As Alake of Egbaland celebrates 74 years tomorrow
After the demise of His Royal Highness, Ọba Samuel Oyebade Adeluọla Ishọla Mofọlọrunshọ Lipẹde, Ọmọ Erinjogunọla, Ara Erunwọn, Ọkọ Alhaja Wosilat on the 3rd of February, 2005 - after he spent 33 years on the throne at the age of 90 years - Ọba Micheal Adedọtun Arẹmu Gbadebọ from Laarun Ruling House emerged six month later as the 10th Alake of Egbaland as he scored 15 out of 23 votes in a transparent election conducted by the Afọbajẹs, the King-makers. He defeated 10 contenders who had applied for the Obaship with the Application letters and Curriculum vitaé included his younger brother, Adeleke Gbadebọ.
The then Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel wrote a letter after 21 days to confirm Ọba Micheal Adedọtun Arẹmu Gbadebọ as Alake of Egbaland.
Unlike his grandfather, the 6th Alake who married 24 wives and his father who married 3 wives, Alake Ẹgba, Ọba Adedọtun Arẹmu Gbadebọ married only Dr. Tokunbo Gbadebọ, the daughter of the famous publisher and Yoruba author, Joseph Fọlọrunshọ Ọdunjọ, J.F. Odunjọ popularly known as Alawiye.
Ọba Adedọtun Gbadebọ was born on the 14th of September, 1943. He attended St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) School, Itẹsi, Abeokuta in 1949. He also attended Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS), Oke-Ekunya, Abeokuta in 1957. He did his Higher School Certificate course at the Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo state, and proceeded to University of Ibadan in 1965 to obtain Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969.
He joined the Nigerian army in 1969, and attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State,
from September, 1978 to August 1979.
from September, 1978 to August 1979.
Ọkọ Tokunbọ, Tokunbo's husband became a Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff,
Major-General Abdul-Baki Tunde Idiagbon at the Supreme Military Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos State from January 1984 to September 1985. He retired from the Nigerian army as a Colonel together with General Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon. Muhammadu Buhari was number one on the list of those Soldiers retired then by the military government, Tunde Idiagbon was number two, Magoro, number three while Ọba Adedọtun Gbadebọ was number 14 on that retirement list.
Major-General Abdul-Baki Tunde Idiagbon at the Supreme Military Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos State from January 1984 to September 1985. He retired from the Nigerian army as a Colonel together with General Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon. Muhammadu Buhari was number one on the list of those Soldiers retired then by the military government, Tunde Idiagbon was number two, Magoro, number three while Ọba Adedọtun Gbadebọ was number 14 on that retirement list.
Ọba Adedọtun Gbadebọ has been on the throne as the 30th but 10th Alake of Egbaland that reigned since August 2nd, 2005.
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