The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday said the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, would be accorded a befitting burial.
The governor said this when the Olubadan-in-Council paid him a visit to officially notify him of the king’s death.
Ajimobi said the late monarch was an accomplished all-rounder who left an indelible footprint in the sands of time.
The Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, led members of the council and the leadership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes to the governor.
Ajimobi said that despite reaching 101 years before his demise, the monarch’s death was painful and hard to accept because of his uprightness and honesty.
He said, “Kabiyesi was an accomplished man in all ramifications. He left an indelible footprint in the sands of time, having served this country in different capacities as a teacher, civil servants, a Second World War veteran, a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a parliamentarian of note.
“He was an irrepressible patriot, a disciplinarian, a good father and an unstoppable democrat. He saw to the success of anything to which he was committed. He won an election as an independent candidate even when independent candidacy was not popular. If Baba had been in the saddle for another 10 years, he would have contributed to the campaign for cleanliness of Ibadan. He would never play the ostrich.
“Kabiyesi was a nationalist and I am promising before you today that the state government under my leadership will give him a burial befitting of heroes and statesmen. On behalf of the government and the good people of Oyo State, I pray for the repose of Baba’s soul,” the governor added.
Also speaking, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, tendered an unreserved apology of the council to the governor for the late information about the Olubadan’s demise, saying that he was supposed to make the formal announcement. Balogun, who attributed the development to some logistics problems, then presented a letter to the governor on behalf of the Olubadan-in-Council to formally inform him that Oba Odulana had passed on.
