Ekiti Scholar Monarch,Oba Alabi Steals Show At Fayemi’s Valedictory Session 

State Governors ,high profile politicians  and members of the diplomatic corps who graced the event listened with  rapt attention to the powerful speech delivered by the highly  resourceful  monarch .

Oba Alabi, a former diplomat and immediate past Chairman of Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers stood in for his successor in office, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon ,who was far away in Abuja for a National  engagement .

Delivering  the goodwill message on behalf of Ekiti monarchs, Oba Alabi  said the traditional rulers  were indebted to Fayemi  for adding value to  the institution and governance in Ekiti during his first and second coming as governor of Ekiti .

Those who spoke after Alawe at the event simply described the monarch as a “Scholar Monarch ” with huge talents in the traditional institution.

The Ekiti Governor-elect ,Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji  and Kebbi State governor who first  registered open protest submitted that no one else could have made better speech at the event than  what  the erudite monarch had presented.

The APC stalwarts argued that inviting them to speak after the calibre  of Oba Alabi would rather make the task tedious ,as for them ,the monarch had “stolen the show “.

Outlining some achievements of the governor in the last four years,the monarch said Fayemi did well even in the face of  daunting  challenges and paucity of fund

Eulogising Fayemi said: ” I congratulate you for finishing well and finishing strong as well. It is not easy to govern a State like Ekiti with our nuances ,idiosyncrasies and complexities,but you were able to navigate through the difficult terrains,because you are one of us too .I want to congratulate  you for being the first governor in the history of Ekiti to have served full two tetms without any threat of impeachment.This is a great feat indeed ,because the  closest person to you  had  interrupted  tenure with threats of impeachment.

The Ilawe king ,equally acknowledged the huge support of the governor’s wife,Erelu Bisi Fayemi who he described as a woman of  substance and virtue .

Alawe said :” I want to appreciate Fayemi’s kindness to the traditional institution. More importantly, it will interest you to know that the vehicles, Ekiti monarchs are using were given to us in 2013 by Fayemi and they are  brand  new vehicles. And that was probably, the first time some traditional Rulers would have opportunity to ride brand news cars in their life history.And the vehicles have not been replaced since then nine years after. I am sending any message to the incoming governor  on this.” the monarch clarified.

Speaking further,Oba Alabi said : “I want to equally appreciate Dr Fayemi for putting in place an edifice for the Council. The building was conceived during my tenure as the Council chair and it is nearing completion now.

“Dr Fayemi is unassuming and he doesn’t feel delighted to see monument being named after him.I remember that this edifice we are in was to be named after him.I even learnt a bill was sent to the Ekiti State House of Assembly in that regard but to our greatest astonishment  Fayemi declined the offer,only for the building to be named after the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“I  congratulate the Governor-elect,Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) .We are happy that you are the successor to Mr governor. You have been part of the administration and we believe that you will continue from where Fayemi stopped. We are looking forward to working with you .”  Oba Alabi assured .

The hall ,thereafter erupted in thunderous applause as soon as Oba Alabi  concluded his  historic speech.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the Ooni of Ife,Oba Enitan Ogunwusi  had,at different fora described Oba Alabi as a blessing to the traditional institution  in Yorubaland in particular and  in Nigeria as a whole .