Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola on Saturday politely
declined the honour of a chieftaincy title from a royal father, Oniru of Iru
land, Lagos, Oba Abidun Idowu Oniru.
He, however, received
the award of excellence conferred on him by the monarch who was celebrating his
75th birthday and 18th coronation anniversary. While expressing his
appreciation to Oba Oniru for honouring him, Fashola said the task of
governance required absolute focus and would want the chieftaincy title to wait
for now.
He said, “Kabiyesi and
his chiefs can continue to lead us, let them deal with all those traditional
and chieftaincy issues. At the appropriate time, we will come and join them,
but for now, leave us in our suits, booths, overalls and helmets, because this
agbada is not good for clearing refuse and tarring the roads.”
On the award for
excellence, Fashola said it was not for him; rather he dedicated it to all the
civil servants in the state who he said were responsible for the giant strides
of his administration.
Fashola said “This
award does not belong to me; it belongs to all the public servants in Lagos
State who do the great work that is responsible for the progress in the state.”
While acknowledging
the mornach’s exemplary leadership and support for his administration and his
predecessors, the governor expressed his gratitude to the Oniru on behalf of
members of the state executive council.
He confessed that when
the state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Prince Segun Oniru,
informed him of the event, and told him that the Kabiyesi wanted to present him
with something, he had made it clear that he would not attend the event if what
the Kabiyesi wanted to present to him was going to be a chieftaincy title, but
that Oniru had assured him that that would not be the case.
Former Lagos State
governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Senator Bola
Tinubu was also conferred with an award of excellence.
But Tinubu was not
present as he had travelled to the United States.
Other dignitaries at
the occasion included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Oba Abdulfatai
Aromire Ojora, Oba Tijani Akinloye, Chief GOK Ajayi, (SAN), former
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Adewusi, chairman, House of
Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as well as all
the white cap chiefs
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