Alaafin Of Oyo is dead! Real Cause Of Oba Death Revealed
Vondigest reports that top Yoruba monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi is dead. He is the third from the Alowodu Ruling House.
This online platform understands that the Alaafin of Oyo was 83 years old and the longest-reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years. The monarch had been sick and a plan had been made to fly him abroad before he passed on late Friday night.
Alaafin of Oyo died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State in South-West Nigeria.
This remains of the Alaafin of Oyo, the third from the Alowodu Ruling House, was brought to Oyo town, 62 kilometres from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in the early hours of Saturday and traditional rites began, palace sources told this online newspaper.
Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, southwest Nigeria is expected to make an official announcement upon receiving the report of the monarch’s passing from the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’, who will now lead Oyo town before a new Alaafin is installed.
A source familiar with the medical travel plan revealed that the tickets of Alaafin of Oyo and those of a few wives were already procured before he passed on.
The Alaafin of Oyo death came months after two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi – died. All happened in less than five months.
The Alaafin of Oyo was born Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi on October 15, 1938, into the Alowolodu Royal House of the famous Oyo town.
Late Lamidi Adeyemi was crowned as the Alaafin of Oyo on November 18, 1970, succeeding Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu I. He was known popularly as Iku Baba Yeye.
While he reigned, the Alaafin of Oyo was the permanent chairperson of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
With the demise of Alaafin Adeyemi, it is now the turn of the Agunloye Ruling House to produce the next Oyo monarch. Mr. Adeyemi’s predecessor, Alaafin Ladigbolu, was from the Agunloye House.
