Segun Atanda/
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has led a chorus of congratulations as Michael Kayode Situ, a native of Iwo in Osun State, emerges as the new Deputy Mayor of Southwark, London.
Situ, 38, a practising solicitor in England and Wales, was appointed Deputy Mayor for the current municipal year in the historic London borough. He hails from the Ile Olowe compound in Iwo and is being widely celebrated as a shining example of Nigerian excellence in the diaspora.
In his congratulatory message on social media, the Oluwo praised Situ’s accomplishment as a source of pride for Iwo and a beacon of hope for younger generations.
“This is a proud moment not just for Iwo, but for Nigeria as a whole,” Oba Akanbi said. “Michael Kayode Situ has shown what is possible when integrity, diligence, and service lead the way.”
The appointment has stirred jubilation among Nigerians at home and abroad, who see it as further proof of the global relevance and rising influence of Iwo indigenes and the wider Nigerian diaspora.
Situ’s new role underscores his commitment to public service and community empowerment, values that have guided his legal and political career in the United Kingdom.
As Deputy Mayor, he is expected to work closely with the Mayor and council to shape policy and represent the interests of Southwark’s diverse communities.
A Nigerian journalists, Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, also told NewsmakersNG that Michael Situ’s late father once served as the Mayor of Southwark.
She said, “Michael Situ’s dad also served as a mayor of Southwark, London, before his death. He was full of great ideas before cancer claimed his life. I visited him with my NAWOJ members in London in 2011. He was in the midst of planning a return training program with Osun State. The program was designed for teachers. Osun teachers would go to London and teach while Southwark teachers would do the same in Osun. He told us that Governor Aregbesola had already approved it. Soon after, he died of cancer.”
