The Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic has been awarded to Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, with the approval of the departing President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
The PUNCH reports that Senator Kola Balogun, who represents the Oyo South Senatorial district, asked George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, to present and recommend Olubadan for the CFR Award to the departing government headed by Buhari, in a letter dated May 19, 2023.
The first-class traditional ruler was among those named as beneficiaries of the 2023 Special National Honour Award, according to the ministry’s announcement. He is one of the 23 people who will get the CFR, the nation’s third-highest distinction.
The senator outlined the course of the Olubadan’s life and said that he was deserving of the CFR award. The Olubadan is also his older brother. The senator’s career trajectory as the top traditional leader was outlined, along with the dates of his birth, educational background, employment history, and political involvement, among other things.
The senator said, “His (the monarch) political career began in 1978 when he joined the late Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party where he climbed to the post of deputy national secretary, pleading with Akume to present and recommend him for CFR national award.
He stood for governor of Oyo State as a candidate for the Nigerian People’s Party after running for president in the Social Democratic Party.
His political ambitions were put on hold for 16 years by the military incursions, but he returned in 1999 and ran for and won the position of distinguished senator in the fourth Senate in the Oyo Central Senatorial District. He served as the head of the Senate Committee on National Planning from 1999 to 2003 and was a member of the committees overseeing appropriations, security and intelligence, police affairs, defence, and the armed forces.
“As the monarch advanced in politics, he also advanced in Ibadanland’s traditional chieftaincy hierarchy, reaching the rank of Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, one of the two most senior chiefs in Ibadanland. This was before his accession on March 11, 2022, to the esteemed throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The government of Kano State has nominated the oba as chancellor of Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education in Kumbotso, Kano.
“Kabiyesi, Oba Balogun Aliiwo is a renowned technocrat, author, scholar, astute and rare breed politician, businessman, and philanthropist.” Senator Balogun came to an end.
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