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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II.
Oba Balogun, who received staff of office as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan land on March 11, 2022 joined his ancestors on March 14, 2024, just about 72 hours after celebrating his second year anniversary on the throne. He was buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home on Friday March 15, 2024.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Personal Assistant on Media to the late Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, said Obasanjo described the late Oba Balogun as personal friend, adding that the visit being paid was his duty.
The former president noted that though Oba Balogun’s reign was short, but was impactful.
“The late Olubadan was not a foreigner to me, he was my friend and it is my duty to pay this visit to his family. He carried the position very well, he was ‘Gbobaniyi.’ Naturally, we would have loved him to be around us for much longer time, but God knows best. As it is said in Yoruba that ‘o wuni ka jeran pe lenu, oofa ona ofun o je.’ That is as much as we want to hold the meat in our mouth, the drawer from our oesophagus won’t allow us.
“As I said, God knows best. Assuming that death did not come when it came but a worse thing happened, what could have been our reaction? We thank God for him, it is not how long, but how well,” he said.
In his terse message in the condolence register, Obasanjo wrote: “Kabiyesi Balogun, sleep in your creator’s bosom.”
Responding on behalf of the family consisting of two of the Oloris, Olayinka and Olufunmilayo, and few of the children, Bobajiro of Ibadan land and former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, said what the former president did by the visit was a demonstration of genuine love.
Aremu said that Obasanjo truly demonstrated true friendship by the visit which was a manifestation of the saying in Yoruba land that whoever that identifies with somebody in his presence or absence is truly a friend of such a person.
“There’s nothing our late father can do for anybody now, he is no more in a position to offer anybody anything, either tangible or intangible. So, whatever anybody does for him now is not because of receiving anything in return from him, but out of deep love and concern. The family appreciates Your Excellency and it is our prayer that God will preserve you more for the country in general and for Yoruba in particular,” the Bobajiro added.
Earlier, while welcoming Obasanjo and his entourage, the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, recalled that the former president was among the dignitaries that paid the late Olubadan a visit before his coronation, adding that his coming round now after his death was a clear demonstration of the love that existed between the two of them.
He prayed the Almighty Allah to repay him the good deeds and love being showed the family of the late Olubadan, adding that he should not make the visit a one off thing, but something that should be periodical as a way of identifying with the family.
The former president was accompanied on the visit by Chief Oyewole Fasawe and Arole Gbenga Adewusi among others.