Source: The Punch
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday commiserated with the people of Ibadan and the Oyo State Government on the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.
He said the monarch’s death was a great loss not only to the people of Ibadan, but also the entire country.
Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Odulana’s rich and wise counsel would be missed.
The President also extended condolences to the family of the late monarch.
He described the deceased as a patriot, promoter of peace, unity and champion of the wellbeing of his subjects.
“Nigeria needs the wisdom of such senior citizens and their wealth of experience and moral standards, especially at a time that we want to change the orientation and ethical values of our people to place higher priority on hard work, discipline, honesty, accountability and transparency.” Buhari said.
He urged mourners to take solace in the fact that Oba Odulana Odugade lived well and left behind remarkable imprints for his successor and admirers to emulate.
The President also prayed God to grant the soul of the late monarch a peaceful rest.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has announced February 12, 2016 for the burial of the late monarch.
Oba Odugade died on Tuesday at the age of 101.
The state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said during his visit to the Monatan palace of the late monarch on Friday that a burial committee that would include the family of the deceased and the Olubadan-in-Council would be constituted and that burial ceremony would begin on February 6.
Ajimobi was received into the palace by the Olubadan-in-Council, widow of the late Oba, Olori Morike, his first son, Prof. Femi Lana, and some Ibadan elders.
The governor said the ceremony would end on February 12 when the body of the late Oba would be committed to mother earth.
Ajimobi recalled that the late monarch contributed to his emergence as the governor and that he would be remembered for his love and passion for Ibadan as well as his glowing legacy.
He also described the late monarch as a patriot, who had contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria, urging those in position of authority to emulate the lifestyle of the late monarch.
The governor said, “He was a good father to all of us. We are happy and sad at the same time. We are happy that he grew old and lived a fruitful life. Olubadan was a disciplinarian and was orderly in his endeavours. He was elegant and he had integrity. Oba Odugade was very predictable and I wish he will be the type we will be having on this throne.
“He had a mind and heart of assessing people’s credibility. Olubadan was an accomplished human being by all standards. Even if it is about his age, he was fulfilled and contented with all he had. He was an epitome of patriotism, who was passionate about the progress of Ibadan.”
Also, the Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Wale Oke, hailed the deceased’s virtues.
According to him, the late Odugade steered the ship of the Ibadan kingdom in a way that touched the lives of many people and impacted positively upon humanity.
Bishop Oke said the Olubadan lived for the good of all and the peace and progress of his people.
