By Chris Udochukwu
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 general election Peter Obi has hailed Oba Siriku Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland on the ocassion of his 90th birthday.
Obi who took to his X account to felicitate with the Monarch, described him as a highly revered Nigerian and father figure to many, whose reign has brought peace and progress among your people, and continues to contribute.
The former Anambra state governor hinted that he had planned to be in Ijebu-Ode to personally pay respect and loyalty, but unfortunately, the flight he took from Enugu to Lagos was diverted to Port Harcourt due to bad weather and by the time they made it to Lagos, it was impossible to travel to Ijebu-Ode.
He there said he will arrange to come and pay my respects in the near future to the traditional ruler.
Obi’s statement reads in full:
Today, I would like to felicitate with a highly revered Nigerian and father figure to many, Oba Siriku Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, on his three manifold celebrations today; his 90th birthday, his 64th anniversary on the throne and the Commissioning of his School of Governance for Postgraduate Studies and Research at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
May I also seize this opportunity to congratulate you on your well-deserved conferment of the grand commander of the order of Nigeria, GCON.
As one of the longest reigning monarchs in the nation, whose reign has brought peace and progress among your people,
and continues to contribute.
In many ways towards building a better nation, you deserve to be well celebrated.
Driven by your love for a better nation, and following your desire to equip future Nigerian leaders with the right leadership education and training, you endowed a Professorial Chair in Governance at the Department of Political Science at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, commissioned as School of Post Graduate Studies.
We, therefore, celebrate your impact, patriotism, and nationalism. Your fatherly guidance and words of wisdom are always appreciated.
As you mark your birthday and continue to reign in honour, I pray God continues to bless you with good health and wisdom. I had planned to be in Ijebu-Ode to personally pay respect and loyalty, but unfortunately, the flight I took from Enugu to Lagos could not land and was diverted to Port Harcourt due to bad weather. By the time we made it to Lagos, it was impossible to travel to Ijebu-Ode. I will arrange to come and pay my respects in the near future. -PO