Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday, visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to honour him on his 49th coronation anniversary.
The ministers in company with the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, arrived the monarch’s palace in Oyo town on Monday.
The Alaafin, as part of activities marking his 49th coronation anniversary, also installed Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, as Mayegun of Yorubaland.
Oba Adeyemi was crowned on January 14, 1971.
The ministers, in separate interviews after a closed-door meeting with the Alaafin, told newsmen that they were in Oyo to honour both the monarch and K1.
“We are here to honour the Alaafin and an icon in Nigerian music. As you know, I am the minister in charge of culture, I have another role to play,” Mohammed said.
“I am here to honour a friend and to beam the light on the cultural values of our country.”
Aregbesola said: “I am here to be part of the 49th anniversary of Alaafin’s ascension to the throne and equally rejoice with my friend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.”
Mr Ojudu said that he was in Oyo to honour the monarch and Ayinde on the instruction of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“You know what Kabiyesi is doing today is honouring Yoruba culture. The musicians and theatre practitioners, as custodians of culture, tells stories of yesterday, today and project that of today,” he said.
“Nobody has honoured any harbinger of culture in our society. Today is the first, somebody who upholds our culture and takes it around the world is being honoured. It is very important. That is why the Vice President asked me to be here.”
Traditional rulers from Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States, including theatre practitioners and other dignitaries, were at the ceremony.
