Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has approved the sum of N55 million for the Eighth Day Fidau Prayer of the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunamade II.
The governor disclosed this on Thursday during a condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late monarch.
The Eighth Day Fidau Prayer, organised by the 11 local government areas in Ibadan land through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, will hold on Friday, March 22, at Mapo Hall.
Makinde, who reiterated his earlier pledge to give the departed Olubadan a befitting burial after the Ramadan,said it was as a result of his commitment to Oba Balogun’s reign that he obliged to do everything within his power to ensure the completion of the New Ibadan Palace when approached by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
He said the Council had approached him that it would want the late Oba Balogun to be the first occupier of the palace. The governor said the suggestion was well received and he ensured the release of money for the job, which has now gotten to an advanced stage.
“But as human beings, we can only propose while God disposes,” he said.
The governor praised the late Olubadan for the various achievements recorded during his reign, especially the restoration of honour and dignity to the Ibadan traditional system, stressing that the system was almost crumbling before Oba Balogun’s emergence.
“I insisted that the court case should be withdrawn before I could append my signature to his appointment, which was done. I promised that we would rearrange everything and to the glory of God and cooperation of our late baba, we were able to bring stability into the system,” Makinde said.
Makinde, who recalled his instruction to the authorities of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, that Oba Balogun should be given the utmost care to ensure his survival, said that his death was simply at the appointed time of God.
The governor also admonished the children and family of the late monarch to come together as one united family, adding that it is through unity that any assistance from the government could come into fruition.
Meanwhile, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land and former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, also led some members of the Ibadan South East Local Government Traditional Council on a condolence visit to the late Olubadan’s residence.
Ladoja paid glowing tributes to the man he usually referred to as his elder brother, recalling that their relationship, which subsisted both in politics and Ibadan traditional system, had spanned over three decades, during which he found the late Olubadan as a very peaceful personality.
The late Oba Balogun, according to him, had no room for grudge against anybody as everybody was his friend.
“He was a man who was not ready to fight with anybody for whatever reason. So, if you even wanted to fight him and he was not ready for a fight, you would have no choice than to pocket your grievances.
“I personally was happy that his health had improved of recent and I always gave commendation to his Oloris for the proper care being given to him. So, when, at his instance, we came here last Thursday for a meeting and got to know he was away to the hospital, we thought it was just a routine medical check-up, unknown to us that he was bidding us final bye later that day,” Ladoja said.
The former governor, who promised not to abandon the family, urged the family members to be cheerful and grateful to the Almighty Allah for the good and impactful life lived by their departed patriarch.
The three Oloris of the late Olubadan–Olayinka, Olufunmilayo and Khalimat, his younger brother, Dr. Kola Balogun, some of the children including Mrs. Olufunmilayo Osinowo, Femi, Yinka, Bidemi, Jubril, Saheed and Wale, Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Bobajiro of Ibadan land, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, and Iyaloja General of Oyo State, Chief Mrs. Julianah Raimi were on ground to receive the guests.
