Otunba Subomi Balogun, founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and a prominent Ijebu son spoke candidly on the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona…“I am a loyal, distinguished son of our monarch, the Awujale. I happened to be the Olori Omoba (head of the princes and princesses). Providence has placed me in a situation in which everybody will expect me to be close to the Awujale and be supportive of whatever he is doing by way of our culture and tradition.”

“Secondly, people know me as a very senior member of royalty in Ijebuland. Apart from being the Olori Omoba, I am the Olori Ebi (head of the family) of one of the largest ruling houses. Of course, I come from one of the prominent Balogun families, the Balogun Odunuga family. So, definitely, I will be interested in the Ojude Oba Festival, as it highlights quite a lot of the Ijebu ethos and tradition. With all the paraphernalia of positions which I hold in the town and in the country, it will be unpatriotic of me not to be supportive of whatever our royal father is doing.”

“Apart from whatever my good Lord has endowed me with, I am, by the grace of the reigning monarch, the head of the princes and princesses. So, I am very much involved. I can tell you that if this event is taking place and I am not around, many people will ask questions, whether I am unwell, which can’t be, or whether I have a disagreement with my royal father, which can’t be. So, I have always been in the forefront, let me put it that way, in the celebration.”

– Culled from The PUNCH