•Late Olubadan of Ibadanland
The body of Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, will be interred today at 4:00 pm.
His remains will be committed to Mother Earth at his Aliwo family compound according to Islamic rites, report Channels TV.
The prayers will be led by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Ajigbotomokekere and other clerics within and outside Ibadan land.
Oba Balogun passed late yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan at the age of 81.
His demise was officially confirmed by the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde as well as his Personal Assistant, Media, Oladele Ogunsola.
Oladele in his Facebook account had written, ‘I never imagined that our sitting down on Monday ruminating over the dailies would be the last of such when I asked that the Palace chaplain, Pastor Soji Adediji, should snap us.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t come back to take the picture as he promised to go downstairs to fetch his phone.
“The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained PhD holder, a former university lecturer, former member of the management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former governorship candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), former Senator and a successful businessman.
His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to disrobe Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.
He, however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.
The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.
