THE Mayor of Portlaoise Cllr Rotimi Adebari was made an honorary chieftain of his hometown of Okeodan in Nigeria during a recent trip home.
Mayor Adebari had returned to Nigeria with his wife Ibironke on the sad occasion of the funeral of her father last month.
While there he was approached by town officials and informed that His Royal Highness King Alaycluwa Oba Oluwarotimi Fagbenro and representatives of the Ogun State Government and the town Chief Lere Bamgboye wished to hold a ceremony in his honour on his achievement of becoming Mayor of Portlaoise.
Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony, which was held in the town’s market square.
Speaking at the event Chief Lere Bamgboye said: “For those of us who have been close watchers of your upward journey in life we are not entirely surprised. We have known you as an enterprising young man with a lot of vision.”
He said Mayor Adebari demonstrated great courage and was a man who had a mission in life.
Chief Lere Bamgboye said: “We all look forward to benefiting from your new achievement. We look forward to you using your new position to attract industries and other social amenities that will make life more meaningful to our people.”
Mayor Adebari said he was greatly honoured, proud and humbled by the honorary title of chieftain that was bestowed on him by his people.
The mayor, along with his wife Ibironke, were decorated with traditional beads to honour his achievement in Portlaoise.
Such a ceremony is normally reserved for villagers who have excelled in life, gained exceptional heroic achievements and brought honour to their town and district in Mayor Adebari’s home region of Nigeria.
Mayor Adebari also met with governors of the state and Nigerian national media who have charted his political career since his left his homeland.
He said he had spoken to two state governors about the possibility of setting up exchange programmes between his home district and Portlaoise. He said they had expressed an interest in progressing the matter further.
