All hail the king! Ooni Of Ife, Olu Of Warri, Olubadan of Ibadan, Others storm Abeokuta for Professor MacGregor’s Coronation As Olu of Ilawo kingdom
By Aremu Sosanya
Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday, stood still as the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun and others stormed Abeokuta to honour a Professor Of Pharmacological Science, Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, who was installed as the new Olu Of Orile Ilawo in the Odeda Local Government Area of the state by the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Thus just as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi charged the newest Ogun monarch not to hesitate to replicate his achievements in Canada, the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States of America (USA) in the areas of scientific discoveries for the good use of the people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general.
The event, which was held on Saturday in Abeokuta, witnessed a convergence of eminent personalities from across the country and the world, particularly from Canada where Oba MacGregor had established a business conglomerate.
Salient Times recalled that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had earlier on April 26, 2023, approved the emergence of Professor MacGregor as the next Olu of Orile Ilawo community in Abeokuta, thereby ending the 16 years interregnum created by the exit of the former monarch of the town, Oba Ezekiel Alabi.
But speaking at the coronation ceremony which also had in attendance, a representative of the Olu of Warri, High Chief Alexander Omaghomi, as well as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, who was represented by one of his Queens, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi expressed satisfaction over the love exhibited by Professor MacGregor which he said made him consented to become a traditional ruler in Nigeria at the expense of the luxurious life he left behind abroad.
Expressing the delight that Oba MacGregor refused to be disconnected from his ancestral source, Oni of Ife however, charged Oba MacGregor to be alive to the responsibilities that go along with the traditional stool in Yorubaland, stressing that MacGregor must embrace every being in his domain without sidelining even those who contested the stool with him.
“I, therefore, do not doubt in my mind that good tidings and a renewed hope have come into the Ilawo community and particularly, the entire Egbaland with Professor MacGregor as a monarch because his tenure will bring good fortune to the land”.
In his short acceptance speech, Oba MacGregor described his ascension to the throne as “the beginning of good things” in Ogun State and promised to ensure justice, and fair play throughout the period he will be reigning as the monarch of the community.
