Adetunji: Olubadan deserves befitting burial

Adetunji: Olubadan deserves befitting burial

Sunday, February 7, 2016 4:24 pm


  The late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade

The late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

As the final funeral programmes of the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1st, commence and expected to get to its climax on Friday February 12, 2016 when he will be interred at St Peters Cathedral Church, Aremo, Ibadan, the man who may succeed him, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, has called on well-meaning individuals in the land to give Oba Odugade a befitting burial.

Oba Odugade, the 40th Olubadan of Ibadan, died on Tuesday January 19, 2016 at the age of 101 around 1pm in his Monatan residence after taking his lunch and Holy Communion.

According to a press statement issued by Adeola Oloko, spokesman of Adetunji , he disclosed this at the weekend in his palace during a visit paid on him by some well meaning Nigerians including: the delegation from the Senate, led by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Naallah, Chief Harry Akande, and Elder Wole Oyelese, noting that the late monarch did Nigeria and Ibadan a lot of good.

According to him, the greatest legacy that Oba Odulana left behind is peace and harmony among diverse people in Ibadanland. Adding, “I intend to follow up on that. Baba Olubadan was also an advocate of the creation of Ibadan State. It is my fervent prayer and hope that God will grant this request in my lifetime”.

High Chief  Saliu A. O Adetunji

High Chief Saliu A. O Adetunji

Adetunji expressed gratitude to the Senate delegation for considering it worthy to immortalise the name of the late monarch, adding that he would be counting on the support of the same lawmakers when the time for the creation of Ibadan State comes.
He also expressed gratitude to the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration and Ibadan High Chiefs over their role in giving the late monarch a befitting burial.

It will be recalled that after the official announcement of the demise of the monarch, the state government set up a funeral committee to put in place a befitting burial for the monarch.

The committee, headed by the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, includes the Head of Service, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, Representatives of CCII, representatives of the Olubadan-in-Council and members of the royal family and other government officials from the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland namely: Ibadan South East, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South West, Ona-Ara, Akinyele, Iddo and Oluyole.

The committee came up with one week programme commencing on Friday February 5 2016 with Jumat Prayer Service at Central Mosque, Oja’ba; followed by song of service at Cathedral of St Peters, Aremo on February 7; lying in state at Igbo-Elerin and Ladun Compound, Oja-Igbo on February 8; lecture and symposium at Trenchard Hall of University of Ibadan, UI, on Tuesday February 9; to be followed by cultural day at Lekan Salami Adamasigba between 1 to 6pm; lying in state, tribute and praises at Mapo Hall, on Wednesday February 10; government lying in state at House of Chiefs, secretariat and Christian Wake Keep at his Monatan residence on Thursday February 11 and funeral Service and interment on Friday 12 at St. Peters, Aremo. On Sunday 14, the family members would hold a thanksgiving service at St. Peters, Aremo.

However, Governor Ajimobi had disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown interest to pay his last respect to the late Olubadan by attending his funeral. Ajimobi dispelled also the alleged claim by the Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, that he would have succeed Odungade, a claim, the governor declared an exercise in futility.


Join The Conversation

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.