What Olubadan Told Me In 2019, NUJ Chairman Babalola Mourns Oba Adetunji's Passing

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Comrade Ademola Babalola on Sunday recalled with nostalgia the warm reception the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji Ajeogungunniso accorded him when he sought the royal father's blessing to contest as the Union's chairman in the year 2019. 

Babalola in a statement he released hours after the demise of the first class monarch, said, ''amidst fanfare, Oba Adetunji in his Majesty welcomed us to the palace in what seemed like a triumphant entry of a conqueror, reminiscent of Ibadan warriors of the days of yore; weeks to the said election.

"Kabiyesi recited Quranic verses and muttered Yoruba words in the form of prayers to my hearing that 'you would win and brings development to the Union and Ibadanland.

"When his Personal Assistant and Director of Media, Adeola Oloko reminded him that I, alongside two other journalists, escaped gun shots fired into the palace when we came to cover an installation ceremony of some Mogajis and Baales, earlier that year, Oba Adetunji whispered to my ear and said, 'my son, no weapon against you shall prosper', just as he waived the antics of the then hoodlums who were political thugs sponsored to destabilize the event at his place.

"Two years after he gave his blessings to me and others who were on our campaign train, Oba Adetunji's prayers had remained so potent that we had always invited him to our programmes forthwith, the last being our 2021 press week where he was fully represented with full paraphernalia of his office.

"My fears for his alleged failing health were confirmed on Sunday, December 22, 2021 when my executive members visited the Popoyemoja palace in company of some US-based medical practitioners who we invited to give free medical mission and supports to 1,200 journalists in Oyo State.

"Unlike Kabiyesi who was always in charge of receiving and blessing his visitors, he was nowhere to welcome us. His vivacious queen in her Majesty, Olori Rashidat Ololade Adetunji welcomed us and specially acknowledged me as Kabiyesi's son to the admiration of US team.

"Baba was a very colourful king who brought candour to the throne. He was a consummate and cosmopolitan king and well loved by his people.

"Gifted with large heart and sense of forgiveness, Oba Adetunji welcomed his estranged chiefs back to the palace after a court judgment that their beaded crowns and elevation by the government of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi were done in error.

"He made tremendous landmarks as a very successful businessman and shone brightly as a paramount ruler of Ibadanland.

"May Allah grant Oba Adetunji Aljanah firdaous. Baba was a great monarch who would forever be remembered for his resistance to efforts at bastardizing Ibadan chieftaincy system and tradition.

His last major official assignment was the installation of Mogajis and Baales on 6th December, 2021.

He Was A Great Exemplar In Royalty - Makinde Mourns Olubadan

Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, expressed shock at the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji,  Aje Ogungunniso 1, describing him as an exemplar in royalty.

Makinde stated that the demise of the royal icon, who he described as a great leader of his people and an exemplary royal father, was painful despite his old age, adding that his wisdom and wealth of experience would be sorely missed.

The governor expressed his condolences to the immediate family of the Olubadan, the Olubadan-in-Council and all Ibadan indigenes as well as the Oyo State Traditional Council.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that Kabiyesi gave his all to see that Ibadanland is developed and took its pride of place as one of the major cities in Africa.

“The news of the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, came as a shock. 

“Kabiyesi's exit at this time is painful, to say the least. His wealth of experience, his immense wisdom and his commitment to seeing a greater Ibadan and a better Oyo State are unrivalled. 

“Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and humanity at large will miss Kabiyesi, who was ever ready to give his all to see a better society.

“I commiserate with his immediate family, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and all Ibadan indigenes at home and abroad on the demise of our father.

“I equally extend my condolences to the Oyo State Traditional Council and pray to God to keep all our Obas safe and give them more years to direct the affairs of our people, especially as Olubadan's death is coming on the heels of the demise of the Soun of Ogbomosoland and Asigangan of Igangan. May God grant them all eternal rest.”

We've Lost Another Cultural Icon, Senator Balogun Mourns Olubadan

Senator Kola Balogun has described the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso I, as a great cultural icon who will be missed by the people and lovers of Yoruba culture and tradition.

The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District said this in his reaction to the passage of the traditional ruler who joined his ancestors early Sunday morning at the age of 93.

The late Olubadan who reportedly died 

at the University College Hospital (UCH) during an illness, became the Olubadan on March 4, 2016.

Senator Balogun, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr Dapo Falade, said the late Olubadan was a cultural icon and a successful businessman whose reign was peaceful.

He said Yorubaland and its people are gradually loosing their cultural icons, with the demise of the traditional ruler, coming less than one month after the deaths of the Soun of Ogbomoso and the Asigangan of Igangan.

The federal lawmaker however said the family of the late Olubadan, the people of Ibadanland, people of the state and the Oyo State government would be consoled by the fact that the traditional ruler lived up to a very ripe old age.

"The death of Kabiyesi, though not surprising, saddens me. It is a not a surprise because baba lived a good life and lived up to a very ripe old age.

"However, his demise saddens me because, by his passage, we have lost yet another cultural icon and a peaceful traditional ruler in Ibadanland, nay the entire Yorubaland.

"The passage of the Olubadan was coming less than one month after the deaths of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III and the Asigangan of Iganganland, Oba Lasisi Olawuyi Adeboye, Aribiyan II, Gbadewolu 1.

"As humans, we are sad to have lost him to the cold hands of death. But we are, however, consoled by the fact that the late Olubadan lived a good life. He was a very successful businessman before he ascended the throne of his forefathers.

"As a traditional ruler, we witnessed a peaceful era and also the transformation of Ibadanland during his reign and under the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.

"I, my wife, Mogbojubola Kola-Balogun and my people in Oyo South Senatorial District hereby commiserate with the immediate family of the late Oba 

Adetunji, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).

“We equally condole with the Oyo State Traditional Council, Ibadan indigenes and the government and people of Oyo State over the passage of the late Olubadan.

"It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant the soul of our revered late oba a peaceful rest and uphold the family he left behind," Senator Balogun said in the statement.

Kolapo Kola-Daisi Commiserates With Ibadan Indigenes On Olubadan's Demise

Kolapo Kola Daisi, a prominent son of Ibadanland and Oyo South Senatorial aspirant has commiserated with indigenes of Ibadanland on the passing of the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I who joined his ancestors this morning.

In a heartfelt statement made available to journalists today, Kola Daisi said the death of the Olubadan was shocking, painful and quite personal to him, and he knows that the rest of Ibadanland feel the same way having just lost a great king who showed unmatched commitment to the cultural and socioeconomic development of Ibadanland.

Expressing his condolences to the immediate family of the Olubadan, the Olubadan-in-Council and all Ibadan indigenes, Kola Daisi said the late monarch was a respectable king who promoted the values, ethos and culture of not just Ibadanland but the entire Yorubaland. 

"I received with utter shock, the news of the passing of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I. The pain of his passing will be felt in the void of wisdom and the active manner Kabiyesi held the cultural and socioeconomic development of Ibadanland at heart.

His wealth of experience, his immense wisdom, and his commitment to seeing a greater Ibadan and a better Oyo State are unrivalled in tenacity. Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and humanity at large will miss Kabiyesi - he was ever ready to give his all to see a better society.

"As I urge us to honour him by celebrating his enduring and exemplary legacies, I pray the God almighty will grant his soul Aljanna Firdaus, and console his immediate family together with all sons and daughters of Ibadanland" Kolapo Kola-Daisi statement read.

Adetunji, who was crowned the 41st Olubadan on March 4, 2016, was born on August 26, 1928 to the family of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji in the Alusekere compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan.

Ajimobi Produced Oyo-2050 Road Map Before He Left Office – Hon Seyi Adisa

Honorable Seyi Adisa, a current member of the Oyo state House of Assembly representing Afijio State constituency has revealed how the former Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi drew a developmental road map tagged ‘Oyo 2050’ to aid the infrastructural and economic development of the state before in left office in 2019. 

Adisa, who was one of the closest aides of the deceased statesman further revealed that the late governor was a passionate bridge builder and courageous leader who had the interest of the state at heart.

“He was passionate to see Ibadan in particular among the league of developed cities of the world”. 

The Lawmaker continued “I can say it anywhere that I have never seen anyone who is more passionate about Oyo State than Ajimobi. I can remember what happened during one of our trips outside Nigeria.  We were in Dubai on this day I am talking about. We were in a car from the airport and he looked at the sprawling beauty of the city. 

Unconsciously, he started talking to himself saying ‘we want to rebuild Oyo state, but some distractors are opposing us, and we will not also permit them too”.

Speaking on his sojourn in the world of Nigerian politics was lawyer-turned-politician said, “I had an urge that God was calling me into politics earlier in my life. While in college I choose politics and I discovered that most of the political bigwigs studied Law and because of the versatile nature of the profession, I decided to study Law and there is no regret studying it. 

Continuing, I got a call to serve as Ajimobi’s Principal Private Secretary and I worked with him for eight years- it was an opportunity for me to learn on the job.  In 2018, I had a conversation with him that I wanted to contest as a legislator and he was surprised but also very pleased. He supported my ambition while encouraging me to adapt to any changing situation I find myself”.

Speaking on his brand of politics, he enthused “My own style of politics is a type that deploys political will to encourage development”.

Hon. Adisa further revealed that the greatest problem confronting the society is underdevelopment while revealing that politics is one of the platforms that can be used to solve the big problem of underdevelopment. 

Speaking on his achievement as a lawmaker, he submitted that he has sponsored a bill tagged Oyo state enterprise and employment trust fund targeted at reducing the rate of employment in the state among many oversight and legislative functions. 

He also revealed that he has facilitated a health mission that saw over 4000 people benefitting as well as facilitation of primary health care centre to Awe town, empowering of youths on ICT and skill acquisition program, donation of boreholes and transformers to communities, financial empowerment programme for traders and owners of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) among others. 

He, however, revealed that local government, judiciary and legislative autonomy is achievable and practicable especially with a determined political will while refuting that the ninth assembly of the state assembly is a rubber stamp house. 

The former aide to Senator Ajimobi also stated that the current members of the house have engaged the executive arm of the government professionally and constructively on state matters to facilitate development of the state.

The Oyo lawmaker gave these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Lagelu 96.7FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s on Tuesday evening.  

The youthful APC member further stated that the proposed concept of direct mode of primary election is not a bad idea as it will help to strengthen internal democracy within political parties, while urging for a modification to the direct mode if the need arises. 

Speaking on the agitation for an independent Yoruba nation, “We are stronger together as a nation, I believe there is strength in numbers. We must address the problems leading to the agitations of the people”. 

He used the opportunity to urge competent and forward-looking Nigerians desirous of change to join politics in order to contribute to the building of a country that will make all to be proud and fulfilled.