Traditional rulers across the length and width of Nigeria have been grieving the demise of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, who joined his ancestors on Friday night.
Oba Adeyemi died at Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti late on Friday and news about his death filtered in in the early hours of Saturday. He was also buried at the Oyo Palace on Saturday evening.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, described the passage of Oba Adeyemi as a loss to the entire Oduduwa race worldwide.
Oba Ogunwusi, in statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, said, “We have lost a great icon, a great monarch who saw Oyo through civilisation and modern development without jettisoning the cultural sacredness of the throne first occupied by Alaafin Oranmiyan, The Great.”
Also, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrooshed Akanbi, described Alaafin’s death as the end of an era, adding that the vacuum created by the monarch’s passage would be hard, if not impossible, to fill.
On his part, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said Oba Adeyemi’s death marked the end of a golden era.
“His wealth of experience and love for education coupled with unequalled quest for knowledge had made him so unique and stood out throughout his reign as the Alaafin,” Oba Aladelusi noted.
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Similarly, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, described Oba Adeyemi as “a highly scholarly, pragmatic and dynamic monarch with undiluted love for his race and people.”
“The Alaafin would be sorely missed by humanity for his contributions which would continue to speak for him eternally,’’ he said.
On his part, the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, said, “The late Oba Adeyemi III used his long reign and old age to foster unity among the Yoruba race.”
Also, the monarch of Igbara-Oke in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Francis Agbede, said, “Alaafin of Oyo remains one of the most influential traditional leaders of all time, an epitome of an anointed leader, whom I cherished.”
