PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS THE PASSING OF OLUBADAN OF IBADANLAND, OBA OWOLABI OLAKULEHIN

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. The President extends 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.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted President Tinubu as describing the late monarch as a highly accomplished man of peace, a public servant, and a royal father whose life embodies 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, the military, and national development,” Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying. Tinubu commended the monarch’s legacy, saying it bridged tradition and modernity, adding that his wisdom and moral authority served as a stabilizing force in Ibadanland and the wider Yoruba nation.

Tinubu revealed that he received an invitation from the late Olubadan to his 90th birthday and first coronation anniversary celebrations just last week, making the news of his passing even more shocking. “He will be remembered for upholding the honour and prestige of his highly revered stool,” the President said. Bayo Onanuga further stated that the President prayed for the peaceful repose of the monarch’s soul and urged the people of Ibadan to take solace in his life and the values he embodied.

The Olubadan’s death has sparked an outpouring of tributes, with the African Democratic Congress describing him as a distinguished monarch, a beacon of wisdom, and a custodian of Yoruba culture and traditions. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Oba Olakulehin’s reign was marked by exemplary leadership, unity, and a commitment to the progress and well-being of Ibadanland.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has assured the family of the late monarch that the state government would support them during this difficult time and promised a befitting burial for the late Olubadan. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, also mourned the late Olubadan, describing him as a remarkable leader and good-hearted giant in thought and action.