Sons and Daughters of Opere Compound, Isale- Osi, Ibadan, family members, well-wishers among others converged on Monday to celebrate the historic installation of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju as the Mogaji of Opere Compound, Isale -Osi in Ibadan Southwest Local Government.
The prestigious chieftaincy title of Ibadanland was conferred on the Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), on Monday by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin at the Olubadan Palace alongside other eight personalities from various compounds in Ibadan.
Mogaji Isiaka Abiola
Olagunju, SAN, while speaking with Journalists shortly after the installation, appreciated the family members for finding him worthy of the chieftaincy title.
Mogaji Olagunju said the need for individuals to contribute their quota to the development of a community cannot be overemphasized.
He advocated for unity and support of members of his community in a bid to ensure the compound’s name become more notable in Ibadanland through valve addition to the community
He speaks further”
” As an Ibadan man, one thing that cannot be taken away from us is our value to our community. Whoever you are, you must ensure that you add value to your community. By adding value to your community, that is when they can trust you, they can have confidence in you to become a leader.
” If anybody had told me two months ago that I would be a Mogaji , I would have said no. Because I am junior to many in the family, but in their wisdom and because of my contribution to the community, they finally called me to lead the community.
“I have many plans. I have been doing it before, empowering the youth, renovating the house, both at home and in our village. I will continue to do this, make more efforts to ensure that the name becomes more notable in Ibadanland. We must bring ourselves together and add value to our community.
“I am highly excited, And I thank God for it because I didn’t expect it. I thank God for doing it”
In his remarks, a prominent member of Opere Compound, Dr. Muhammad -Lawal Musa Alongbija , described Mogaji Isiaka Abiola Olagunju as his role model in the community, promising to work closely with him with a view to rendering necessary supports.
He explained that he supported the candidature of the new Mogaji considering the facts that most families and communities now present younger ones to represent them in such capacity.
The Wife of the Mogaji , Opere Compound, Dr. Oluwanike Olagunju, expressed joy over the installation, saying the choice of her husband was not spontaneous, but a seamless process.
She submitted that the emergence of the new Mogaji was a reward for his antecedents and notable roles played over the years amongst his people.
