By Adeyinka Adeniran
As the final burial ceremony of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, holds on Saturday, June 8, a Non-governmental Organization (NGO), Tukur & Tukur Foundation has set up a three-day free medical outreach to honour the departed monarch.
Tukur & Tukur Foundation was set up by the Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland, who was former Chief of Army Staff and former Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai (RTD).
The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Col. Haruna Zaria (rtd) who led 15 member team of medical personnel to Ibadan for the outreach disclosed that the effort “is the Foundation’s way of saying final good bye to an illustrious and enigmatic personality.
The outreach, which kicked off on Thursday at the Aliiwo family compound of the late Olubadan holds same venue on Friday while the third and the final day holds at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (former Liberty Stadium), Oke-Ado, Ibadan, venue of the final burial ceremony of the late Oba Balogun on Saturday.
Speaking on the programme, the BoT Chairman explained that the Foundation, which was founded in November 2012 felt compelled to come to Ibadan during this period to be part of the final burial activities, considering the fact that the Foundation could not participate in all the previous programmes relating to the passing of the late Oba Balogun like the actual burial, the Fidau prayers held on the 8th and 41st days.
He said the Foundation was set up as an interventionist organ to assist government in its own little ways having realized that government alone, however buoyant it may be cannot do all, adding, “we are happy doing what we are doing, consulting, treating and giving drugs out to people freely. We are not afraid of people’s turn-out because we are well prepared for the outreach as you can see what we have in our Pharmacy corner.
“The Foundation, because of our verifiable activities enjoys a lot of good will. We are open to well wishers to donate and we receive donations from individuals, corporate organizations and international agencies and it’s through these and our efforts that we are being able to discharge our mandate of touching lives”, he stated further.
Zaria disclosed that in addition to the core four main humanitarian activities the Foundation engages in such as medical outreach, giving out of assistive devices, free eye screening and cataract surgery and ear, nose and throat treatment, it also addresses the educational needs of the people through provision of infrastructure, books and other disposables.
Welcoming the medical outreach team to the venue of the programme on behalf of Aliiwo dynasty, a member of the Ninth Senate and the Baba-Kekere to the late Olubadan, Sen. Kola Balogun said the gesture of bringing the outreach to Ibadan in honour of the late Olubadan was a great show of love, loyalty and commitment to Ibadanland by the Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland.
He said the gesture was in appreciation of the Chieftaincy title of Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland bestowed on the former Chief of Army Staff, though not by the late Olubadan but by his predecessor, late Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, noting that the friendship the late Oba Balogun and the former COAS forged that time began to flourish.
Sen. Balogun also recalled that his membership of the Senate Committee on the Nigeria Army brought him in contact with the former COAS during which the duo also began to relate very well up till date, asking the people to always remember the Ibadan Chieftaincy title holder in their prayers for more success. “To come down to Ibadan for this masses-oriented programme is a testimony of his love and concern for the downtrodden”, he added.
At the programme which had in attendance the first child of the late Olubadan, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Osinowo among other top members of the family, patients in hundreds were attended to through consultation, treatment and free giving of drugs and glasses.
