The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alake

  • For Alake… the beat goes on

    For Alake… the beat goes on

    FOR the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, the celebration of his 70th birthday, which he marked with fanfare on September 14 in the ancient town of Abeokuta, continued last Sunday in Lagos. He was hosted in the Victoria Island, Lagos home of Erelu Abiola Dosunmu.

    Before 9a.m., the Erelu and her guest were already seated in the right front pew of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Victoria Island, waiting for the special thanksgiving mass to begin.

    Everything looked shiny.

    The pews; the marble floors; the altar and the silver railings that led worshippers upstairs.

    After the ringing of the bell, the congregation rose as the priests and his man-servants filed into the church in a procession.

    It was the full Latin Mass. It felt like being in Rome, the Vatican City.

    The first Bible reading for the day was taken from Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 and the gospel reading from Luke 17:5-10. The central theme for all the readings was ‘Faith’.

    The Parish Priest, Very Reverend Father Henry Omonisaye, spoke on faith being the central life of every Christian, urging the faithful to always be patient enough to trust the action of God.

    Faith, the cleric said, brought other godly virtues as patience, humility and constant communion with God.

    Other proceedings for the Mass continued after which the monarch, his friends and some of his children filed out for a thanksgiving.

    Only a few invited guests moved to the Erelu’s home for the reception. They were taken from the ground to the top floor in an elevator. The house was breath-taking. It spoke affluence. The living room had every touch of class and beauty. Flowers, decors, wall paintings, art works and picture of her youthful days were enough for guests to feast on. A trumpeter supplied jazz music from the background.

    It was a small but mighty gathering. There was no formality. Every attendee got an opportunity to interact with the monarch. Some also rejoiced for the opportunity to take a pictures with him.

    Choice wines and food were served as guests were treated to a three course buffet. She did in no small scale.

    Soon after, a table of full of cakes was wheeled out. A large white and purple cake stood distinct in the midst of smaller coloured cupcakes. Seven lit candles were on the big cake. The Alake, was like a young kid, asked to make a wish and blow out the candles. His utterances were: ‘Eko o ni Baje; Egba o ni daru and Nigeria o ni baje o’ as he blew the candle lights out.

    All sang to him: ‘For he is a jolly good fellow’.

    Oba Gbadebo thanked Erelu Dosunmu for the gesture, revealing a small detail that seemed to go unoticed. He said: “You see those purple flowers on the church altar, they were not there by chance. It is significantly royalty. I thank her for the Latin Mass, being the highest and is cherished by all Catholics.

    “Each time I keep wondering how she has been able to blend her staunch nun upbringing with tradition. This goes to show that she is a true daughter of Egbaland, her maternal home and Lagos where she is married to.”

    The Oba prayed God to grant Erelu long life and the country visionary leaders to lead us to the promised land.

    He was presented a little token of a birthday gift.

    In response, the host thanked Alake for honouring her little token of affection.

    She described Oba Gbadebo as a rare breed who has been God-fearing since the onset of his reign despite his position.

    “I wanted him to come to that beautiful church where all my prayers are answered. Oba, thank you for the pride you give to the traditional institution. The honour is mine communing with you today, she said.

    Former Lagos Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Edun; Publisher of the Vanguard newspapers Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu; Bashorun of Lagos Chief Jaiye (JK) Randle; Dr Ademola Folarin-Williams and Egba chiefs were there, playing the role for which they were appointed.

  • My arrest, detention by SSS most painful experience, says Alake

    THE Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday reminisced on his life at 70.

    Speaking with journalists at his Ake Palace during a press conference to herald the activities marking his 70th birthday, he revealed that the day he was “arrested and detained” by the operatives of the defunct Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO) now known as Department of Security Service (DSS) on suspicions that he could plot a ‘coup’ with others to topple the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, remains his most painful experience till date.

    Adedotun, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, said on that fateful day sometime in December 1985, he had paid a visit to former Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in his Ota Farm, and had barely walked two steps out of the farm when a young man who identified himself as an NSO operative emerged from a corner and whisked him away to Lagos.

    The Alake added that the operative later took him to Alhaji Mohammed Gambo who later became the Inspector General of Police in 1985 for interrogation.

    According to him, his arrest and detention by the security agency happened just three months after he was retired from the military.

    Narrating further, the monarch said Gambo who grilled him, told him he was being arrested for interrogation based on security reports that he was dissatisfied with the manner he was disengaged from the military.

    He disclosed, “The day I was claamped into detention by the military for six days three months after leaving military service was one thing I would not like to remember. Prior to the arrest, somebody had told me that I was arrested and I said no. I had visited Obasanjo and on my way out, someone who identified himself as an NSO operative came out from a corner, accosted me and took me away.

    “I was brought before Gambo who interrogated me. He said we learnt you were not happy how the military dis-engaged you from service and we thought you could join coup plotters but I told him I was happy when I was retired, because that freed me to go home to do what I loved to do most and that I was not embittered and harboured no motive to plot a coup.”

    According to him, it was an experience he would not want to remember, while the day he got married in April 1971 remains his happiest moment.

    Parts of activities marking Oba Adedotun’s 70th birthday include a visit to Lantoro Lepers Colony, Iberekodo Lepers Colony and St Stephen’s Children Home, Obantoko all in Abeokuta where the monarch will felicitate with the inmates.