Oba Saliu A. O Adetunji, likely to be new Olubadan

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

As Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, mourns its monarch, the late Oba Odulana Odugade 1, frenetic activities are gathering momentum at Lodge area of Oke-Ado residence of High Chief Saliu A. O Adetunji, the man most likely to succeed Odulana as the new Olubadan.

Adetunji, until now, was the Balogun of Ibadanland.

Adetunji and High Chief Lekan Balogun are both qualified for the position.

But because the departed Olubadan came from the same royal line with Lekan Balogun, it is now the turn of Adetunji’s line.

However, there has been no official declaration about Oba Odulana’s transition.

The first son of the monarch, Professor Femi Lana said that he did not have what it takes to announce the death of his father.

“Sorry, members of the press, I can’t talk to you. There are procedures in everything. Whatever news going round is fake. The only person that has the right to announce the death of baa mi (my father) is Governor Abiola Ajimobi and so I advise you to wait for him. Thank you.”

But other children, including the first daughter of the deceased, Princess Yemi Sowunmi and Princess Folasade Lana, have confirmed the death of the monarch, thanking God that he died peacefully.

Several Ibadan high chiefs have commented on the death of the monarch. And the palace praise singers have announced the death of the monarch with public address system.

They said that the monarch had gone to join his first wife who died many years back.

A Condolence register has also been opened in his Monatan residence.

Otun Olubadan, Chief Lekan Balogun, said that the monarch is a great father and philosophical man. Nigeria and Ibadan will not forget the philosopher king.”

Another High Chief, Eddy Oyewole said, “Oba Odugade will continue to live in my heart”.

As at the time of filing this report, local chiefs, called Bales in Ibadan are arriving one after the other from all the local governments in the ancient city.

Apart from high chiefs in the residence of the monarch, visitors within the city are thronging the residence of the monarch.

It was gathered that the corpse of the monarch has been deposited in the morgue at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan