AbddulRasheed Akanbi
Come October 7, roads leading to the ancient town of Iwo, Osun State will be busy. Personalities of various status from different part of the country will be coming in to celebrate second anniversary of HRM AbddulRasheed Akanbi, as the Oluwo of Iwo land. The event is also meant to mark the 50th birthday of the monarch, which will hold at Kings Riverside Holiday Resort, Iwo, and Osun State
The president of the World Ex-Presidents and former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and the leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu are to grace the epoch-making anniversary. Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Akin Ogunbiyi, Femi Otedola are among the prominent entrepreneurs expected at the event. The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will host other visiting governors such as; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, speakers of various states House of Assembly, members and high rank public servants of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Traditional rulers expected at the event includes Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa`ad Abubakar), Emir of Ilorin, HRM Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Orangun of Ila, HRM Oba Abdulwahab Olukayode, Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom HRM Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Osile Oke Ona Egba, HRM Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Etsu of Nupe HRM Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Ataoja of Osogbo HRM Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and other ranking leaders of various traditional institutions.
According to Alli Ibraheem, the royal press secretary Akanbi related the simultaneous celebration to the wish of the good sons and daughters of Iwo insisting on celebrating their stool. He said his service to humanity for years had shifted his attention from birthday celebration but has to respect the demand of the people of Iwo. Oba Akanbi disclosed the last time he had elaborate birthday was his secondary school days. The monarch, however, implored the residents of Iwo to cooperate with Iwo Board of Trustees, IBOT, tasked with a befitting arrangement to make the event a colourful outing. He directed all suggestions and correspondence relating to the occasion be directed to his palace or the office of IBOT for immediate attention.
Oluwo acknowledged the support of well-meaning people of Iwo for their tenacity in promoting the new Iwo of his dream. He implored all sons and daughters of Iwo in diaspora to intimate themselves to the progress of the town to interest the aspiring generation through an enticing investment in the ancient city of Iwo. According to him ‘There are two Iwo; Iwo and new Iwo. The new Iwo is the best because we have migrated from obscurity to light. The name is everywhere now and big investments are underway. The best you can do as an indigene to invest and launch your community projects in Iwo. As a responsible father thirsty of development, I am appealing to my sons and daughters in diaspora to come home and contribute their quota to make Iwo grow again” said Oluwo.
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