The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, joined the league of nation building the traditional rushership way as he made his decision to visit the Seat of the Caliphate as royal guest of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, beginning from Monday July 1, 2019.
Accompanied by 19 members of the Kingdom including the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF) and Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, the Secretary of to the Ondo State Government (SSG), the Chief Imam of Akure Kingdom, Sheikh Abdul-Hakeem Yayi Akorede and the Edemo of Akure, High Chief Afolabi Fayehun.
Others on the entorage of the Deji included prominent sons and daughter of Akure like Professor Abiodun Ayodele, Dean-elect Faculty of Science and currently Head of Department, Botany, University of Ibadan, Lagos business moguls Olumide Origunloye, Engr. Sunday Falae, Honourable Kemisola Adesanya, Mr. Ayo Ajayi, Prince Adebisi Adeniyi, Engr. Engr. Tunji Light Ariyamo among others.
The plane, which conveyed the Akure monarch and his entourage on the historic visit, touched ground at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport Sokoto at 2.46 pm.
Deji Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi walked in his usual humble but majestic manner into the warm arms of two senior Council members and District Heads, Sarikin Shuni and Sarikin Gabas Durbaw, who received him on behalf of the Sultan and led him in a convoy of 10 cars including a luxury 18-seater Ulma Bus straight to his Lodge in the Sokoto State Government House.
Asides the Oba of Benin, Ooni of Ife, Oba of Lagos and Alaafin of Oyo, an ostensibly impressed source told The DEFENDER as the glamorous events began Monday that, the kind of honour showered on the Deji by the Sultan is not often witnessed.
“This is despite that the hospitality and love for visitors on the part of Sokoto’s Sultanate, government and people are not in doubt at any time, but what we witnessed today (Monday), to me, is an indication that Akure Kingdom means something particularly different to the Seat of Caliphate and I must confess to you, this is memorable, wonderful, impressive and hustoric”, he said.
The DEFENDER reports that the Deji, whose Advance Party had arrived on Sunday, will be visitor of the Africa’s number four most influential monarch and Nigeria’s number one king for three eventful days.
Officially, the activities will kick off Tuesday with a courtesy visit to the Sultan’s Palace where the Deji of Akure will address a special meeting session of the Sultanate Council to be presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman, Nigerian National Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC).
Our correspondent gathered that the Sultan will be joined by all District Heads of Sokoto State in receiving the Akure monarch during the visit, which will be followed by courtesy call on the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Honourable Aminu Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Other activites in honour of the Deji will include the visit to the History Bureau and a gala night organised for him in the Government House by the state government.
He will pay a farewell visit to the Sultan on Wednesday and then drive from there to the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport Sokoto for departure.
