Stamp of His Honour: As Marwa Becomes Aare-Atunluse of Yorubaland
Chieftaincy appointment in Oyo, the centre of culture and political development in Yorubaland has never been arbitrary or random to say the least. Rather, it is based on meticulous selection based on integrity and patriotism without regard to any ethnic cultural bias. As the only monarch that can confer chieftaincy title to a worthy man or woman to cover the whole of Yorubaland, in exercising this right, His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has identified so many positive attributes which have clearly stand out BrigadierGeneral Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as a detribalised and worthy man to be honour with the prestigious title of the Aare Atunluse of Yorubaland.
Early this week, the Alaafin, through a formal letter addressed to the Adamawa-born retired General, had informed him of his decision —and after due consultation with the Oyomesi (the traditional cabinet of the Alaafin who are the kingmakers) — to confer him with the prestigious Yorubaland Chieftaincy title. The conferment ceremony, which will hold at the Royal Palace of the Alaafin in Oyo town, Oyo State, at a date yet to be announced, is expected to witness the presence of royal fathers and traditional chiefs in different parts of the country, businessmen and women, celebrities and other prominent personalities both within and outside the country.
Of course, the resume of the Aare Atunluse designate is rich and illustrious: starting with his noble birth to his enlistment in the Nigerian Army and his meteoric rise to the position of Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States; Military Governor of the old Borno and Lagos States; Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy; and Defence Attache at the Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York; a meritorious service to the nation which culminated in his appointment as the boss of the NDLEA.
His performance in those various assignment over the years especially in his new task as anti-drug czar tackling the menace of illicit drugs consumption by mostly youths and in that vein confront frontally the dealers leading to successful seizure of humongous amount of illicit drugs as well as prosecution of some barons across the country.