The palace of the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao was agog last weekend as the royal father and his wife, Olusola Adedoyin Alao, who was managing director of the defunct City Express bank, hosted dignitaries from all walks of life in the ancient town of Ile Igbon, Oyo State for his 60th birthday celebration, 6th coronation anniversary and unveiling of his multi-million-naira palace.
The traditional ruler also honoured eminent personalities, including the Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde; the wife of late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, who was crowned Yeye Oba of Orile Igbon; Otunba Seye Famojuro, now the Balogun Bobajiroro of Orile Igbon and Hon Akinwale Akinwole, who was conferred with the Bashorun Amuludun of Igbon. Alhaji Babatunde Tijani, also known as Double T, became the Aare of Orile Igbon.
Oba Alao also commissioned a new and ultra-modern palace. Olori Adedoyin, daughter of great industrialist Samuel Adedoyin, played the dutiful hostess as she ensured that the guests in attendance had a great time before their departure.
Alao became a traditional ruler in 2017. He was a successful contractor before taking over the throne. He worked as a contractor to ECOMOG by importing food stuffs for ECOMOG forces in Liberia. He later became a contractor to major military formations in Nigerian Defence, like DIA. He was also into the deployment of telecoms infrastructure. He had a short fling with fibre optics and laying of fibres throughout the nation.
