By Stephen Adeleye
Mopa (Kogi), October 18, 2024
The Elulu of Mopaland and Chairman, Mopamuro Traditional Council, HRM, Oba Muyiwa Ibeun, has reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence and facilitating development to Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The paramount ruler gave the assurance during the courtesy visit to his palace by the Forum of Okun Media Professionals (FOMP) led by its Chairman, Chief Olugbemi Femi, on Thursday in Mopa.
The visit by FOMP was to congratulate the first class monarch on his ascension on the throne and emergence as the 4th Elulu of Mopa in Mopamuro local government area of Kogi State.
The royal father who hosted the journalists to a warm reception, reiterated his commitment as a traditional ruler to promote and maintain peace and tranquility within his domains and the state at large.
Oba Ibenu reaffirmed his determination to serve his people diligently and ensure that everybody is treated fairly irrespective of clans, affiliations or differences.
“I will not allow anything to distract my attention. Rather, I will focus on how to bring more developments to Mopa community and the local government at large,” he said.
Ibeun noted that it was never his wish to become King at this time, as he was looking elsewhere to serve at the national level.
He, however described his emergence as God’s designed for his life according to His will, saying “I am now glad to find myself in the saddle of leadership responsibility of the community”.
The monarch stressed that it was a huge sacrifice leaving what he was doing as a business tycoon across the globe to be in Mopa as traditional ruler, but noted that he never regretted his acceptance to serve his people.
Ibeun reiterated that he emerged through a credible due process traditionally, culturally and in line with the extant law of the 2006 Kogi State Chieftaincy Law that is operational by the Kogi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He emphasised that those referring to the court cases were not in touch with the reality that heralded his emergence as the 4th Elulu of Mopa.
According to him, those who are indifferent to his emergence have not been to Mopa for a very long time, hence they are not aware of what the people truly need at this time.
Reacting to the alleged imposition of new leadership of Mopa Welfare Society (MWS), Ibeun said that as the community traditional ruler,, he would not need to lobby or interfere in the affairs of MWS nor the youths group because the entire system is running on the right path.
He said the purveyors of the misleading information about the new leadership of MWS, was unaware that the community is moving according to the desired yearnings of the entire Mopa populace, insisting that he never interfere in the leadership election.
The monarch maintained that the community is on the right path of development, adding that his visit to the Honorable Minister of Works recently in Abuja, had paid off with the little rehabilitation work recently done on the Mopa section of Kabba – Egbe – Ilorin road.
“The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Senator Dave Umahi did promised me when I visited recently to complain to him about the state of the road.
“As a strong supporter of President Bola Tinubu who even served in the Stakeholders committee and the kind of votes the people of the area gave to the president, the road should not be abandoned. The minister did promise and I believe him’ he said.
The paramount ruler also commended Governor Ahmed Ododo for the relocation of the Kogi State College of Education, Technical to Mopa.
The royal father stressed that Gov. Ododo’s purposeful leadership has changed the narrative in the state, and urged him not to forget Mopamuro in the area of rural roads, health facilities, among others.
Earlier, the Chairman of FOMP, Chief Femi Olugbemi, said the visit was to congratulate the royal father on his smooth emergence as the 4th Elulu of Mopa land and also acknowledged his developmental strides since his ascension on the throne.
Olugbemi, who is the Publisher of Democracy Newsline Newspaper, said Okun Media Professionals, drawn its membership from all Okun indigenes who are media professionals, practicing in Kogi State.
According to him, they comprised radio, television, print media, new media, bloggers, public relations officers in the information sector, among others.
“Their main objective is to fostering unity and development within the Six local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial district, which include: Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, Yagba East, Yagba West and Lokoja using their media outlets,” he said.
Olugbemi assured that FOMP wouod continue to work with all stakeholders in the zone to promote good governance and healthy rivalry among individuals and groups that will be geared toward massive development of the zone.
Members of the delegation include: Comrade Bolu Obahopo, (Vanguard) Secretary; Stephen Adeleye (NAN), Financial Secretary; Comrade Emmanuel Adeyemi (Sun) Elder Advisory Committee; Richard Elesho (The News); and Comrade Rotimi Odofin (Cascades.)
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