Come August 2 -12, 2018, His Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi will celebrate massively his third anniversary on the throne, during which foreign and local dignitaries, including Kabiyesi’s god-father, Dr. Bob Brown, renowned American Television Broadcaster, Ms Opral Winfred and the godfather of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others, are expected to be present.
Oba Shotobi, who is an acknowledged master planner, always thinking out of the box, is determined to make this celebration unique and highly exalted.
He has lined up activities for the ten-day programme to shake Ikorodu, during the period the climax of which is the commissioning of the multi-million naira palace extension constructed under his watch in about two years. The edifice will be officially opened by no other person than the Baba Oba of Ikorodu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC.
Another highlight of the celebration is the presence of Oba Shotobi’s god father in the United States of America, Dr. Bob Brown, who trained him in North Carolina University and hosted the monarch, his wife and their entourage of chiefs few years ago for nearly two weeks.
Dr. Brown, a multi-billionaire black American, now in his 80’s, has publicly declared Oba Shotobi as his adopted son, for whom he would do anything possible to promote.
Bob Brown, who was to attend the 2nd anniversary of the Kabiyesi’s anniversary, could not do so due to health reasons.
Already, the excited Kabiyesi has been sending out invitations and making sure of the perfect details of the preparations for the anniversary.
According to the programme, the anniversary flags off on Thursday, August 2, 2018 with traditional chiefs paying homage to the monarch, it is a day devoted to the Olombas and other cultural traditional authorities.
A special Jumat service for the celebration will take place on Friday, August 3 during which thanksgiving will be offered to Allah.
Saturday, August 4, would be the conferment of honourary chieftaincy titles to individuals, who have contributed immensely to Ikorodu’s development and achieved great heights in their endavours.
On Monday August 6, is the visiting of Foreign Service Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while August 7 is devoted to market men and women, IKODASS, to pay their homage to the Kabiyesi.
On Wednesday, August 8, a free medical exercise will be held for community dwellers while the conferment of Otunbas takes place on Thursday, also known as Omoba Day ( children of Lasunwon dynasty).
Friday, August 10th is a big day for Dr. Robert Brown, the CEO/Founder of B&C and Founder of Booksmarts Foundation at Ikeja Country Club, where a lecture titled, Identity Passport For Freedom will be delivered by Mr. Steadman Graham.
The big band is slated for Saturday, August 11. Asiwaju Tinubu would commission the magnificent palace extension built under Shotobi’s reign.
The Baba Oba of Ikorodu, the great politician and ex-Governor of Lagos State, who is a crowd puller is expected to paint Ikorodu red and green with fanfare during the programme.
The following day, Sunday, all roads would lead to the Methodist Cathedral at Ita-Elewa for the grand thanksgiving service to end the anniversary. Thereafter, the train would move to Oriwu Club, where a reception in honour of Dr. Brown has been scheduled.
Ms Opral Winfrey, the World Class Television Presenter/celebrity, who was honoured in North Carolina with Kabiyesi two years will deliver a talk to the people of Ikorodu that day.
Already, the Ayangbure Palace is bubbling as it wears a new look and awaits the arrival of Shotobi’s god father, whom the Oba’s family hope to give a lavish hospitality similar to what they got from Dr. Robert J. Brown in the recent past in the USA.