A member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Adedeji Alebiosu, has been elevated as chairman, Council of Otunbas by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona, following the death of the immediate past chairman of the council, Wahab Osinusi.
Alebiosu also known as Bush of Africa, and Otunba Gbelegbuwa of Ijebu land was chosen to fill the vacant position following Osinusi’s death in September 2023.
The Council of Otunbas of Ijebuland is an assemblage of prominent and influential Otunbas in Ijebuland, a region in Ogun State, Nigeria.
The council is involved in the promotion of cultural, social, and economic development of Ijebuland and its people.
The revered monarch, while speaking on the selection of the new chairman, said the choice of Alebiosu is a testament to his exceptional leadership prowess, integrity and uncommon contributions to the socio-cultural and political development of Ijebu land.
Adetona described Alebiosu as an accomplished son of Ijebuland, who has distinguished himself, and who possesses profound capacity to effectively lead the influential Council to a higher pedestal.
Awujale, however, admonished the new chairman to ensure that the collective values, ideals and goals of the council, were strictly upheld towards the overall upliftment of the good people of Ijebu and the society at large.
While expressing deep sense of responsibility and gratitude to the Awujale for finding him worthy to be the council’s chairman, Alebiosu pledged his firm commitment to lead the council with renewed vigour, and to carry all members along in the discharge of the shared responsibilities of promoting values and tradition of Ijebuland.
Alebiosu is a well exposed and influential businessman cum politician. He started his early career as an engineer in the United Kingdom (UK), and after his return from the UK in 1967, he went into politics and became a councillor in the then Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
At the dawn of the civilian dispensation in 1979, he pitched his tent with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), and was elected a legislator to represent the then old Ketu constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, and was re-elected in 1983; a post he held till the Buhari-Idiagbon coup in 1983.
He was very influential in the state legislature that a lot of politicians come to curry his favour because of his relationship with the then governor of the state, Lateef Jakande.
His exceptional intelligence, articulation and resourcefulness have made him a household name in Kosofe and the entire Lagos East senatorial district in Lagos.
He is expected to further galvanise the influence of the Council for the socio-economic expansion of Ijebuland, and by extension, Nigeria.