BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Oyo State, the Royal Family, the Olubadan-in-council and the people of Ibadan on the passing of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, affirmed that the late Kabiyesi was a visionary and compassionate leader, who used the spheres of his influence as a respected traditional ruler and a lover of the creative industry to advance the progress of his people, encouraging and motivating them to give their best in their vocation and to the nation.
While his demise understandably leaves a huge void to fill, the President urged the people of Ibadan and Nigerians from different walks of life to honour the eternal memory of the deceased by imbibing the virtues he cherished so much: generosity, peace, tolerance and devotion to unity.
“As the funeral rites of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland get underway in Ibadan, the President trusts that the process of selecting his successor will be guided by wisdom, understanding and good judgement that exemplified the life he lived.
“President Buhari prays to God to grant the soul of Oba Adetunji eternal rest and comfort the family, friends, associates and subjects he left behind,”Adesina said.
Oba Adetunji, 93, who became Olubadan of Ibadan on March 4, 2016, died in the early hours of Sunday at the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
Meanwhile, the late monarch was buried on Sunday at exactly 4:50pm at his Popoyemoja Palace, Ibadan.
The lowering of the remains of the 41st Olubadan into the grave witnessed a massive crowd.
At the burial ground were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan; former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, his wife, Mutiat Ladoja; former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Senator representing Oyo North in the National Assembly, Fatai Buhari; Oyo State Information Commissioner, Wasiu Olatubosun; Deputy Chairman, Oyo State Tourism Board, Abbas Oloko; palace chiefs, family members and others.
After the death of the nonagenarian-monarch, the body was moved in a convoy from UCH to the Popoyemoja Palace and from there, to Mapo Hall for lying-in-state.
After lying-in-state, the body arrived at the palace at 4:42pm for burial.
Some palace residents were seen crying.
The body was moved straight to the grave and, after Muslim prayers, was lowered at 4:50pm.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, has described the demise of Oba Adetunji, as a huge loss to the nation.
Kalu, in a condolence message issued on Sunday in Abuja, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Ibadan.
While acknowledging the noble roles played by the late monarch in promoting peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups in Ibadan, Kalu stressed that Oba Adetunji lived a purposeful life dedicated to the service of humanity.
“The demise of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is a big loss to the nation. The late monarch was a rallying point for the people of Ibadanland.
“He contributed to nation building in various capacities. The late traditional ruler lived a fulfilled life and left behind good legacies for his loved ones to sustain,” the senate Chief Whip said.
Similarly, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central), Iba Gani Adams and Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, a former Minister of Communications, have expressed sadness over the demise of Oba Adetunji.
They expressed their condolences in separate statements made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja and Ibadan respectively.
Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, condoled with the Olubadan Royal Family, the people and Government of Oyo State.
The speaker expressed sadness over the death of the first class traditional ruler, describing his passage as “shocking and depressing.”
Folarin, in his condolence message, described Oba Adetunji as the most peace-loving traditional ruler Ibadan ever had.
“I received the news of the passing away of our highly revered royal father with shock. I am greatly saddened and devastated with his demise.
“Baba’s contributions to the unity of Yoruba Nation, impact and positive influence in the country will be greatly missed.
“He left indelible marks in Nigeria’s entertainment industry and also as an imperial king in Yorubaland. Baba was an honest, decent and forthright king,” he said.
In his condolence, Shittu, the former Minister of Communications, said it was sad to hear that the most revered father and quintessential Royal Majesty, Oba Adetunji, is gone.
The former minister described the late traditional ruler as a very humble, pacific and ever- smiling Oba.
“He saw all Ibadan residents as one people, notwithstanding our diverse ethnics, religious and sociocultural backgrounds.
“In practical terms, he was non-combative and a father of all. For me in particular, I owe my traditional title of Agbaakin Fiwagboye of Ibadanland to his benevolence.
“I never applied nor lobbied for the position. I pray Almighty Allah to grant his homecoming, forgive his sins and reward him with Al-Jannat Frodaos,’’ the former minister said.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, described the death of Olubadan of Ibadanland as a huge loss.
Reacting, Adams said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, that the demise of the first class oba had robbed Nigeria and the entire Yorubaland of a matured and peaceful oba.
The Aare said that the late Oba Adetunji was mostly loved by sons and daughters of Ibadanland, having the most peaceful reign in Ibadan in recent times.
