By Gbenga Olarinoye

CONSTITUTIONAL lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, recently added another feather to his cap as he was conferred with a chieftaincy title The Mayegun Baamofin (voice of the voiceless) by the traditional ruler of Ido Osun Kingdom, Oba Aderemi Adedapo in Osun State.

•Ozekhome and wife at the event

The confirment of the honourary chieftaincy title on Chief Ozekhome which took place at the palace of the Obalufon of Ido-Osun in October 2016, was part of other activities lined up to mark the Senior Advocate of Nigeria’s 59th birthday.

Chief Ozekhome among other chieftaincy titles bestowed on him by various communities across the country include, The Asebigwe of Weppa Wanno Kingdom, The Olunagbo of Uzairue, The Akpakpa Vighi of Edo Land, The Enobakhare of Benin Kingdom and many.others.

The sleepy agrarian community roared in ecstasy as Chief Ozekhome with his wife, Barrister Josephine Ozekhome, decked in a wine coloured dansiki and native cap to match, beaming with smiles and acknowledging cheers intermittently from the crowd, who converged at the palace to witness the event amongst friends and well wishers stepped out to accept the title after the traditional rites anchored by the town’s monarch, Oba Aderemi Adedapo.

Defending why the fearless lawyer deserved to be so honoured, Oba Adedapo said: “He is an illustrious son of Nigeria, who happens to be the voice of the voiceless, the common man. He was the Cicero of the 2014 National Conference.

“He has his roots in Ife. Here, we are talking of an illustrious son of Nigeria, who can be celebrated, no matter where he comes from. He is a part of our family here in Ido-Osun. He is an Edo prince and Edo used to be a part of the West. We are honouring him for his cerebral status in the Nigerian society.”

Also, a representative of Ooni of Ife, Oba Muraino Adebanjo, said: “He is a son of the soil. History of our forefathers has it that Ile-Ife and Edo where Ozekhome hails from have the same background. So, anybody from Edo is from Ife. That is why the heart of the Ooni has to go to Chief Ozekhome at a time like this and he wishes him well.”

Ozekhome dedicates title

In his acceptance speach, Chief Ozekhome said he was dedicating the title to “the suffering masses of Nigeria whose only craving in life is how to get their three square meals a day and survive the devastating and corrosive effects of successive governments, both military and civilian.”

On what he wants to do with the title, he assured: “The title will spur me on to defend the hapless, helpless, marginalized and traumatised members of the society.”

A couple of palace chiefs and traditional rulers who were present to honour him showered tributes on him in acknowledgement of his contributions to the legal profession in Nigeria as well as his selfless battle to guarantee fairness, equity and justice for the common man in the society.

They also urged him to consider the new title as a catalyst for continued hard work in contributing to the socio-political and economic development as well as the legal profession where he has already set remarkable legacies in its development and left his foot prints on the sands of time.

With this new title, Ozekhome has therefore added another feather to his numerous chieftaincy titles, having been crowned with several other chieftaincy titles from the length and breath of the country.

Among dignitaries that witnessed the conferment of the title include, a representative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the palace chiefs, traditional rulers from different parts of the state, friends and well wishers.