Nigeria: High Profiled King, Olubadan of Ibadan, Dies at 93

Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan, has died. He was 93 years old when he died.

Oba Adetunji died in the early hours of Sunday at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State according to reports from the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State passed heartfelt comments following his death:

“The news of the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, came as a shock.

“His wealth of experience, his immense wisdom, and his commitment to seeing a greater Ibadan and a better Oyo State are unrivalled.

“Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, and humanity at large will miss Kabiyesi, who was ever ready to give his all to see a better society.”

Following his coronation on March 4, 2016, Oba Adetunji was crowned the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan. The Olubadan died 22 days after another important monarch in Oyo State, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, the Soun of Ogbomoso.

He was born on August 26, 1928, in the Alusekere complex, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, to Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji. He was the firstborn of his parents’ 17 children.

Details on the Royal Title Olubadan

The Olubadan (Olubadan means Lord of Ibadan) is the royal title of the king of Ibadan land in Nigeria, now a largely symbolic role. According to the outline history of Ibadan by Oba Isaac Akinyele, Ibadan was founded in the 16th century. Around 1820, an army of Egba, Ijebu, Ife and Oyo people won the town during their wars with the Fulanis.

After a struggle between the victors the Oyo gained control in 1829. By 1850 they had established their unusual succession principle, which is quite different compared with other traditional Yoruba rulers in that it alternates between two lines, a system where the Baale line (civic) and Balogun Isoriki line (military) shared power, subject to a traditional council representing both lines. It takes decades to groom an Olubadan for the stool through stages of chieftaincy promotion.

In 1885 C.E. the Royal Niger Company became effective rulers of the area, signing treaties with local powers such as the Olubadan, and in 1900 the British government formally assumed authority over Nigeria as a “Protectorate”. The British created the Ibadan Town Council in 1897, using the traditionally powerful local chiefs to administer their town.

In 1901 the Governor Sir William MacGregor introduced an ordinance whereby the Baale became the president of the Council while the Resident was only to advise when necessary. (Rulers of Ibadan were generally referred to as Baale until 1936, when the title of Olubadan was resuscitated).

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Source: News Agencies