‘Obawaja’ GNI, others mourn as Oba of Ilara passes on

The Oloola of Ilara, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Oba Samuel Alabi Adeluyi has joined his ancestors.

According to one of his sons, Hon. Tosin Adeluyi, who broke the news on Monday, the Oba passed on after a brief illness.

Meanwhile, prominent Ogun indigenes have reacted to the demise of the Oba as they sympathised with the family and the community.

According to the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, said he received the sad news of the traditional ruler with deep shock and a sense of great loss.

Isiaka, while commiserating with the people of Ilara, Isiaka informed that the Oba would be sorely missed for his frankness and commitment to the development of Ilara.

“I will personally miss him for his father prayer that is often devoid of political leanings,” Isiaka said, as he prayed God protect the family he left behind.

In his words, the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Tolu Odebiyi, the late Oba was a man who lived a principled life, describing his death as a loss to the whole Yewaland and Ogun State in general.

“Yewaland has lost an Oba who has the interest of everybody at heart and all of us will miss him,” Odebiyi said.

While praying God to grant the Oba eternal rest, the Federal lawmaker entreated God to grant the entire family of Oba Samuel Alabi Adeluyi and the good people of Ilara-Yewa the fortitude to bear the loss.

In his condolence message to the Oloola Ilara Ogudo in Council, the lawmaker representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Hon. Olaifa Jimoh Aremu, identified with the entire indigenes of Ilara.

While taking solace in “the good, impacted and fulfilling life Kaabiyesi lived as well as the peace, developments and prosperity witnessed throughout his period on the throne,” Hon. Aremu said the late monarch was, until his demise, an active stakeholder in the socio- cultural and political affairs of Imeko-Afon and Ogun West.

He added that the memory of his contributions in this regard as well as his committed passion to the progress of Ogun State will continue to linger on, praying God grant the deceased Oba eternal rest.

Likewise, a Professor of History, Anthony Asiwaju, described Oba Adeluyi is “the first crowned head of this renowned bifurcated and binational Ketu-Yoruba border town, that has required innate wisdom and tact to traditionally rule over.”

Prof. Asiwaju said Oba Adeluyi had been an acknowledged asset to endeavours at negating the inherent political marginalisation and infrastructural deficiting of the Nigerian border region in Ogun State and forging cross-border cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The late Oloola of Ilara-Ogudo Kingdom was initially a Baale (community chief) from February 13, 1983.

On September 21, 1991, the Government of State upgraded the stool to that of an Oba, making him the the pioneer king of Ilara.

Oba Adeluyi died at the age of 74. He is survived by many children.

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