The Arole Oduduwa, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, among other traditional rulers will grace the coronation of the first Olu of Orile-Ilawo in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Olusegun Alexander Macgregor.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, Coronation Committee, Ishaq Bada, while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, noting the coronation was heralded by glorious exit of Oba Macgregor from seclusion on Thursday, accompanied by a street carnival to mark the annual Ilawo Day.
It was gathered that the coronation is scheduled to take place Saturday at the Helipads’ Open space at the June 12 Cultural Center, beside the M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.
He disclosed that Oba Macgregor had completed the 90 days mandatory rites from seclusion.
This was followed by free medical outreach for the aged in the community.
Indigenous clubs in Orile-Ilawo had earlier on Friday morning paid homage to the monarch, while special Juma’at Service was held at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Orile-Ilawo, to mark the coronation.
Reports revealed that Oba MacGregor will confer chieftaincy titles on some dignitaries, in addition to the certification of some Ilawo Baales, Village Heads, at the Oba MacGregor’s Heritage House, Ilawo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State, as part of the event.
The ceremony will be rounded up on Sunday with a Thanksgiving Service at St. Peter African Church, Ilawo Abeokuta at 10:00 am.
On the positive impacts of the monarch on the people of Orile-Ilawo, a member of the coronation committee, Babatunde Adebayo, stated that the monarch has done a lot since he was presented with the Staff of Office on 25th of April, 2023 by the state government.
Babatunde further said that the monarch has established the Macgregor Foundation to cater for indigent children from primary school to where they want to get academically.
“He paid for the school fees, and transport of over 500 people. He provided employment for women, youths, and those that don’t have the energy to work.
“He also sponsored people in trade and businesses and many other things. He has influenced good medical clinics that will offer free medical treatment for the people of Orile-Ilawo. He has also sponsored many people for surgery abroad from the community. He is a man of development and future”, Adebayo stated.
The Secretary to the Odeda Local Government, Mr. Zaccheus Makinde, pointe out that both the state and local government did not interfere with the selection and emergence of Oba Macgregor.
He asserted that his nomination was approved by the state government, after free and fair election between all candidates that vied for the throne by traditional chiefs of Orile-Ilawo.
He also stressed that due process was observed in selection, election and emergence of Oba Macgregor as the first Olu of Orile-Ilawo
