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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde; the lawmaker representing Ibadan North East /Ibadan South East Federal Constituency, Honourable Abass Adigun Agboworin; and a prominent son of Ibadanland and Oyo South Senatorial aspirant, Kolapo Kola-Daisi, have expressed shock at the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, described the monarch, who passed on at 93, as an exemplar in royalty.
Makinde stated that the demise of the royal icon, who he described as a great leader of his people, was painful despite his old age
He added that his wisdom and wealth of experience would be sorely missed.
The governor expressed condolences to the immediate family of the Olubadan, the Olubadan-in-Council and all Ibadan indigenes as well as the Oyo State Traditional Council.
The governor said thw late monarch gave his all to see that Ibadanland is developed and took its pride of place as one of the major cities in Africa.
“The news of the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, came as a shock.
“Kabiyesi’s exit at this time is painful, to say the least.
“His wealth of experience, his immense wisdom and his commitment to seeing a greater Ibadan and a better Oyo State are unrivalled.
“Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and humanity at large will miss Kabiyesi, who was ever ready to give his all to see a better society.
“I commiserate with his immediate family, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and all Ibadan indigenes at home and abroad on the demise of our father.
“I equally extend my condolences to the Oyo State Traditional Council and pray to God to keep all our Obas safe and give them more years to direct the affairs of our people, especially as Olubadan’s death is coming on the heels of the demise of the Soun of Ogbomosoland and Asigangan of Igangan.
“May God grant them all eternal rest,” the governor said.
Agboworin, in a condolence message by his media aide, Aremu Ibraheem, described the death of Oba Adetunji as a big loss to Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria.
The federal lawmaker said Oba Adetunji left at a time when his very rich experience was still needed, noting that he was a man of great character.
Agboworin said the five year reign of Oba Adetunji would be remembered for the remarkable progress and development brought to the largest city in West Africa.
“In this part of the world, the aged are venerated for their rich fountain of experience and wisdom. In fact, every old man that dies in Africa is like a library set ablaze.
“History has booked an enviable chapter for Oba Adetunji as a great defender of the Olubadan stool against the pollution of its uniqueness which remains the envy of all.
“Oba Adetunji’s reign was peaceful and colourful. Ibadanland witnessed tremendous progress, expansion and development. We will miss his cognate ability to settle disputes.
“Oba Adetunji was a man of great character who was not overwhelmed by affluence, but impacted positively on thousands of lives around him,” Agboworin said.
While condoling the Adetunji family for the loss of their patriarch, Governor Seyi Makinde as the chief mourner, Agboworin prayed for the sweet repose of the late Oba.
Kolapo Kola-Daisi, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, commiserated with indigenes of Ibadan land on the passing of the Olubadan.
Kola-Daisi said the death of the Olubadan was shocking, painful and quite personal to him, and he knows that the rest of Ibadan land feel the same way having just lost a great king who showed unmatched commitment to the cultural and socioeconomic development of Ibadan land.
Expressing his condolences to the immediate family of the Olubadan, the Olubadan-in-Council and all Ibadan indigenes, Kola-Daisi said the late monarch was a respectable king who promoted the values, ethos and culture of not just Ibadan land but the entire Yoruba land.
“I received with utter shock, the news of the passing of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I. The pain of his passing will be felt in the void of wisdom and the active manner Kabiyesi held the cultural and socioeconomic development of Ibadanland at heart.
“His wealth of experience, his immense wisdom, and his commitment to seeing a greater Ibadan and a better Oyo State are unrivalled in tenacity. Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and humanity at large will miss Kabiyesi – he was ever ready to give his all to see a better society.
“As I urge us to honour him by celebrating his enduring and exemplary legacies, I pray the God almighty will grant his soul Aljanna Firdaus, and console his immediate family together with all sons and daughters of Ibadan land, the statement read.
Adetunji, who was crowned the 41st Olubadan on March 4, 2016, was born on August 26, 1928 to the family of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji in the Alusekere compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan.