One of the frontline aspirants to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Ismail Bukola Ladigbolu, has called on his brothers from the Agunloye Ruling House to join hands with the new monarch, Oba Akeem Owoade, for the town to enjoy the peace and progress it deserves.
He made the appeal against the backdrop of barrage of threat, opposition and litigations that have been trailing the selection and appointment of the 45th Alaafin-designate, Oba Owoade, shortly after his announcement by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The governor had equally presented instruments of Office to the Alaafin-designate at the Executive Chambers of the Government Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan, early last Monday.
Ladigbolu, in a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Friday, appealed to his aggrieved brothers or any other stakeholders, to allow for peace in the town, saying, “If we all believe that installation of Oba Owoade is for the progress and development of Oyo town and its environs, why not accept him as our brother from the same Agunloye family, unless anyone has ulterior motive behind the rejection?
“The seed of unity among the Agunloye families had been planted by our forefathers such that Muslims and Christians among us were relating together as brothers, not minding one another’s faith.
“When we were younger, we were used to going to Agure Compound to celebrate Christmas and New Year with our Christian brothers and sisters. The children of Owoade family would also come to us to celebrate Ileya Festival as Muslims. The spirit of brotherhood was enshrined among us by our fathers then.
“I also remember that Baba Bola Owoade would always host all children from the extended Agunloye family on New Year day. Our fathers made sure the kids paired up as friends from the first to the last, such like Desile Owoade their last born and I. We were relating together under the same canopy of Agunloye. So, we are one and we should all come together and support our brother for him to succeed in his reign on our town”, he pleaded.
Ladigbolu, an Abuja-based businessman, entrepreneur, film-maker and investor, therefore congratulated the Alaafin-designate, wishing him peaceful reign, longevity of life, progress and development for the town and Yorubaland in general.
His words: “I pray that the King’s time should bring peace and unity to the land, and bring development to the community. Oyo’s name is so strong that it shouldn’t be seen as a village but a City.
“I also pray God to give our King the wisdom to be able to unite all the sons and daughters of Agunloye because he is an Ambassador of Agunloye Ruling House and by the special grace of God he will make the family proud.
“Let us continue to support the development of Oyo as we have always been doing because either by selection, election or appointment, whoever has been chosen should be supported once his choice shows that he is a right person; and it is for the development of Oyo. It is only God who puts people in positions of authority. We should all know that no ambition is bigger than Oyo. Oyo is bigger than anybody’s ambition.
“Every Agunloye Prince should therefore support the new Oba to succeed. Let us all allow the love that exists between the Owoade and Ladigbolu families within the Agunloye Ruling House continue to glow.
“To all the citizens of Oyo, both within and outside the country, this is the best time to come home, pay your patronage. It is the beginning of a new era. So, let’s come together and take Oyo to where it should be.
“There’s no other place to call our home. This is the time to bring all our resources together no matter how little, to contribute our quota in terms of knowledge, ideas, resources,” Prince Bukola Ladigbolu appealed.
