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Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has described the death of Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson as a big loss to Yoruba land and Nigeria in general.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, Olubadan described Lawson’s death as shocking and unbelievable, adding that the fact that there’s nothing in the public space suggestive of ill-health or anything untoward about her made the demise of the foremost educationist painful and very sad..
Recalling the last time the late Lawson, in her capacity as Iyalode of Yorubaland led other women and groups from across the South West to his Alarere residence to felicitate him on his ascension to the Olubadan throne, Oba Balogun maintained that her death is a monumental loss.
“The late women leader was an entrepreneur of high class with focus and vision. Her love for the younger generation was impeccable and her respect for the traditional institution undiluted. She held the position of Iyalode of Yorubaland with gait and poise and offered the women folk unique leadership.
“Her death, no doubt would create a vacuum that would be difficult to fill because of her various engagements in diverse business areas, all of which she made success of. Her activities in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry bear eloquent testimony to her relevance and contributions to humanity,” Olubadan said.
Oba Balogun also recalled her philanthrophic gestures, describing such as imperishable legacy.
He asked her immediate and extended families, the business community, the people and government of Ogun State, the Yoruba race, the beneficiaries of her humanitarian gestures and Nigerian government to take solace in the good life the late Lawson lived.
“As painful and devastating as the death is, there’s nothing we can do as mortals than to thank our creator for blessing humanity with such a kind-hearted, humanist, committed, passionate and compassionate personality, who left her feet on the sands of time and for being called back home at her appointed time by her creator.
“While praying for the peaceful repose of her gentle soul, I pray that our God would comfort all and grant all the bereaved the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the monarch said.