The late Olubadan was buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home in Ibadan around 4.30pm on Friday.

Recall that the late monarch, who reigned for two years, died at the age of 81 on Thursday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, after a brief illness.

The state deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, led other government functionaries to the family burial ground at Aliiwo in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.

The lying-in-state was held at the Mapo Hall from 12 noon to 1pm before the remains of the monarch were moved to Aliwo for burial after prayers.

President Tinubu mourns

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu mourned the passing of the late Olubadan.

The president said he received the news of the monarch’s passing with a deep sense of grief.

President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Chief Anuri Ngelale, condoled with the family of the Olubadan, the government of Oyo State, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council, and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State over this gaping loss.

Tinubu, who said he mourns the Olubadan, also celebrated his remarkable life of service to his people, the state, and the nation.

“His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, was an exceptional king who used his ancestral stool in the service of humanity. He was compassionate, courageous, and an unrelenting advocate of the pristine ideals of peace, honesty, and unity. His wise counsel will be sorely missed at this time in the life of our country,” he said.

Tinubu urged all who are in mourning to find solace in the immortal legacies of the Olubadan, stating that the Olubadan lives eternally in his good deeds and in the memories of everyone touched by the majesty of his essence.

The President prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed and comfort for those mourning this sad loss.

Olubadan left an enviable record of incorruptible leadership – Obasanjo

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Balogun died on Thursday at the age of 81.

The late Olubadan reigned for two years, having been presented the Staff of Office by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on March 11, 2022.

Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngalale, on Friday, said Olubadan was an exceptional king in the service of humanity.

The statement read in part, “President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, with a deep sense of grief.

“The President condoles with the family of the Olubadan, the government of Oyo State, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council, and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State over this gaping loss.”

While mourning the monarch, Tinubu celebrated his remarkable life of service to his people, the state, and the nation.

“His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, was an exceptional king who used his ancestral stool in the service of humanity.

“He was compassionate, courageous, and an unrelenting advocate of the pristine ideals of peace, honesty, and unity. His wise counsel will be sorely missed at this time in the life of our country,” the statement added.

The President, however, urged all who are mourning to find solace in the legacies of the late king, saying “The Olubadan lives eternally in his good deeds and the memories of everyone touched by the majesty of his essence.”

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Oba Balogun spent two years on the throne of his forefathers, having been presented the Staff of Office by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on March 11, 2022.

Confirming his death in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Thursday, Makinde said Oba Balogun died Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The governor described the late monarch as a towering figure akin to an Iroko tree.

He wrote, “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Balogun has joined the ancestors.

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the government and good people of the state, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the state Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland. It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

“The passing of Oba Dr. Balogun marks the end of an era for Ibadanland, leaving behind a profound void in its rich history and heritage,” he added.

The late Olubadan was born on October 18, 1942.

The late Olubadan ascended his forefathers’ throne two years ago after the passage of the late Oba Saliu Adetunji.

On Monday, the late monarch thanked God for the grace and privilege to clock two years on the throne, just as he thanked members of his advisory council for their unflinching support so far.

Balogun, in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Oladele Ogunsola, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the second anniversary, which coincided with the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast, was also used as an opportunity by the monarch to ask for prayers for the country by the Islamic faithful and expression of love for one another to make the period stress-free for the adherents.

The monarch said his clocking two years on the throne was a special grace by his creator that he could not take for granted.

The late Olubadan was a British trained Ph.d holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former governorship candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, former Senator and a successful business man.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council meeting, which he presided over last Saturday.

At that meeting, the decision to disrobe Mogaji Akinsola, Oladoja, was taken.

He, however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, to head a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former Governor of the state, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by their wives, children, and grandchildren.

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Oba Ghandi, who was on Tuesday, December 18, installed as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso, made the remark during his visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, at his Alarere, Ibadan residence.

Accompanied by some of the principal Chieftaincy title holders of the ancient town, including: Are Ago, Iyalode and Abese, the new Soun, who described Ibadan as a home to him, noting that he was born in Catholic Hospital, Oluyoro, Oke-Ofa in the ancient metropolis and lived in Ibadan for 27 years.

