Four losses that rocked Gov. Makinde’s administration
NEWS DIGEST – The Oyo State Government has lost some prominent leaders in the last 3 years, the latest being the Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle, who passed on in the early hours of Sunday morning.
This report looks at four major losses that have rocked the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led government.
Alaafin of Oyo
The Yoruba race had their faces soiled with tears on the 22nd of April, 2022, when the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, passed on at the Afe Babalola Multi-System Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.
The 83-year-old monarch was ill before his demise and had been rushed to the hospital five days prior for treatment for a “chronic illness.”
The true state of the late Alaafin’s illness remains undisclosed but sources at the hospital have said Oba Adeyemi died from that illness after failing to recover despite the efforts of specialist doctors to save him.
The late octogenarian was a close friend of Aare Afe Babalola, the founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University and it has since become known that he was always at the hospital for routine medical checks.
Gov. Makinde, on receiving the news, described the death of the Alaafin as a “huge loss” to Oyo state, where he was Alaafin of the Oyo kingdom for 52 years and to the rest of the Yoruba race.
Olubadan of Ibadanland
On January 2nd, while Nigerians were still revelling in the spirit of the new year, it became known that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji had passed on.
Oba Adetunji, 93, was the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan and breathed his last in the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
According to the official statement from the hospital, Oba Adetunji was transferred from a private hospital in Ibadan at 9:30 pm the preceding day and despite hours of medical care from UCH’s best doctors, the monarch died at 1:15 am.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale, in his eulogy, called the late monarch a leader of leaders who had the true formula of how to lead society.
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“I must say, Kabiyesi Adetunji lived humbly, served humbly came loving, lived loving and served loving,” he said.
Abiola Ajimobi
Ex-governor Abiola Ajimobi died of multiple organ failure due to complications from contracting Covid-19 during the pandemic, according to the Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi.
Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of Oyo State, was aged 70 when he died on the 25th of June, 2020.
Although Ajimobi reported a negative Covid-19 test subsequently, the virus had already done irreparable damage to his health and needed to be placed on life support before he breathed his last.
NewsDigest reported that Ajimobi later tested negative for COVID-19 but the illness had caused his health to deteriorate.
In recognition of the magnitude of the loss, Gov. Makinde directed the flags to fly at half-mast as the state mourn the death of a governor that led several reforms in the state.
Makinde would add that Ajimobi will be remembered for leaving a blueprint for some of the activities that his administration is undertaking.
Alao Akala
After the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala became the second high-profile loss in Oyo state since the turn of the year when he died on January 12.
Otunba Alao-Akala was a governor of Oyo state between 2007 and 2011 and had served as deputy governor under former governor Rashidi Ladoja right up till his impeachment in 2006.
Akala, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was a former governor of the state, between 2007 and 2011.
He was also a deputy governor under former governor, Rashidi Ladoja between 2003 and 2006 when Chief Ladoja was impeached and consequently became the acting governor for eleven months.
Akala’s legacy in Oyo state was captured by Ifeanyi Okowa, who was then the Delta State governor.
“The late Alao-Akala was a patriot and a political icon whose life-long dedication and indefatigable commitment to serving the people will continue to be remembered,” he said.
“His contributions to the socio-political and economic development of Nigeria and indeed, humanity will remain indelible.
