Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the death of Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, as a huge loss to the state, Yoruba race and Nigeria at large.
The Governor, who described Oba Adeyemi’s death as a personal loss to him, noted that the late Alafin was an ever-supportive royal father and a worthy leader, who spared nothing in trying to make Oyo State and Nigeria greater.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Makinde as saying that the king’s words of advice and guidance were always golden and helpful.
The statement indicated that the Governor expressed his condolences to the Oyo State Traditional Council, the Oyomesi, Oba Adeyemi’s immediate family, the people of Oyo Kingdom and the entire Yoruba race, praying to God to repose the soul of the departed monarch.
The Governor stated that apart from Oyo State losing its last man standing in the ranks of experienced monarchs with long years of royal leadership, it had also lost a royal institution and an authority, which Adeyemi had become by through his understanding of Yoruba history, politics and national development.
According to Makinde, “I have been informed about the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
“I express heartfelt condolences to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which Oba Adeyemi chaired for decades, the Oyomesi and the entire people of Oyo Kingdom.
“I equally commiserate with the Oloris, children and entire Adeyemi family on the demise of their patriarch and worthy father.
“Kabiyesi’s departure is a huge loss not only to Oyo State, to which he committed 52 years of his life as the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom, but also to Nigeria and the entire Yoruba race.
“Oba Adeyemi not only elevated the Alaafin throne with his knowledge and wisdom, he became a worthy exemplar for royal leadership in Africa and brought glory to Oyo State and Nigeria. Kabiyesi never spared anything in his strive to make Oyo State greater and to bring about the Nigeria of everyone’s collective dream.”
Meanwhile, the remains of the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo in Oyo State, will be interred at 4pm, in accordance with the Islamic injunction.
The News Agency of Nigeria, quoting a reliable source, reported that the monarch would be buried in Baara.
“Baara is not just the final resting place of all the Alaafins, it is also a place where the Alaafin goes to whenever there is a need to commune with his ancestors to seek guidance and or directions,” the source said.
However, one of the respected Oyo Princes, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, and the sons of the departed traditional ruler, have been holding closed-door meetings since discussing the burial plan.
The meeting reportedly began upon the arrival of Babatunde Adeyemi, the first son of the foremost oba.
There was uneasy calm at the palace as many people around the palace were in a mournful mood over the passage of the frontline traditional ruler.
Aged 83, Adeyemi died on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he had gone for a routine medical checkup.
Within the last five months, Oyo State had lost three prominent traditional rulers. They were: Soun of Ogbomosoland, late Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who died in December, 2021; the late Oba Saliu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, died on Jan. 2 and now the Alaafin of Oyo.