 It's a very special honor and privilege for me to witness this epochal and historic occasion, the installation of the Olubadon of Ibadon, the 42nd Olubadon in 202 years since the founding of the throne. This Imperial Majesty Olubadon of Ibadon land of Dr. Senator Mohood Olalekoy Shola Balogun Ali Uqmade II. Your Royal Majesty, Mr. President, has asked me to convey his special and respectful felicitations to you and the Royal Family and the great people of Ibadon on this day of abounding joy and celebration. Your Excellency Governor She'i Makide, I must congratulate you, as you also enter the history books being one of the few governors who have had the joyful and historic duty of handing the staff of office to a new Olubadon. Your Excellency's honored guests were also today participants in the remarkable history of this land of ancient renown and high achievements. Ibadon is in a real sense at the heart of the history of the Yoruba people and our nation. This is after all a town like none other founded and shaped by defined non-conformists, warriors of major Yoruba subgroups from Moyoife, Jebu, Eqba. And it would become the largest indigenous city in Africa and the intellectual hub of the modern Nigerian state. Given its origins, the destiny of Ibadon as one of the political centers of gravity in our nation was practically written in stars. It was in this city that the call for Nigeria's independence from the British rule first resounded. The people of Ibadon bore witness to the exploits of iconic nationalists and leaders such as Dr. Namdia Zikwe, our country's first president, and the sage Papa Chief of Bahfemiah O'Law, who was Premier of the Western region for a time that is widely regarded as the region's golden age. Ibadon became the hub of politics in the then new nation and the capital of Western region. It was and is still acknowledged as the political headquarters of the entire southwest of Nigeria. Ibadon was and has always been a city on a hill, a place of refuge and a realm in which individuals could rise by the grace of their talents on merit and their diligence. It embodies the values of openness and diversity and high achievement. It's therefore not surprising that Ibadon is a city of many firsts, home to the first indigenous TV station in Africa, home to the shooting stars, Goodball Club, the first Nigerian club to win an international trophy, the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1976. This is the home of the first university in Nigeria, and for many years, the iconic cocoa house was the tallest building in Nigeria, standing as a towering edifice dominating the city skyline, a powerful visual reminder that Ibadon sizelessly inspires us to strive for greater heights in every endeavor. But even in the management of his traditional institution, Ibadon is unerringly unique. As we all know, whoever would become an olubado must climb 23 chieftain's steps from either of the two lines as we've heard from the government, the civilian and the military. But it is its predictability and orderliness that ranks it among the most peaceful and unique accession protocols anywhere. It is the custodianship of this illustrious heritage and proud tradition that the olubado has been initiated today, and it is therefore, Your Majesty, a heavy obligation of history that the privilege of your accession to the throne of your fathers now places upon your shoulders. But your shoulders are broad and sturdy as you come into this office better prepared than probably any monarch anywhere, with a PhD, a background in economic and social research, a scholar with an intellectual sympathy for Marxist dialectics, a university teacher, a former senator of the Federal Republic, and a champion of indigenous culture and community empowerment. Everything in your remarkable life and times, your abiding dedication and love for the people of Ibadan, your breath of intellect, openness of mind, and largeness of heart has inexorably led to this auspicious day of your crowning as the olubado of Ibadan, and I'm sure will serve you well on the throne. And so on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohamed Ibuharin, the government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate you on your elevation to the throne of the custodian and defender of the ancient cultures and traditions of the people of Ibadan, the olubado of Ibadan. Your Imperial Majesty, olubado of Ibadan, I pray for you that your reign will belong, sustained with divine health and wisdom, and that this land in your reign will know great peace and prosperity, and that the talking drums will always speak celebration and thanksgiving. KBSI, kwe kwe kwe fawaw, kade kwe luri kipata kwe lese, God bless you sir.