By KEMI KASUMU
The death, which came by the midnight snatching the very highly precious life of boxer-philosopher king that Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III was, will continue to resonate in the memory of many, especially those who were close to him and had the best of his brilliant contributions both as father figure and in every other aspect of endeavours.
Among them is Royal Ambassador to the Alaafin, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, who spoke to The DEFENDER about how Oba Adeyemi asked him to wait for him but never returned. It will be recalled that while the death became a matter of disbelief as some social media postings emerged with concocted family statement of a year past debunking it as rumour, Ayanlakin was the person that confirmed the death to this online newspaper.
From Left: His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Late Alaafin of Oyo, and the Alaafin Royal Ambassador, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin in the lifetime of the Oyo monarch.
“One thing that is still shocking to me from my experience of Baba’s death is the fact that he invited me to Oyo because he wanted to address certain challenge that I currently had which is personal. Of course, it is another evidence for you to see how Kabiyesi Alaafin not only took care of challenges of himself but of others.
“When he was going to this Ado Ekiti hospital that became his last journey on this earth, he asked me to wait for him to return but, as you can see, he never did. It is very painful but God has a reason for everything,” Ayanlakin said.
Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, who assured that Oyo after Alaafin, not go down, trusted the capacity of the Oyo Mesi to do what is right in ensuring that the good legacies left behind “by my father” will not be damaged.
Influential, equally simple and always wanting to help to the best of his strength, Ayanlakin said: “Baba was the only father I had and he had taken me some from time of not really so much to greatness. Our relationship was close and inseparable, I thought, but by his death now, I give glorification to the Lord Almighty, from who we all come and unto him we will not only return but, when reunioned with him, there will be no separation.
“Baba was a visionary leader with good focus about better projections for Yoruba race with no iota of contemplation to jeopardy others. He was a great historian because history told by him has never been countered. So history narration of history you can trust and I believe that tellers of Yoruba history as it connects and not isolate the race from others in Nigeria will borrow a leaf from the intellectuality of the great king of Oyo for the right guidance of humanity here.
“We spent a good time together in life. This house (on Lagos-Ogun boundary along Lagos-Ibadan expressway) was inaugurated by the Alaafin. The day he came to commission it, he called it a pace. So, when I say this is my palace, as Alaafin Royal Ambassador, you will now understand me better. May God please keep him safe and admit him to his right side till eternity,” Ayandotun Ayanlakin said during a Royalty interview he granted The DEFENDER Tuesday April 26, 2022.
Many other great Nigerian figures and establishments have since the death of Alaafin spoken glowingly about the person he was.
Among them was the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who, immediately upon his return from Saudi Arabia same Saturday April 23, released his condolence describing the late Alaafin of Oyo as a personal friend he will miss forever.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) also eulogised the virtues of the repository of knowledge that was on the Alaafin throne for 52 years from 1970.
Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, called him a philosopher king just like Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) and his Crescent University Abeokuta revealed their feelings of pains losing the very unputdownable Chancellor to the grip of death.
