Obasanjo tasks Alake on unity among monarchs

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday advised the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, not to listen to bad advice and intrigues to disunite other monarchs in Egbaland.

Obasanjo, who spoke at the coronation ceremony of the new Agura of Gbagura, Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre in Abeokuta, the state capital, urged all monarchs in the land to be united for socio-economic development of Ogun State.

The former President, therefore, urged all the monarchs in the state capital to steer clear of an aged-long bickering and rivalry among themselves as prolong bickering could not bring peace or development to Egbaland and Nigeria as a whole.

Obasanjo, who was the father of the day at the coronation ceremony, admonished the new monarch not to join old issues with Alake and other monarchs in that land.

He implored the new Agura of Gbagura, with a quality exposure as retired senior officer of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), to deploy his wealth of experience to further unite monarchs in the land.

He said: “Alake, I am happy that you are here because when you ascended the throne, the first speech you gave then was encouraging and appealing, but you later listened to (bad) advisers.

“Don’t listen to bad advisers on Agura, ensure that everyone comes together so that there can be development in Egbaland. All of you (monarchs) should work together to achieve development. You all need to support government for socio-economic development. You must all join hands together to ensure community development because your support will help government to develop the state.”

He also admonished the newly-installed monarch to work tirelessly and assiduously to move Gbagura and Egbaland forward in the comity of towns and cities in the state, saying: “I congratulate you for the success of today, you will be long on the throne and your reign will be the beginning of new things in Gbaguraland.

Meanwhile, the newly-installed Agura of Gbagura pledged to work hand in hand with the state government and other monarchs in Egbaland and the state at large.