The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has installed the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as the Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland.
The chieftaincy title was conferred on the ex-governor on Saturday, December 16, 2023, alongside a governorship hopeful in Ogun state, Jimi Lawal, and his wife, Maryam.
El-Rufai is the first person outside the South West region to be honoured with a chieftaincy title in the land.
Speaking after the installation, El-Rufai tweeted on his X handle late Friday, “I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, the 16th of December 2023, His Royal Majesty Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona the Paramount Ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland will honour my brother and confidant Otunba Jimi Lawal with two chieftaincy titles for his contributions to the Ijebu Kingdom and Nigeria, along with his wife Maryam Lawal.
“I also am privileged to be the first Nigerian outside of South-West of Nigeria to be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Awujale in his nearly 64-year reign.
“I am to be recognised as the Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland. I am grateful to Kabiyesi Awujale for the recognition and thank all those who have wished me well for this.”
El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna state state between 2015 to 2023. He was also the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory under the administration of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.
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He was initially selected to become a minister under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government before being screened out at the senate over allegedly failing to pass security checks.
