Yomi Awoniyi, immediate past former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, has expressed condolence to the family of the late Oba Michael Olobayo, the people of Owe land, the Okun traditional council, the Kogi State Traditional council and the Government and people of Kogi State, on the death of Oba Michael Olobayo.
In a statement issued on his behalf by Mike Abu in Lokoja, Awoniyi extolled the virtues of late Oba Olobayo, whom he said elevated traditional governance when he left a promising career in the civil service of the old Kwara state, to assume the royal stool of Obaro of Kabba at a relatively young age of 40.
According to him, the grounding of Oba Olobayo in the public service, his good knowledge of community administration, his humility and his confidence, all combined to stand him out in traditional administration during his over 30 years as the Obaro of Kabba.
Recalling the moment he shared with the monarch during the ceremonies marking the celebration of his 30th year anniversary on the throne, which also coincided with his 70th birthday in Kabba in October last year, Awoniyi noted that the late monarch came through as a visionary who was focused and committed to the socio-economic advancement of his domain, and Kogi state in general.
Awoniyi further recalled the wise counsel and the support that the late Royal father provided to the administration of Captain Idris Wada on various issues, particularly in facilitating the allocation of land for the construction of a power supply sub-station in Kabba by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and in the development of the Staple Crop Processing Zone at Alape in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
The former Deputy Governor regretted that the late royal father did not live to see the completion of the Obajana-Kabba-Ilorin Road, a road very close to the late Obaro’s heart, which was recently approved and re-awarded by the Federal Government through a unique arrangement with the Dangote Group. He appealed to Government to ensure the speedy completion of the road project as a lasting testament to the legacy of Obaro Micheal Olobayo.
Awoniyi prayed for the continued well-being of the Olobayo family, and for the peace, progress and prosperity of Kabba and Kogi State.
