Not many people know that the new Agura of Gbaguraland, HRM Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre is a man of sartorial elegance. We can tell you authoritatively that he is. He is a man of great style. Many people are just getting to know shoots. City People can tell you how stylish he is.
It is no longer news that, this Senior Customs Officer, Superintendent Saburee Babajide Ishola Bakre, formally received his Staff of Office from the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday, 22nd of May, 2019, at the Agura Palace, Abeokuta.
Also, it is to the public knowledge that the approval of his appointment as the new Agura by the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated 13th May 2019, had been handed over to him through the Chairman, Abeokuta North Local Government, the following day.
What is very unique and more auspicious is the almost rancour free process in the selection and installation of the new Agura.
Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, perhaps received "a widest, and joyous approval from virtually every section of Gbaguraland. The mood of his very wide and popular acceptance could be captured in the account of the Chairman, Agura Regency Committee, Chief Adio Bayewun, the Balogun Ojoo and OSI Mayegun of Egbaland.
"The activities and processes culminating in today’s event began several months ago after the unfortunate demise of Oba Halidu Olaluko, So be kun ll in July 2018. There was a ninety-day mourning period during which the Iddo Kingmakers were mobilized for the task ahead which was choosing the next Oba. The Oba Agura Council of Chiefs was set up to administer the activities of the palace. In the course of this race, the support and personal sacrifices of certain individuals did not go unnoticed. Some of these individuals include Balogun Owe, Dr. Dotun Idowu Balogun Ibadan, Chief Bode Mustapha Balogun Ika, Chief R.A.B Adeyi, Rtd. Justice Demola Bakre OON, Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye, Balogun Iraa and of course Chief Engr Abiodun Adenekan who later died in the course of these activities. The unwavering support of many other eminent personalities, whose names time will not permit me to mention, are duly appreciated.
The Abeokuta North Local Government put up notice calling on the Egiri Ruling House whose turn it was to produce the next Agura to submit name(s) of candidates interested in the Agura Obaship tussle within fourteen days. They held meetings having officers from Abeokuta North Local Government as observers. The Egiri family later came up with names of nine candidates. The list was forwarded to the Agura Kingmakers, having officers of Abeokuta North Local Government in attendance, met and eventually agreed on one candidate in person of Prince Saburee Babajide Bakre as the new Agura of Gbagura, was eventually released by His Excellency on 13th May, 2019.
In line with extant law and tradition, the Oba-elect was presented to Gbagura people on 14th May, 2019 and to Alakeand Paramount Ruler of Egbaland with other Egba Obas, Baales and Egba Title Chiefs in attendance at the Ake Palace on 16th May, 2019."
Five-Man Gbagura Kingmakers Made A Unanimous Choice
High Chief Adio Bayewun had spoken of impeccable processes that culminated in the selection of His Majesty, Oba Babajide Bakre.
One most important and "a sine qua non" among the processes, was "the Open Voting By Five Kingmakers" which took place in a quite transparent manner with the Secretary to Abeokuta North Local government, Hon. Kazeem Olagoke and other local government officials in attendance as observers amidst tight security. The voting and selection exercise which took place at the Agura Palace, was described as the most peaceful and transparent in recent Gbagura history.
The Spokesman for the five-man Kingmakers, Chief M. A. Odeyemi, confirmed before the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and Egba High Chiefs that, the choice of Oba Babajide Bakre was unanimous and seamless.
Chief M. A. Odeyemi, speaking on behalf of the Kingmakers to the Governorof Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, before the Governor handed over the instrument of office to Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, testified and reconfirmed that, all the five Kingmakersvoted for Oba Saburee Bakre, willingly and without duress, intimidation or pressure from any quarter.
Speaking further during the event, Chief M. A. Odeyemi told Senator Ibikunle Amosun and hundreds of Gbagura people and well-wishers that, "Prince Saburee Babajide Bakre, no doubt hails from Jamolu family. He submitted a detailed application coupled with good and fascinating resume to support his aspiration of becoming the next person to occupy the exalted stool of Agura of Gbagura.
We are convinced that the candidate is a very comfortable person in all human endeavors in life being an unassuming personality. Going through his credentials and thoroughly, he hails from Egiri (Jamolu) ruling house, since his late father, Prince Razak Olayinka Bakre (BabaCrown) of blessed memory, contested with the late Agura of Gbagura, HRMOba Raufu Adeosun ll, in 1961. The 1st Oba in Gbagura, late Oba Jamolu was the younger brother of his great, great grandfather, Osundare.
Academically, he is qualified, while his working experience and background across Nigeria are numerous through consummate interaction with different ethnic people in Nigeria as a senior customs officer in the department of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abujaand Lagoswhich has ideally prepared him for his noble and worthy crown of Gbagura, as a Prince.
Again, according to the reports and comments of our people in Gbaguracommunity and diapora, the opinions of the Gbagura people are in favour of the candidate due to his generosity, calmness, kindhearted in assuming personality that interacts with old and young men and women in the society.
Based on the accolades, encomiums and testimonies of the people and candidature of Prince Saburee Babajide Bakre, we are pleased to recommend the candidate for the race."
His Majesty, Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, in his acceptance speech, declared thus:
"I must not fail to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Governor of my beloved state, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA and the entire cabinet for accepting the choice of the distinguished sons and daughters of Gbagura and approving my nomination as the Agura of Gbagura of Abeokuta North Local Government. May the good Lord favour you in all your endeavors.
Also my profound gratitude goes to members of Egiri Ruling house whose unwavering support and confidence in me made today possible. Without your vote of confidence I would not to be here today. My appreciation goes to Iddo Traditional Council of Chiefs (The Kingmakers) who fulfilled their duties of upholding our culture. Your unanimous support of Engr. Abiodun Adenekan of blessed memory whose support during this journey is immeasurable. To my Uncle Justice Bakre, no words can express how thankful I am to you. Your support and pieces of advice are invaluable. My profound gratitude goes to Chief Bode Mustapha, Balogun Ika.
I express my deep and profound gratitude to clerics of the Holy Trinity Church, Ago Ika, Gbagura, Abeokuta. I also thank the Imams and Alfas of Gbagura Muslim Community.
I call on all citizens of Gbagura to join me on the mission to make our land greater. Let me seize this opportunity to appeal to my brothers from the Egiri Ruling House who also contested for the throne to join me on the mission to take our land to greater heights. We have a huge task before us. Your support and personal sacrifices before my enthronement becomes more important now to grow our roots into an enviable community of achievers. The onus of ruling is not only on the king rather it is on our combined effort and desire to see a flourishing Gbagura which would be home for all.
A Brief Biography of Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre
Prince Saburee Babajide Bakre, the Agura of Gbagura, was born on the 22nd day of June 1960 to the family of Prince Rasak Olayinka Bakre (the immediate past “Olori Omo Oba of Gbagura Land) of Egiri Ruling House and Alhaja Latifatu Bakre nee Adegbite also of Gbagura. Prince Babajide Bakre attended IICC primary school, Inalende, Ibadan and to Egba High School, Abeokuta between 1971 and 1977 and proceeded to Ansar-ud-deen College, Isolo, Lagos State between 1979 and 1981 for his HSE. He graduated from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) where he graduated with HND in Business Administration in 1986 and joined the Nigerian Customs Service in 1988. He currently Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC). Prince Bakre has participated in several community development activities in Egbaland. He is a devout Muslim and happily married to his darling wife, Mrs Omobolanle Omowunmi Bakre with children.
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