Last week Saturday 28 August 2021, the honourable member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola, Shina Peller was installed by the Alaafin of Oyo, HIM Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 as the Ayedero of Yorubaland and his wife as the Yeye Ayedero of Yorubaland, respectfully.
Shortly after the conferment proceedings, however, Shina Peller delivered a powerful speech in appreciation of the title.
Below is the full text of his speech:
“His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi JP CFR LL.D, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Abiodun Makinde, Speaker of the House of Representatives, principal Members of the National Assembly, members of the National Assembly, members of the Executive Council of Oyo State Government here present, Honorable Speakers and Members of the House of Assembly of Oyo State here present, my Fellow Recipient, Engr. Dr. Babajide Agunbiade, all Royal fathers here present, members of the diplomatic corps and Industry captains here present, esteemed friends from the entertainment Industry, my teachers and friends from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), my mother, my father-in-law, my uncle, and my siblings, dear friends from the Oil & Gas Industry, my partners, brothers & sisters, members of the Press
Ladies & gentlemen.
Since gratitude is to life, what salt is to food, I must start by thanking my father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Alaafin Oyo and his entire kingdom, for your fatherly dispositions, guidance, leadership and for counting me worthy of conferment of this noble chieftaincy title of the Ayedero of Yorubaland.
I am further immensely delighted that you all honoured His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo and his entire great kingdom as his Special Guests at this historic event.
From my childhood, I have always seen His Royal Majesty in awe and great respect is given his leadership in preserving and promoting the cultural and traditional heritage of the Yorubaland. Beyond this, His Imperial Majesty has remained my father whom I have continued to learn from, given that His Majesty and my biological father (Professor Moshood Abiola Peller) were childhood friends, and interestingly bear the same oriki as His Majesty is Atanda and my late father was also Atanda.
And since my biological father is no more, His Imperial Majesty has continued to guide and treat me like his own son.
It was His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo who was the first person that from his vast wealth of wisdom advised me to join politics and contest for election in service of our people. Like my father, I had to heed his wise counsel, and today, despite the fact that politics is challenging, I have never regretted the fact that I heeded my father’s advice.
I am therefore honoured and humbled by His Imperial Majesty’s kind gesture in conferring me with this title of the Ayedero of Yorubaland. Even though it is not in my personal culture to celebrate awards and honours as I always consider them as the challenge of responsibility, this time, it is different as my inspiring father, His Imperial Majesty has given me a wider platform and a greater challenge to continue to promote the peace and prosperity of the Yorubaland.
In carrying the responsibilities that come with this honour, I am mindful of those cherished lessons and values I have learnt from His Imperial Majesty, who taught me that nothing in life is constant; that we must remember that time is life and things change every here and there; that we must spend everything about us in service of our people; and that there are times some things in the world will be incomprehensible to all.
Just as His Majesty believes in me to bring succour through peace and prosperity to our land and make things easy for all, starting from the Yorubaland where he reigns, I will continue to worship God through my father by rising up to the expectations of my new role as the Ayedero of Yorubaland. So help me God. Amen.
In service to our people, I remain mindful of the historical legacies of the Oyo Empire, which has existed since 1300 C.E as one of the prosperous empires in Africa, and as a major source of the Yoruba ancestral heritage. This means we must continue to work in protecting and promoting the interest of the entire Yoruba race which constitutes more than 35 million people and with 15.5% of the Nigerian population.
It is on this note that I strongly reaffirm my total commitment in service to the Yorubaland through this honour as the Ayedero of Yorubaland. I equally congratulate my beloved brother and good friend, Engr. Dr. Babajide Ademola Agunbiade as His Imperial Majesty confered you as the Atobaase of Yorubaland. I admire the grace of our friendship and I am confident that we will continue to work together as brothers in service to Yoruba race and Nigeria in general.
I want to also congratulate my wife, Chief Mrs. Ayobola Abiola Peller, who by virtue of my Chieftancy title becomes the Yeye Ayedero of Yorubaland. Throughout the years we have been together, you have brought abundant joy and happiness to my life and our family. And most recently you have extended this to other parts of the country through your leadership of the Lead Generation Initiative (an organization committed to raising and empowering a new generation of leaders in every sphere of Nigeria). I am proud of everything you do for our beautiful kids. And to the best children any father can ever wish for – Naomi, Sultan, Jamila, I love you and will continue to live my life in the best ways that inspire you and every other children.
It is now with heart full of gratidute that I thank His Imperial Majesty, the Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo for the privilege and honour of being conferred with this title of Ayedero of Yorubaland. To whom much is given, more is expected and I hereby reiterate that am committed to the inherent responsibilities of this mantle in promoting peace and prosperity of the Yorubaland.
At this moment I want to express my gratitude to everyone that grace this occasion, your show of love and support never seizes to amaze me I will never take it for granted.
Finally, I am nothing without the inifinite abundance of Allah’s grace, and I will forever be grateful to the King of all kings.”
Thank you, everyone, and God bless,
God bless Oyo State
God bless Yorubaland
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