2024 Ekinrin-Adde Day Celebration will be fascinating – Oba Anthony Bamigbaiye,
…describes Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as a worthy son of the community
His Royal Majesty, Oba Anthony Bamigbaiye, the Olu-Adde of Ekinrin-Adde Land, the paramount ruler of Ekinrin-Adde community, in this interview with Olugbemi Femi, Publisher, Democracy Newsline Newspaper/ democracynewline.com.online blog, said the community day celebration this year will be fascinating considering the kind of preparation that is being put together to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people and also to raise fund for community development and other sundry issues. Excerpts:
As the paramount ruler of Ekinrin-Adde community, what would you say are your achievements since you assumed the throne of your forefathers?
So far, so good, we thank God, I ascended the throne of my forefathers as the paramount ruler of Ekinrin-Adde Community on the 24th December, 2016. Ever since it has been a wonderful experience and occurrences within the community especially in the lives of all sons and daughters of the community.
I hear it from people who said for a very long time, this is a time they are witnessing real development in the community because it is like everyone is struggling to see what they can give back to the community. So on daily basis different projects are coming, I must at this point to sincerely commend and appreciate our worthy son, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke who has facilitated many projects to the community especially in the area of roads, solar street lights, water projects, school infrastructure etc, Now, you don’t need touchlight to move around Ekinrin-Adde community at night as all the streets have been covered with the solar lighting. The modern palace project is also one of the projects; this will be the first time the community will be having a central palace, it used to be whoever becomes the King rule from his personal house but now the community is having one that will be commissioned before the end of this year.
All well and good, it is a covenant I have with God when I was called upon to ascend the throne of my forefathers, don’t forget I was based in Port Harcourt working with Caverton Helicopters
Company, before the call came, though I don’t understand initially that it is not only pastors that are called by God but any other person can also be called into a specific assignment like being a traditional ruler.
I took over the throne as a call from God to serve Him, my people and humanity. God promised me that my reign will be glorious if I follow Him and that is exactly what I am doing. He has not disappointed and I know He will never disappoint me. So we thank God for everything, all things we may have accomplished, all glory be unto Him, thank you.
Sir, despite all these achievements, are there challenges confronting the community?
Of course, there will always be challenges, like I said God has been faithful to us because beyond that God has blessed the community with a lot of natural mineral resources, like marble and others but we find out that we don’t have a single manufacturing company in Ekinrin-Adde, we have reached out to investors to come and take advantage of those mineral resources but nothing has happened. Actually the Mangal Cement factory in Iluagba was supposed to be established here in Ekinrin-Adde but because of a court case he has to relocate it to Iluagba, apart from the site Mangal is working on, there are still other sites that have mineral deposit in commercial quantities, so we want investors that will come to invest not someone that will come and take away the resources elsewhere, we want factory in Ekinrin-Adde, again we want higher institution, after farming the next occupation in Okunland is education, so we want higher institutions in Ekinrin-Adde. When we have company, our youths will be gainfully employe, if they we are saying the youths are troublesome, then we should be able to redirect their energy to something meaningful, an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. If they are engaged, they will go to work, when they return in the evening, they will not have time to think of causing problems rather they will be planning for the tasks ahead the following day.
How many mineral resources are in Ekinrin-Adde?
All along while we were in primary school, all we knew was only marble but we have more than that, now we have lithiums, gold, vesper and more in commercial quantities, so we are looking for investors that will come and harness these resources and establish factories here in Ekinrin-Adde.
Kabiyesi sir, what do this year’s Ekinrin-Adde Day Celebration promised?
Oh, this year Ekinrin-Adde Day Celebration will be fascinating considering the kind of preparation that is ongoing by various committees, in fact all over the world, our sons and daughters are preparing seriously, at a time I asked, is this the first time we are holding Ekinrin-Adde day? That is for you to know that people are ready to give back to the community. Our focus is to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the people and also to raise funds for the development of the community, our target this year is five hundred million naira (#500, 000, 000), which will used to complete our palace and other projects that will need our attention. We are hopeful, people will come and donate generously to the development fund.
Sir, what are your expectations from the government?
Our expectations is high, like the higher institution I said earlier, government can bring one for us, if private investors are not ready to assist, government can assist especially in the area of exploring the abundant mineral resources to have one factory. Issues of security is also germaine, I know Kogi State Government under the leadership of Governor Ododo Ahmed Usman is trying but I urge the government to continue in the light.
What is your relationship with other monarchs in Ijumu and Okunland?
Oh perfect, I don’t have any problem with anyone, I am very free, I relate freely with them.
What is your message for Ekinrin-Adde people?
My message is simple, let us put hope in God, love one another. When we put hope in God, He will not put us to shame, let’s continue to hope and trust in Him. The Bible says, whoever will put his or her hope in God will never be put to shame
