Ganduje, wife bag Aare, Yeye Aare Afiwajoye of Ibadan land

By Richard Thomas, Ibadan

Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has called for national integration that will further unite the North, West and Eastern parts of the country for peace, stability and greater development.

The governor made the call at the Mapo hall, Ibadan on Saturday where he and his wife, Professor Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje were conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadan land.

According to Ganduje, the development will promote national integration among the different zones of the country, adding that it will strengthen the existing relationship between Kano and Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

“The history of today’s occasion is not a surprise to me considering the kind of relationship already existing between the people of Kano and Ibadan. What the nation needs most to forge ahead as one indivisible nation is national integration.

“The closeness between me and late and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi paved way for the marriage of our children.

“I am very grateful to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Olalekan Mohood Balogun Alli Okunmade II and Olubadan in council for honouring me and my wife with the chieftaincy title. I appreciate all of you,” he said.

Ganduje, while assuring the Olubadan that Kano and Oyo sstate will continue to share the mutual relationship recalled how he resolved the issue of quite notice with the Igbo’s which sometimes occurred in Kano, adding that for two days, he engaged them in peaceful dialogue and the issues were amicably resolved.

“This is the kind of national integration that I am talking about. I am very sure that our incoming president, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu will consider and promote this context for national development when he emerges the country’s president in 2023,” the governor added.

In his speech, the Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun said the chieftaincy title was conferred on the governor and his wife due to their contributions to Ibadan land.

“On today’s event, which is the first of its kind under this dispensation, I have had cause to say and make it clear that the choice of the governor and his wife as Aare Fiwajoye and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland was not induced financially.

“I want to put it on record that, but for our brother, Oba Yoruba Kano, Alhaji Engr. Muritala Alimi Otisese (Adetimirin-1) mine and the paths of today’s chiefs might have not crossed. It was this brother of us, who is also ‘son of the soil’ that introduced the Kano State first couple to the palace.

“From the Oba Yoruba Kano, we got to know how detribalized the Kano State chief executive is alongside his wife. We were made to know how supportive our guests were to the aspiration and eventual emergence of our brother as Oba Yoruba Kano about two years ago.

“A man of peace, it was Dr. Ganduje who came down to Ibadan when there was a clash between Hausa traders and the people of Sasa at Sasa Market the other time to calm the frayed nerves and peace was restored.

“He is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan. The new Aare Fiwajoye is currently building an auditorium for the University, a project said to have reached seventy percent (70%) completion. What is more, if one of Yoruba proverbs that says whoever gives his/her daughter in marriage has got to the zenith of good deeds (Eni to funni lomo fe ti pari oore) is anything to go by, then the Gandujes, being our in-laws in Ibadan through their daughter that got married to our son, Idris Ajimobi have done it all.

“Let me sum up it up with two paragraphs from the letter of recommendation by Oba Yoruba Kano thus: ‘Bestowing a befitting chieftaincy title on the hardworking and amiable governor with his wife will be a reward for a man who has been compassionate to us as a people and who believes that any Nigerian can stay and work in any part of the country without molestation or denial of basic things of life.’

“The conferment will not only further cement the bond of friendship that has long esxisted between the Ibadan and Kano people, it will also go a long way in maintaining handshake across the Niger as well as engender the much sought-after unity which has turned fragile over the years,” the monarch said.

In his goodwill message, the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described governor Ganduje as peace seeker and a man of high integrity worthy of emulation in good deeds.

According to him, the occasion is very uncommon, adding that the chieftaincy title conferred on Dr Ganduje and his wife was deserving.

“By this occasion, you are an indigene of the entire Yoruba land, I say congratulations to you and my best wishes.

“I am very proud to be here with you and I commend you for your efforts in promoting unity among the North, West and East. Once again, I congratulate you,” Tinubu said.