By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speaker of State Assemblies of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin were among dignitaries who were honored by the apex socio cultural organisation in Ibadan, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
The event was the grand finale of the 2025 Ibadan Cultural Festival which held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Oke Ado.
Both Governor Diri and Ogundoyi. got the award of Outstanding Friend of Ibadanland for the contributions and support to Ibadan Indigenes and the town as a whole.
At the event, Governor Seyi Makinde assures that his government would not deprive traditional rulers in the state their entitlements.
The governor who said that the Council of Obas and Chiefs had been in abeyance before his assumption of office in 2019, added that traditional rulers would begin to get their due, including official vehicles, as soon as the council is constituted.
He added that he had mandated all the eleven local government councils in Ibadanland to provide a befitting fleet of vehicles for the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin before the end of May.
Governor Makinde thanked the people of Oyo State for supporting his government, and also the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) for the award of recognition given to Senator Diri, the Bayelsa State governor.
Makinde said, “I want to thank the CCII for recognising my brother-colleague. I only have one thing to say, which you can take home.
“People have been asking me what is happening to Oyo State Council of Traditional Rulers but I said there was no Council before I came in. The Speaker is here, they could not put together the Council.
“They have also been asking why have we not given a vehicle befitting the status of the Olubadan of Ibadanland to him. I have sent a message to the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland and I said they must provide a befitting fleet of vehicles for the Olubadan, and they must do it before the end of this month.
“Once they put together the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State, then the state will give what is due to all the traditional rulers.”
Responding, after receiving the award of Outstanding Friend of Ibadanland, Governor Diri, who commended Governor Makinde for his unprecedented performances and for making the people of the state happy, thanked the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes for recognising his efforts.
While stressing that governance is about the people, he charged them to continue to support Governor Makinde to develop the state.
The Bayelsa State governor said, “We are indeed very elated to stand before you, the people of Ibadan. We never saw this coming.
“We want to on behalf of the government and the good people of Bayelsa State, express our appreciation to you, particularly to my very good and workaholic friend, who is the governor of this state, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
“Government is about the people and I believe that Governor Makinde is working well and the people are rejoicing. My Bible tells me that when good people rule, the people rejoice.
“From the depth of our hearts, we appreciate what has happened here. Before we came here, we never knew this would be a very great event.
“We all know that the governor is working towards the development of this state. So, continue to support him.”
Presenting the award earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, represented by Oba Rasidi Ladoja, said the award was in recognition of Senator Diri’s outstanding support, inclusive leadership and contribution to the Ibadan Indigenes in Bayelsa State.
Also, the Chairman of the event, Architect Bamidele Samson, Chairman, BOVAS Oil and gas, urged all Ibadan people to always exhibit the use of Yoruba language, culture and religion for the promotion of tradition and cultural heritage.
In his welcome address, the Chairman Planning Committee of Ibadan Cultural Festival, Chief Abiola Alli, thanked all the stakeholders for their contributions and their performances since the week began.
Delivering his remarks, the President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Sulaimon Ajewole lauded Governor Makinde’s unflinching support to Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ibadanland and Oyo State in general.
He equally thanked all Ibadan Indigenes home and abroad for their multidimensional support towards the success of the event.
