The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has appointed Chief Suarau Bankole, the father of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, as the new Apena Egbaland in a ceremony held at the palace.
The installation took place in the presence of distinguished guests, including the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola.
Former governors Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, as well as the immediate-past Nigerian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola, were among the notable attendees.
The Apena serves as the secretary to the government in Egbaland, acting as the mouthpiece and representative of the Egba Alake section in the government structure.
During the installation, Osoba commended the choice of Bankole, citing his significant contributions to the Egba traditional council, particularly during the process that led to the emergence of Oba Gbadebo as the 10th Alake of Egbaland.
Daniel also praised Bankole, describing him as a man of integrity and expressing confidence in his competence to contribute positively to the Egba traditional council.
In his acceptance speech, Bankole pledged loyalty to the Alake and promised to show respect to other rulers in Egbaland.
He emphasized the historical significance of the Apena title, revealing that his great-grandfather was the first person to hold the position between 1898 and 1919.
Bankole shared that he had declined the offer a few years ago due to personal reasons, including the fact that the recently deceased Apena of Egbaland was his younger classmate in elementary school.
Addressing the pressing issue of insecurity in Egbaland, the new Apena expressed concern, particularly about kidnapping incidents.
He asserted that it is unacceptable for any traditional ruler to allow kidnappers to operate freely within their territory.
Bankole called for a collaborative effort among traditional rulers, emphasizing the need to work closely with Alake, a retired military officer, to eradicate criminal activities in Egbaland.
Additionally, he urged Egbaland youths to actively contribute to sustaining the community’s legacy in leadership positions, emphasizing the importance of keeping the flag flying high.
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