- President Tinubu Pays Tribute to Late Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin
- President Tinubu praised Oba Olakulehin’s legacy as one that harmonised tradition with modern ideals
- Tinubu noted that the monarch’s wisdom and moral leadership
President Bola Tinubu has received with deep shock the news of the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who passed away at the age of 90.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the President extended his heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the government, and people of Oyo State, as well as the entire Ibadanland, on the loss of a revered traditional ruler, a statesman, and a symbol of peace, wisdom, and continuity.
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He mourned the Olubadan and celebrated his remarkable life of service to his people, the state, and the nation.
Tinubu described the late monarch as a highly accomplished man of peace, a public servant, and a royal father whose life embodied the highest ideals of leadership, learning, and service.
“Oba Owolabi Olakulehin was not only a custodian of Ibadan’s rich history and culture but also a man of intellect and principle whose contributions extended beyond the palace into education, governance, and national development. His passing is a significant loss to Ibadanland and the nation.
“Just last week, I received an invitation from the late Olubadan to his 90th birthday and first coronation anniversary celebrations. Shockingly, his death came days before the anniversary. He will be remembered for upholding the honour and prestige of his highly revered stool,” the President said.
Born on July 5, 1935, in Okugbaja village, Ita Baale near Akanran in what is now Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oba Olakulehin rose through the respected and longstanding succession system of Ibadanland, which alternates between the civil (Otun) and military (Balogun) lines.
He became Olubadan following the passing of Oba Dr Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, on March 14, 2024.
A respected academic, the late monarch held a master’s degree in administration and economics and also pursued doctoral studies. He was passionate about research grounded in integrity and public accountability. He taught at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and was known for rejecting sycophantic praise, choosing instead to follow a path of progressive and principled scholarship.
President Tinubu praised Oba Olakulehin’s legacy as one that harmonised tradition with modern ideals. He noted that the monarch’s wisdom and moral leadership provided stability not only in Ibadanland but across the Yoruba nation.
The President offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the monarch’s soul and encouraged the people of Ibadan to find comfort in the values he upheld and the life he lived.
FURTHER READING
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