- Safiu Kehinde
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has passed away two days after celebrating his 90th birthday.
As disclosed in a post shared on X, the revered Oyo state monarch reportedly passed away in the early hours of Monday barely a year after his ascension to the throne.
According to report, Oba Olakulehin, who celebrated his 90th birthday just two days earlier on July 5, ascended the throne on July 12, 2024, following his coronation by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
He served as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
However, the cause of his death remains uncertain with no official confirmation as at the time of filing this report.
Born on the 5th of July 1935, Olakulehin commenced his primary school education at St James Primary School, Oke Akaran, Islamic School, Odoiye, but eventually finished at St Peter Primary School, Aremo, Ibadan.
After graduating from primary school, the late monarch taught briefly as a primary school teacher at Wakajaiye in the Akobo area of Ibadan and subsequently gained admission to Yaba Technical Institute for vocational study in printing and artwork.
In1959, Olakulehin commenced his career at the Ministry of Works, Western Region Government in Ibadan, entering as a third-class clerk.
Simultaneously, he gained admission to the Yaba College of Technology to pursue his higher studies where he eventually obtained his Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Building.
Following his studies, he enlisted in the Nigerian Army through a Direct Short Service Commission in 1970, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers.
He subsequently undertook diverse roles and assignments throughout the nation, steadily advancing to the rank of Major.
During his tenure, he assumed various leadership positions, including that of Commanding Officer of the Army Maintenance Regiment in Jos, Kaduna, and Lagos. He retired as a major on October 1,1979.
Olakulehin ventured into entrepreneurial ventures, through FAKOL Nigeria Ltd, a construction contracting firm, Olakulehin Press, (later rebranded as Solid Prints) and FAKOL Bakery in the city of Ibadan.
He also ventured into Nigerian politics as he contested in 1992 and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Representing the Ibadan South East Constituency, the late monarch served as the Chairman of the House Committee on the Nigerian Army.
According to report, his journey to becoming the Olubadan of Ibadanland began in 1983 when he emerged the Mogaji of his compound – the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale Olugbode, Ibadan, till he became the Balogun of Ibadanland (one of the two most senior chiefs in Ibadanland).
He was crowned on the 12 July 2024 and he reigned till 7 July 2025.