WHAT THE NEW OLIKAN OF ETIKANLAND, OBA TEMIDAYO SOLOMON OWOYELE-OHOLO TOLD THE WORLD ABOUT HIS MISSION IN ETIKAN

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY OBA TEMIDAYO SOLOMON OWOYELE-OHOLO AKINTIMEHIN 11, THE OLIKAN OF ETIKAN LAND, ILAJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF INSTRUMENTS OF AUTHORITY/ STAFF OF OFFICE BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, ARAKUNRIN LUCKY ORIMISAN AYEDATIWA HELD AT OBA C.M.O. IKUESAN MEMORIAL CIVIC CENTRE, ODE-ETIKAN ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2023.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, 

The Acting Governor, Arakunrin (Chief) Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, Secretary to the Government of Ondo State, Princess Oladunni Odu, 

The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro,

Chairman, Ilaje Local Government,  Honourable Goke Ojatuwase, 

Royal and Imperial Majesties; High Chiefs and Chiefs, 

Top Government Functionaries,

Spiritual Father's

Illustrious sons and daughters of Etikan Kingdom home and abroad, 

Dignitaries present here today, 

Gentlemen of the Press,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

l warmly acknowledge and welcome you all to Ode-Etikan, the biggest of the traditional headquarters in Ilaje Local Government Area with cosmopolitan outlook. You are all most welcome to this remarkable and epoch making occasion. You might  be wondering why I addressed the Acting Governor as a chief. The Etikan Council of Chiefs had just approved his nomination as the Aremo-Olumoghonne of Ilajeland, in recognition of lofty feats as a worthy ambassador of Ilajeland. This will be dully communicated to him in a separate space and time.

It is incumbent on me to express my warmest appreciation to God Almighty, the Alpa and Omega, sponsors, sons and daughters of Etikan at home and in diaspora for their unalloyed love and support  for me during and after the selection struggle, God bless you all.

We are most grateful to His Excellency, Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu for  the elevation of Olikan Stool, now to first Class, in Ondo State. Indeed, my joy knows no bound, to mount the podium  to present this comely  speech, in glorifying God for His implicit show of love on me, and the kingdom in general.  In short, this is the sovereign will of Edumare that is indifferent to human skirmishes!

Today is not for bravado. I just want to confess to you all that I accept the call of my people and the sovereign will of Edumare to lead Etikan Land into a new dawn of collective prosperity. 

As my maker lives, our tenure as the Olikan will usher in sustainable and landmark developments in all spheres, most especially, economically, socially, morally and the likes, in a bid to take the Kingdom to greater heights. This is a collective assignment. 

The task of rebuilding Etikan Kingdom has started anew and I need you all, including the Princes with whom I jostled for the highly exalted throne, to succeed in the assignment. With your prayers, sagely counsel, knocks (where necessary) and cooperation, Etikan will be great again! We will sneeze here, Abuja and European investors will be at our service. 

It is  also my duty to appease and harmonise all conflicting factions, so as to foster unity and love that would lead to swifty development and collective opportunities in the Kingdom. I want you to realise that, l am ready to synergise with the government, stakeholders, investors, sons and daughters of  Etikan Kingdom, to initiate speedy and sustainable developments expected so far.

I acknowledge you all, l pray God make  Etikan kingdom a place of pride in Ondo State and Nigeria at large. I promised as well, to harness my strength and intellectual ideas from all quarters in promoting love in the kingdom, thereby engendering rapid infrastructural and economic developments. 

Before I conclude this inaugural address, let me again apologise and appeal to all those who felt offended by our conducts during the process of selection that the interest of the Kingdom is sovereign. I hold no grudge against anyone and I declare again that we are still brothers and sisters. The bond collective selfhood must therefore, not be destroyed on the altar of personal interest. Etikan belongs to all of us and I cannot rebuild the ruins all alone.

Like Oliver Twist, we crave more of government's attention in the areas of appointments and infrastructural projects for Etikan,  a Kingdom blessed with versatile human and mineral resources. 

Thanks a bunch for your presence, love and support even as l wish you safe returns to your respective destinations in the name of Edumare. 

God bless you all!