A TOWN council elected a Nigerian national as Ireland's first black mayor. Independent Cllr Rotimi Adebari took up the robes and chains of Mayor of Portlaoise at a rousing reception in 2007

                                   

Independent Cllr Rotimi Adebari after being declared Mayor of Portlaoise in 2007

Mr Adebari, who arrived in Ireland as an asylum seeker in 2000, received a two-thirds majority vote against one other candidate at Laois County Hall.

The council made history by electing Mr Adebari as the first black mayor and first non-national premier citizen of any Irish town.

Mr Adebari received a standing ovation and prolonged applause as he accepted the title in a crowded chamber shortly after 3.30pm.

"History is being made today, not by me Rotimi, but by the people of Portlaoise," said Mr Adebari accepting the mayoral chains from outgoing mayor Brian Stanley (SF).

"I am honoured to accept this position in a town and a country that has shown it looks beyond the colour and creed of its entire people.

"This is not just a country of a thousand welcomes, but a country of a thousand equal opportunities," he said.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by representatives from the Nigerian, South African and US embassies.

Sheila Paskman, public affairs officer with the US embassy in Dublin described the new mayor as "a gentleman with great motivation to try and help others".

Mr Adebari (43), who fled his home country because of religious persecution seven years ago, was elected to the Town Council in 2004. He was elected first citizen yesterday under a mayoral pact between Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and Independent members of the nine-member council.

Mr Adebari received six out of nine votes against Fianna Fail nominee Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

"Who would ever have thought when I first came to this country seven-years ago I would ever be elected first citizen of the great town of Portlaoise?" asked Mr Adebari. "I cannot even explain it myself," he said.

"In my own country today I don't think I'd be accepted in the way I am here today. I am truly honoured," he said Mayor Adebari said he was looking forward to presiding over a council which embraced diversity.

Projects

Mr Adebari announced that he would be embarking on a number of new projects for the town, including the development of a new website which he said would bring Portlaoise to the wider world.

He said he also intended to make Portlaoise the conference destination for the entire country.

Mr Adebari works for Laois County Council coordinating an integration project for local immigrants. He also presents a radio show and runs a consultancy providing training in cross-cultural awareness.

The Refugee Information Service (RIS), a voluntary organization which works to stop discrimination and social exclusion welcomes the appointment.

Chairperson Ben Howe said: "This appointment constitutes a very real and positive step forwards in terms of the integration of emerging communities in Ireland."

RIS director Josephine Ahern called on refugees, asylum-seekers and members of other migrant groups to become more active in the political process in Ireland.

"I am optimistic that the new Mayor will use his term in office to champion the cause of equality, social inclusion and justice," she said.