- By Femi Alabi
President Bola Tinubu has received the news of the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun, with a deep sense of grief.
In a statement on Friday by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, Mr Tinubu commiserates with the family of Olubadan, the Oyo government, Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland over the loss.
Mr Ngelale said Mr Tinubu mourned Olubadan and celebrated the monarch’s remarkable life of service to his people, 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,” said Mr Ngelale.
He added that the president urged all who are in mourning to find solace in the immortal legacies of the Olubadan, stating that he lived eternally in his good deeds and the memories of everyone touched by his essence.
The presidential spokesman said Mr Tinubu prayed for the repose of the departed’s soul and comfort for those mourning the sad loss.
Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has also expressed shock over the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, describing the death as a great loss to Yorubaland.
Iba Adams in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, in reaction to the death of the revered monarch, declared that Olubadan’s death had robbed Yoruba land of one of its illustrious sons and a prominent monarch, whose transformational ideals was indelible.
The Yoruba generalissimo noted that though the time Oba Balogun spent on the throne of his forebears was short, but said the revered monarch made remarkable impacts within that short period of time, pointing out that the late Olubadan was an agent of positive change in Ibadan and its environs, who would be remembered for his great exploits and transformational ideals.
Adams said the late Olubadan, in his lifetime, did well by bringing the people of Ibadan together as one big family and equally restored the dignity of the traditional institution in Ibadan with his influence and exposure.
“I received the news of the death of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, with rude shock.
“This is a great loss to Yorubaland and to the great people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general.
“Kabiesi celebrated his second anniversary on the throne last week and death came knocking yesterday barely a week after. It was a sad reminder of the fact that life itself is transitory.
“The late Olubadan’s life had been full of remarkable achievements, and his two-year- ascendancy on the throne was even the best of years for the people of Ibadan in terms of the quality of development and transformation of Ibadan and the adjoining towns in Oyo State,” the Yoruba generalissimo said.
“In his life, the late Olubadan did well by bringing the people of Ibadan together as one big family and he restored the dignity of the traditional institution in Ibadan with his influence and exposure.
“The late Olubadan was a very educated man, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of the management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a very successful businessman,” he added.
The Yoruba generalissimo condoled with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the immediate family of the revered monarch and sons and daughters of Ibadan, saying that Olubadan’s death was a big loss to the people of the state.
According to him, Oba Balogun lived not only for the people of Ibadan but for humanity, saying that would be one of his legacies that he would be remembered for.
He prayed to God to grant the soul of the monarch eternal rest and also give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
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“Kabiesi’s unequal memories will continue to resonate as he lived not only for the people of Ibadan but for humanity and that would be one of his legacies that the revered Oba would be remembered for.
“The Olubadan was very liberal and contented. He was the first Oba in the history of Ibadan that broke the jinx of installing many Obas in the length and breadth of Ibadanland. He also brought respect to the stool of the traditional institution in Ibadan.
“Part of his laudable achievements was that he brought peace and unity across Ibadanland. He made tremendous progress by ruling over a megapolis of one City, 21 towns, 3189 villages with 42 kings, over 100 chiefs, over 200 mogajis and over 3000.
Also, the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin has expressed his condolences over the death of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator (Dr.) Mohood Olalekan Balogun Okunmade II
Folarin in his condolence message he personally signed, described the demise of the late monarch as a colossal loss to Ibadanland and the entire Yoruba race.
According to him, the late Olubadan was a highly resourceful and respected monarch with a rich resume.
“He had successful careers, politics and the business world. His reign was peaceful,” he said.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the Maye Balogun of Ibadanland, has also expressed shock and sorrow over the untimely demise of Olubadan
The lawmaker described the passing of Oba Olalekan Balogun as a monumental loss not only for the people of Ibadan, but for the entire state.
Alli expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathised with the family, friends, as well as subjects of the late Olubadan, who ascended the throne just two years ago.
He said that the news of Oba Balogun’s transition to join his ancestors at the age of 82 has sent shockwaves through the traditional and political spheres of Ibadanland.
Alli said that Balogun’s relatively short but impactful reign marked a period of unity, progress and community development.
“I join the people of Ibadanland in mourning the loss of a beloved monarch and leader. I stand in solidarity with the community in honouring the legacy and contributions of Oba Balogun,” he said.
He emphasised the enduring impact of the late monarch’s leadership and the indelible mark he left on the cultural tapestry of Ibadan, saying Balogun’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of many.
Alli said that Oba Olalekan Balogun’s memory would forever be enshrined in the annals of Ibadan’s history.
Olubadan died on Thursday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, after a brief illness and would be buried on Friday, according to Islamic rites.
Balogun was a former federal legislator in the upper chambers and a businessman before ascending the throne.
The first-class traditional ruler ascended the throne on March 11, 2022, after the demise of his predecessor, Saliu Adetunji.