•The Olu Of ODOSENLU-ALARO, Oba ODUSANYA
Wednesday, 21st of December, 2022 was an historic day in Odosenlu-Alaro, an ancient Ijebu town located in Ijebu North-East Local Government. It is the day His Royal Highness, the Olu of Odosenlu-Alaro, Oba Adedotun Oduneye Adesanya (Osijiya II), invited Ogun State Government, fellow traditional rulers in Ijebuland, sons and daughters as well as well-wishers of Odosenlu-Alaro to the foundation laying of a new multi-million-naira ultra-modern palace for the kingdom.
The ceremony was held at the site of the new palace. Prior the foundation laying of the palace building was done by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the commissioner for Information, Mr. Waheed Odusile. Guests and the people of the community had donated handsomely as a way of supporting the massive project which would cost about N500 million to be complete. City People Reporter, JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886) and Photo Journalist, SUNDAY ADERIYE were at the ceremony. They had an interview with the Olu of Odosenlu-Alaro who spoke extensively on why they decided to build the new and befitting palace for the kingdom. Read the excerpts below:
What are your remarks on how the foundation- laying ceremony went?
We thank God for everything. You know for everything on the earth, we have to give praise to God. Then I also have to thank. His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Baba Awujale, Adron Properties GMD, former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former deputy governor of Ogun State, Senator Kaka, and all the royal fathers in Ijebuland. I have to thank them and my chiefs in the town and the sons and daughters of Odosenlu-Alaro kingdom for their support. You know one person cannot make a town. It has to be a collective thing. If I have plans and they are not buying into my plans, you know, for it to materialize will be very difficult. So that makes me want to thank everybody. The success is being attached to everybody that I have mentioned. They really supported us on our new palace project. You know it will not be good for a kingdom to exist without a palace. All other obas like me stay in their homes as a palace. But, we thought at least we should have a palace for the kingdom. That is why we did it and I’m very happy with the turnout and support I got from people. This makes me thank God for this occasion.
By the time the new palace project is completed, what are the facilities it would have?
Yes, the project is a multi-million-naira project. It would cost about N500 million. We are going to have the palace building for the Kabiesi. We are going to have the office. We are going to have a children recreational centre, we are going to have the palace ground. We are going to have a lot of games there and some chalets which will accommodate visitors to the palace. That makes it a very massive and ultra-modern one to compete with any other palace you can think of anywhere.
What form of support are you expecting from people and well-wishers of the kingdom?
What I want from them is cooperation. I still need their cooperation to do most of this. You know the palace belongs to the kingdom. So, all sons and daughters need to participate no matter how small it is, no matter how big it is. We have to call our friends too to assist us because it is a multi-million-naira project. We need a lot of support from everybody; from the government and from anywhere we can get support, even from the NGOs. We need them to support us so that we will be able to complete the project. And I know by God’s grace, I know very soon we will get the project done. At least, we heard when the governor said he is going to give us all the support we need on the project. So, we are fully ready for government support.
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