PALACE CONFIRMS DEMISE OF ALAAFIN OF OYO, NOTIFIES GOVERNOR MAKINDE OF TRANSITION
…PLUS WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DEMISE FIRST CLASS YORUBA MONARCH
The Oyo Palace has confirmed the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
The spokesperson for the late Oba, Mr Bode Durojaye, confirmed the death in a terse response to an inquiry by a Punch correspondent.
He said, “Alaafin is dead. Details in due course.”
It was gathered that the octogenarian monarch died on Friday night in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital after a brief illness.
Sources at the palace confirmed the death of the traditional rule haver to our correspondent on Saturday morning.
Sources said the Governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, had been informed of the passage of the monarch.
Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi was born on October 1938.
He was from Alowodu Royal House and a member of the House of Oramiyan.
His father Raji Adeniran Adeyemi became Alaafin of Oyo in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizen ( NCNC).
Adeyemi 111’s great-grand father Atiba Atobatele,who founded the new Oyo while his great-gteat- grandfather,was Alaafin Abiodun direct descendant of Oramiyan, the founder of the Oyo Empire.
Lamidi Adeyemi was chosen by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970 and then moved into the palace after completing the necessary rites under the tutelage of the Oyomesi.
Oba Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu 11 in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo.
He is a lover of boxing,as he was a boxer before ascending the throne of his father.
Lamidi Adeyemi 111 began his education at a Quranic School in Iseyin. After his primary education,he was offered admission into Igbobi College and St Gregory’s College, Obalende. He chose to attend St Gregory’s College Obalende. He chose to attend St Gregory’s College Obalende.
Lamidi worked briefly at the Royal Exchange Assurance in Lagos, while working at the Royal Exchange.
Alaafin was married to 13 wives which included Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi,his senior wife. Other wives were Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeye, Ayaba Moji Adeyemi, Ayaba Anuoluwapo Adeyemi and Ayaba Damilola Adeyemi.
He was honoured with the national Honour of CFR at the National Theatre,Iganmu, Lagos State in 1979.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointment Kabiyesi Adeyemi 111 as the pioneering Chancellor of the newly established University of Sokoto, now Uthman Dan Fodio University where he spent 12 years.
He was in his second term as the Chancellor of the university of Maiduguri in Borno State
