Akarigbo of Remoland dies at 80

The Akarigbo of Remoland, Ogun State, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, has joined his ancestors after a brief illness, a top official of the state government confided in journalists yesterday.

The 80-year-old monarch was reported to have passed on Saturday evening at a hospital in the United Kingdom, where he was flown to last week Sunday for treatment. “Kabiyesi joined his ancestors in the presence of his Olori, Abosede, who accompanied him on the medical trip,” the source said.

He ascended the throne on July 14, 1990 and was the current chairman of the State Traditional Council. Born in Ita Eleye in Lagos State in 1936, Sonariwo attended St. John School, Aroloya, Lagos from 1941 to 1949 before he proceeded to Methodist Boys High School from 1950 till 1955.

The First-Class king later travelled abroad for further studies and series of training in tax and accounting profession and returned to work with the Inland Revenue Service. His ambition at the time was to become a Central Bank governor, “so that I will sign my signature on the naira notes.”

The formal announcement of the monarch’s demise was still being expected from the state government as at press time yesterday. However, security was beefed up at his Sagamu palace when news filtered in of his death.

Security operatives, which included the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), men of the Vigilance Service of Ogun State (V.S.O) as well as the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) had taken over the security of the Akarigbo palace, while all occupants were evicted from the palace.

One of the security operatives keeping vigilance at the palace, who preferred anonymity, disclosed that the combined security operatives were drafted “to prevent people from looting the palace.”

In what could be described as a sheer coincidence, the monarch held his 25th coronation anniversary last year on July 24. The event was attended by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

He until his death, held the title given to every Oba of Sagamu, ‘Akarigbo’, in honour of the first prince of their line and was the chairman of the Oba’s council in Ogun State.