personified, a world citizen and worldwide leading offshore Production Engineer. Once again, congratulations, sir, and may all your wishes and dreams come true.
Hearty cheers to the great ATOBAASE of YORUBALAND and the newest ASIWAJU OF FIDITI. Long may you reign, sir. Long Live Kabiyesi ONIFIDITI OF FIDITI, Long Live ATOBAASE of YORUBALAND.Igba yin yo tu omode ati agbalagba ilu lara, eku yo ke bii eku, eye yo ke bii eye, Omo eniyan yo fohun bii omo eniyan.
Tribute. Compiled and signed by Hon Victor.O.Oyelayo of Ikolaba Dynasty, Fiditi
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