He noted that the important and strategic position Ibadan occupies in the affairs of Yorubaland made it compelling for him to visit his brother Oba, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The visit which coincided with the visit by the members of the Karim Adeyemi Foundation to the palace, afforded Oba Ghandi to recall his relationship with the Republic of Germany where the young Karim Adeyemi plays professional soccer with Borusa Dortmund Club and how he had facilitated more than 20 young Nigerians through an MTN programme to play soccer in the country.

Soun commended Oba Balogun for the peace being enjoyed in Ibadan under his reign, promising to collaborate with him and other brother Obas in the state, especially the three Imperial Majesties, Olubadan, himself and the Alaafin of Oyo to advance the cause of the state in all ramifications.

Speaking, Oba Balogun, who expressed delight at the visit said Ibadan belongs to all as recalled by Oba Ghandi and assured him of his readiness to work together with him and their colleagues in the state, stressing that the relationship between Ogbomoso and Ibadan has been for agelong and can only continue to wax stronger.

The visit by the Karim Adeyemi Foundation which comprised the young player, Karim, his parents, family members and some of his friends in his football team in Germany, according to Mr. Adeyemi was to ensure that the young Nigerian relates with his roots.

He disclosed that the Foundation was set up as a means of the player giving back to the society, Nigeria in particular, noting that the current visit was marked with a football match at the Olubadan Stadium, the previous day where some young Nigerians were empowered.

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The development could be described as a dramatic turn of event, as it was against the hostile reception given the Otun Olubadan and the former governor by members of the Council at the last meeting of the Council on September 18.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the former governor was not only in attendance, he also participated in the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Ladoja said he was invited to the meeting. He added: “I honoured the invitation for a meeting at the palace to resolve issues around the constitution of some committees that are exclusive right of members of Olubadan Advisory Council, including Chieftaincy Installation and Dispute Resolution Committee.

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Oba Balogun, in his message on Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary, issued in Ibadan by his Personal Assistant on Media, Mr Oladele Ogunsola, urged the labour leadership to have a re-think.

He said the labour unions, which comprise the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), should explore ways of resolving the vexatious issues instead of the planned strike.

“The labour leaders should prevail on their members to bear with the present administration, with the mindset that no problem could be solved with another problem,” the traditional ruler said.

He equally enjoined the Federal Government not to overstretch the people, saying there must be tangible measures to reassure them that the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was truly for real.

“I plead for dialogue between labour and government, and in dialoguing, there should be openness and understandin

”Let us bear in mind that where two elephants fight, it is the grass there that suffers. Let’s be mindful of the effect of a total paralysis on our battered economy.

”Consider the sick, consider the pupils and students from our nursery schools to the universities, among several others, who will bear the brunt.

“I want our labour leaders to cast their minds back to the last prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the effect on our students

“How do we compensate for the loss of a whole academic session in the lives of the affected students?

“Such loss is eternal, because it is not possible to wind back the hands of the clock. That’s just an example,” Oba Balogun pleaded.

Olubadan, however, acknowledged the position of the labour movement vis-a-viz the plight of workers and the generality of the people.

He noted that things were really bad and living in the country was becoming hellish for the people day by day.

”But in spite of this we need to apply caution, considering the short time of the present administration so far and in view of what it inherited.”

The Ibadan traditional ruler also described President Tinubu as a man of his words, saying there was no reason to doubt his ability and capability to deliver on his campaign promises.

He charged the President and his team to come up with some urgent decisions and actions that would cushion the effect of some of the already rolled-out policies.

The Olubadan reminded the country’s leadership that human endurance was not limitless and it should not stretch Nigerians beyond the limit.

Oba Balogun equally congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and enjoined all to be thankful to God for keeping the country together irrespective of the myriad of challenges the country has encountered.

“Looking back, at 63, we may be tempted to write ourselves off as a nation for not having attained the expected and commensurate height.

“But, if we think deeply, we will see the need to appreciate and acknowledge the divine touch of God in the affairs of the country and for which I felicitate all.

“Let’s remain optimistic, committed and steadfast with unshakeable faith in God for a better and prosperous nation that all of us will be proud of once again,” he stated.

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