By Adeyinka Adeniran
Indication has emerged on how the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun breath his last and joined his ancestors, late Thursday night.
The incident happened barely 72 hours after the first class monarch celebrated his two years on the throne as the 42nd Olubadan of the ancient city of Ibadan.
The monarch died at exactly 9:05PM at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan after a brief illness.
He was admitted to the hospital Wednesday morning on account of slight malaria fever.
It was gathered that the monarch had stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of the malaria fever, though, hail and hearty on Monday.
Sources hinted that the late Olubadan on Monday personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary.
According to family sources, the late Olubadan would be laid to rest at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4PM on Friday, March 15, according to Islamic rites.
His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.
It was gathered that, the monarch, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature, Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.
The late Olubadan would be remembered as the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch; a British trained Ph.D holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), former Senator and a successful business man.
He is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.
