By Adeyinka Adeniran
The member representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Alabi has disclosed that he had gone too far in relationship with the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun than to cut off from the family left behind, now that he’s no more.
Hon. Alabi, who is also the Ajiwogbo family compound head (Mogaji) in the Ibadan traditional system made this remark during his condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late prominent monarch yesterday.
Alabi and his large entourage, among other sympathizers who visited on Wednesday were received by the three widows of the late Oba Balogun, including: Oloris Olayinka, Olufunmilayo and Khalimat.
The lawmaker described as part and parcel of the family said the incident, as sad and devastating as it might be would not cut him off from the family of the late Oba.
He said, “It is natural that guests traffic to this place would thin out very soon, but I want to assure you that I won’t be part of those that would abandon this place. It does not mean that we won’t be going to the next appropriate places, no, we would ensure you are not abandoned.
“What’s even more, this place is part of my constituency and I would not have any justifiable reason to neglect any part of my constituency.
“In a nutshell, this place is my home and I would forever cherish my relationship with our departed great hero. There’s not much to say for now than to plead with all to take heart and be consoled with the good and enduring legacies left behind by our baba”.
In a related development, one of the registered political parties in the country, the Action Alliance (AA) has described the late Oba Balogun as a dedicated, loyal and committed Ibadan to the core and that it was not a surprise that God gave him the grace and privilege to rule over the city, however short the reign might be.
The political party led by its Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Samuel Adeyemi made the comment during the condolence visit made to the Alarere residence of the late Olubadan.
Dr. Adeyemi, who went down the memory lane said but for the singular efforts of the late Oba Balogun in 2011, the gubernatorial electoral victory of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi might have become a mirage, saying, “it was our late father, who prevailed on our party from pressing forward on our litigation on the year’s gubernatorial election over the exclusion by INEC our party logo on the gubernatorial election ballot paper.
“Being a lawyer myself, I don’t know how the former governor would have been able to scuttle our petition at the Election Petition Tribunal because exclusion of any eligible political party on the ballot paper is automatic re-run and the opposition party at the national level was waiting in the wings to assist our party, but our revered father stood his ground and prevailed on us.
“Ibadan has lost a great and highly consummate, compassionate and a quintessential leader of immeasurable value. A peace loving and highly cerebral monarch, the late Olubadan left enduring legacies which should be enough consolation for all the bereaved”, the AA boss asserted.
Responding separately on behalf of the family, the eldest among the surviving widows of the monarch, Olori Olayinka Balogun thanked Hon. Alabi and commended him for his commitment to the family while her husband was alive and his pledge not to abandon the family at the monarch’s death.
She expressed gladness at the good name and deeds left behind by the late Oba, describing the legacies as unquantifiable in terms of any tangible value, adding, “we are not afraid to face the future in the absence of our husband because, what he left behind for us, the children and the entire family is beyond measure in terms of goodwill”.
Olori Olayinka saluted the AA for recalling the political sagacity of her husband and more importantly his passion and commitment to Ibadan cause which the struggle made reference to epitomized, noting that “we are not surprised by the testimony because we know him and what he stood for at any point in time”.
