Deceased Olubadan gets full military gun salutes as he is buried in fanfare.
By Steve Ovirih.
In Yoruba land, kings don’t die, they climb to ‘the greater chapter’ and such was the exit of the imperial monarch of Ibadan Land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Olakulehin Owolabi, the late Olubadan of Ibadan Land. His burial on Friday will continue to be talk of the entire Ibadan Land for a long time to come.
It will be recalled that Oba Olakulehin retired from The Nigerian Army as a top brass Major having served his fatherland meritoriously across different military postings, commission and assignment.
At the funeral service held for the late monarch at The St.Peter’s Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan, there were guests from all walks of life who thronged the Anglican church to pay the deceased their last respect. Leading government dignitaries was The Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency , Seyi Makinde, His Deputy, Commissioners and other government functionaries.
A major highlight of the high octane funeral was the decoration of the pall of the deceased monarch with the Nigerian flag as well as the exhibition of the ceremonial gun salutes, by the special squad of The Nigerian Army, to a military officer now gone to eternity. The Chief of Army Staff from the Army Headquarters was visibly in attendance to bid farewell to a senior colleague and a senior citizen as a royalty.
In his funeral sermon, Anglican Archbishop, Most Rev’d. Williams Aladekugbe described the deceased as an enviable royalty who served God and man with commitment , noting that his time as Olubadan was an era that would be missed by subjects and all. The cleric who referenced The Book of Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 in his homily stressed that all that is left of Oba Olakulehin is his memory in the heart of the living, admonishing the congregation to bear in mind that a day shall come when everyone at their respective time shall lay like the monarch. ” Let us all be mindful of the life we lead and let us all live right irrespective of our station in life. The way we lead our life determines our hereafter so it behoves us to live as we prepare our mind , knowing full well that death simply ends our stay in this world and translates us to the next life.”
In his address, Gov. Seyi Makinde extolled the virtues of Oba Olakulehin , whom he described as a bridge builder and an Ambassador of peace in his life time.
The final burial of Oba Olakulehin now opens the stool of Olubadan of Ibadan to the appropriate succession stage.
