The late Oba who died barely 72 hours after completing two years on the throne as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland will be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4 p.m. according to Islamic rites.
His younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun, disclosed in a statement by the late Olubadan’s media aide, Oladele Ogunsola, that “Olubadan bowed out gracefully this evening at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan after a brief illness.”
He added that the late Ibadan traditional ruler was taken to the hospital after having stayed indoors throughout Tuesday on account of a slight malaria fever.
“Baba was hale and hearty on Monday, when he personally received the few guests who paid him congratulatory visits on his second anniversary on that day,” Dr Kola Balogun said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Olubadan was a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree holder and a former university lecturer.
He was also a former management staff member of Shell British Petroleum, a former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), a former Senator and a successful businessman.
His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over on Saturday.
Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde described the late Olubadan as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever.
Makinde, while officially announcing the king’s death, said the 42nd Olubadan made great marks in Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.
The governor had, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, announced that Oba Balogun joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while,” the statement read.
