The chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande, has sent a congratulatory message to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as he celebrates 50th coronation anniversary.
The foremost monarch, it will be recalled, was installed on January 14, 1971, at the age of 32.
Akande, a director at the Center for Presidential Studies at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, described Oba Adeyemi as a monarch all Yorubas must be proud of.
According to Akande, “It is a thing of joy that Oba Adeyemi III has reigned for these long years. His reign has brought tremendous impact to Yoruba nation as the monarch is always at the forefront of preserving our tradition and cultural values.
“Like I said last October when he celebrated his 82nd birthday, I have always drank from Kabiyesi’s deep intellectual stream. Anytime you meet him is an avenue to acquire more knowledge. I have known Kabiyesi for close to three decades. As a reporter with the Nigerian Tribune, The Punch and Omega magazine, Kabiyesi would invite me and other reporters to the palace and engage us in intellectual discourse.
“Becoming king at a very tender age and celebrating 50 years on the throne is divine. Nobody would have believed that a 32-year old prince would have been more prepared for the throne. He is a king every Yoruba person would be proud of.
“Baba knows everything about Nigeria and anything he has interest in. He is a federalist. He is an advocate of restructuring. He has never wavered in defending our culture and tradition, not minding whose ox is gored.
“As Kabiyesi celebrates this milestone, I want to pray God to continue to be with him and his household. His kind are rare. For five decades, he has continued to protect our common heritage. He has been a bridge builder and encyclopedia of some sorts, Akande added.
