*Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Ilorin mourn as Ladoja leads Olubadan-in-Council at burial
*Tinubu, Makinde pay tribute to departed monarch
*Ibadan markers shut down in honour of late king
By KEMI KASUMU
Remains of late Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, have been laid to rest at his ancestral home in the Alarere Compound area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Oba Balogun, who reigned for two years having been installed early 2022, died at the age of 82 on Thursday at the University College Hospital (UCH) in the former capital of defunct Western Region, after a brief illness.
Present to witness the late monarch’s burial was the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal, who led a delegation of the State Executive Council to the burial.
The DEFENDER reports that the Olubadan-in-Council was led by the next-in-rank to the throne, the Otun Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, joined by several other dignitaries to pay their last respects to the departed monarch.
Ladoja, a farmer, is also a former Governor of Oyo State
Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Ilorin, others mourn
Earlier in a statement by his Media Team on Friday 15th March 2024, tge Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mourned the departed Olubadan saying he will be missed.
According to the statement, “News of the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba (Senator) Mohood Lekan Balogun, has been received by the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni.”
The Sultan said Oba Lekan Balogun was a colleague and friend in the quality based and professionals-populated traditional institution in the country and that “we are confident that, although short-lived, his reign on the throne was well spent for the good of his people as the Olubadan of Ibadan Land and Permanent Chairman Oyo State Traditional Rulers Council.”
Continuing he said, “We will miss him for his great thought for better and united Nigeria as he was known for being a detralibalised Nigerian. By his demise, the country has lost an important traditional leader,” the Sultan said.
“Our condolences go to the Oyo State government, the Oyo State Traditional Rulers Council, the family of the deceased Olubadan and entire people of the state.
“May Allah forgive and admit his soul in Al-Jannah Al-Firdaus, Amiin,” Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar prayed.
In his own condolence message, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, on Friday commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, in a condolence message issued by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, described the short reign of Oba Balogun as monumental and historic to the people of the ancient city of Ibadan and humanity in general.
The monarch commiserated with Governor Seyi Makinde, government and people of Oyo State, the Olubadan-In-Council, immediate and extended family members of the deceased stressing that “the entire members of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council are with you in spirit and prayers at this critical period of grieve.”
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari prayed that Almighty Allah forgive His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and admit him into Al-janatul firdaos.
Tinubu, Makinde, others also mourn
President Bola Tinubu joined a list of dignitaries to mourn the late monarch, describing him as a courageous man who stood for peace.
“His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, was an exceptional king who used his ancestral stool in the service of humanity,” Tinubu was quoted by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale as saying on Friday.
“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 president 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”.
He, however, called on those mourning to take solace in what he described as “the immortal legacies of the Olubadan”.
Tinubu said the Olubadan lives eternally in his good deeds and in the memories of everyone touched by the majesty of his essence.
Also mourning, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the late Oba had made “indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.”
Makinde said Oba Balogun was an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.
“With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland,” the governor said.
“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. 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 Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.”
Markets shutdown
As a sign of respect for the revered traditional ruler, the leadership of market unions in Oyo State has ordered the closure of markets in honour of the late Olubadan.
But they were scheduled to re-open after his burial which is scheduled to take place at 4 pm according to Islamic rites.
It was however not clear if the markets had reopened for normal business as at the time of filing this report on Friday.
