The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, on Wednesday paid a royal visit along with eight officials of the Kano Emirate, to the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing the monarch as his “father.”
He said Ijebu and Kano are like twins because of their shared similarities.
Emir Bayero, who arrived the GRA private residence of the Awujale in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, about 11:50am, also described the visit as “important, remarkable and a huge blessing” to him.
The revered Kano traditional ruler made this known in his remarks after his citation was read by the Onigegewura of Ijebuland, Chief Olatunde Oladunjoye.
According to him, the visit would strengthen the cordial relationship that has been in existence for several years between the Awujale of ljebu-land and his father, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, of blessed memory.
He added that it would also open a new vista of business and trade relations between Kano and Ijebu people, stressing that apart from the shared “business acumen,” the two ancient cities are like twins having many areas of similarities.
He said, “Kano and Ijebu, I look at them like twins as far as am concerned especially in terms of commercial activities. We all know Ijebu very well, Kano is a carbon copy or I will say Ijebu is a carbon copy of kano. The truth is we have a lot of things in common that relates to the culture, tradition and commercial activities.
“I can not count number of Ijebu people in Kano and am sure there are lots of Kano people in Ijebu. I Hope my visit will continue to breach the gap. I Am here in May and I hope to be back in August.”
“Awujale is someone who has been at par with my forefathers for 64 years and have privilege to still have people like him around at 90 . He is a real gem who is a close associate of my late father’s and that is why I call him my Father as well.”
And fielding questions from Journalists after the meeting, he described Awujale, nonagenarian monarch as an enigma, a traditional ruler with a difference and leader that should be studied and emulated.
“Awujale is an enigma, a ruler with a difference, a Leader that we need to know and copy from. I’m happy in my lifetime, my reign, I am here and the experience I tapped from him today is an experience that will live forever in me.
“So, coming here to greet him and get his blessings is something I will appreciate till the end of time It is a good experience for me. When you look at the traditional institution before the colonial era and after the colonial era, it is an institution that has remained constant the changes are there but the values and traditions are kept that whoever comes in will Just tune in and it is perfect for us.”
Bayero, who emphasised the place of traditional rulers as bridge builders, said informed why he travelled to many states of the federation when he became the Emir of Kano about four years ago.
“The traditional institution has always been the gap bridger between all parts of the country. That’s why when I became the emir of kano about four years ago, I went round virtually all the states of the federation. This visit is a continuation of what I have been doing but this is very special,” he said.
Responding, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who retrospected the journey of his ascention to the throne at the age of 25 years old, said his father from the Anikilaiya ruling family favoured him with the revered traditional office, thereby, bypassing his elder siblings to position him for the throne of his forebears.
He said one of his achievements in office was the new Ogun State Obaship and Chieftaincy law which provides that traditional ruler upon demise, would henceforth be given burial rites according to the faith he practiced in his life time.
According to him, the essence is to ensure that responsible people of means, credibility and integrity will be attracted to the Obaship office without the fear of what might happen to their remains when they joined their ancestors.
Until the new Obaship law came into existence, deceased monarchs, especially in Ijebuland were buried by the traditionalists, a situation that gave room to speculations and in some case, allegations by some people that deceased monarchs were being disrespected through subjecting their bodies to unnecessary rites in the name of culture and tradition.
Aside the Awujale, others who were on ground to receive the emir and his entourage include the Ebumawe of Ago – Iwoye, Oba AbdulRazaq Adenugba, the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, who delivered Governor Dapo Abiodun’s goodwill message; the Obiri of Aiyepe, Alaiyeluwa Oba A.R. Okubanjo; the Dagburewe of Idowa, Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Okuribido; and the Elerunwon of Erunwon, Alaiyeluwa Oba J.A.Okubena.
Others were the Obelu of Ensure, Alaiyeluwa Oba Abdulsamad Olalekan Kasali; the Sadereren of Isonyin, Alaiyeluwa Oba Abdulsamad Omotayo; the Oru of Imoru, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Engr.) Adeposi Bashorun; the Oliworo of Iworo, Alaiyeluwa Oba G.A. Onafuwa, Otufosejoye of Irete, Alaiyeluwa Oba AbdulGaniyu Awokoya Yesufu; and the King of Fuji music and Olori Omooba of Ijebuland, Chief Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM1).
