After completing the three major assignments that took HRM, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi and his entourage to the United States America in January……2016 – namely, the chieftaincy installation of Dr. Brown, the unveiling of the Kabiyesi’s statue in the International Civil Rights Museun and the Vanguard Award by Black American Civil Rights Actvists, the Ikorodu monarch joined his godfather, Chief (Dr.) Robert Brown for a church thanksgiving on Sunday, January 31, 2016.
The thanksgiving service,which took place at Saint Stephens A & M Zion Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, lasted about three hours. It was an opportunity for Oba Shotobi to thank God for journey mercies granted him and his entourage from Nigeria and other parts of the United States, and to thank God for providing such an earthly father as Dr. Brown to himself as well as to pray for journey mercies back to Nigeria in few days’ time.
An adopted son of Dr, Brown, Pastor Michael Ola, who has lived in the United States of Ameerica for more than forty years and who owns a church outside of North Carolina, preached the sermon, while the host pastor,….. led the congregation of the church in marathon prayers for Oba Shotobi and his entourage and for Dr. Brown.
Pastor Ola rocked the congregation with laughter when he told them the story of how he came to America in the early 70s, and in an attempt to show off to his American friends in school wore a Cow boy’s outfit on one occasion.
Unknown to him, Cow boys represented the slave masters of the past, who oppressed the blacks and incurred their hatred.
So, when fellow black students saw the young but naïve Nigerian showing off in a Cow boy’s attire, they booed him and made ugly remarks against him.
The poor boy later read comments on his room door telling him to leave the country because he was a slave driver.
It took a fellow student to explain the real thing happening to a bewildered Ola, who had real
ized his folly and his mistake.
After the message and prayer, which lasted about one hour, Kabiyesi Shotobi led his entourage as well as friends and associates of Chief (Dr.) Brown for the thanksgiving offering to support the church growth.
Addressing the church later, Oba Shotobi expressed profound appreciation to the Americans, especially Dr. Brown, for the great honour done to him and thanked the church members for their prayers. He assured them that Greensboro, North Carolina, has become his second home and that he will be coming around often to fellowship with them.
The church later organized a lunch for the king and his entourage in another hall. Oriwu Sun was at these venues and brought you these exclusive shots.