Zeal To Trade Deadens In Ibadan With All Markets Shut, As Ancient City Mourns The Transition Of It’s Monarch
The Oasis Reporters
January 3, 2022
Palpable sadness can easily be read on the faces of Ibadan residents as the news continues to sink in that the paramount ruler of the ancient city of Ibadan has joined his ancestors.
Foremost teaching hospital in Nigeria, University College, Ibadan (UCH) narrated that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, died at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital at 01.15 am.
The hospital in a statement by its Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Officer, Toye Akinrinola, said the monarch was referred to UCH from a private hospital in Ibadan about 9.30 pm on Saturday.
According to Akinrinola, the Chief Medical Director CMD, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, immediately directed a high-powered medical team to provide medical treatment to the late monarch.
The CMD was said to have written to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to inform him of Olubadan’s death.
The statement read in part, “The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Oguguniso 1, on January 2, 2022, passed on at the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan at 1.15 am.
“The late Monarch was referred to the UCH from a private hospital in Ibadan at about 9.30 pm yesterday.
“He was immediately admitted at the ICU where the Chief Medical Director CMD, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo directed that a high-powered medical team be constituted to provide the best medical treatment to him.
“By 1.15 am today, His Imperial Majesty breathed his last breath.
“The CMD was at the ICU in the early hours of today to pay the late Olubadan his last respect.
“Afterward, the CMD wrote a letter of notification of the demise of the revered Monarch to His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State which was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Bashiru Olanrewaju on behalf of the Oyo State Government. A similar letter was written to the Family of the departed Olubadan.
“The CMD further ensured that the remains of the late Monarch were taken care of in a manner befitting to the late Olubadan.
“Professor Otegbayo also escorted the corpse of Oba Adetunji from the ICU to a waiting ambulance and handed the corpse to the family and other dignitaries on the ground.”
Also, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, commiserated with the immediate family, good and progressive people of Ibadanland, Oyo State, and Nigeria on the death of Adetunji.
He described Oba Adetunji as a pillar of support to the University, who indeed, never missed an opportunity to offer wise counsel and words of support for the progress of the institution.
The VC noted that Oba Adetunji was an enthusiastic investor and consummate people manager who contributed immensely to the success of many Nigerians.
Adebowale said, “My last engagement with Oba Adetunji was on 16 November, 2021, when he received our Chancellor and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, on a courtesy call, in his Popoyemoja Palace. Kabiyesi demonstrated that he was UI’s father and Chief Landlord. UI was, indeed, honoured and celebrated on that memorable visit.”
“I must say, Kabiyesi Adetunji lived humbly; served humbly; came loving; lived loving; and served loving.
“Oba Adetunji knew how to serve God; how to serve humanity; how to lead humanity: how to serve others; how to lead others; how to assist others; how to develop others and how to mentor others. He had the true formula of how to lead the community and society. He was a leader of leaders.
For Prof. Adebowale, “Our consolation lies in the great deeds of the late Olubadan which are engraved unforgettably in the hearts of women and men. Such deeds, which knew no ethnic or religious boundaries, bear clear testimony to the late Olubadan’s triumph over death.
“On behalf of the governing council, management, staff, and students of the University of Ibadan, we sincerely commiserate with the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the immediate family of the late Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), and all Ibadan indigenes and residents.”
The Olubadan has been laid to rest and all Markets are currently shut down in the city, Monday by the leadership of markets across Ibadan who have directed all markets and shops to shutdown on Monday in honour of the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Sunday, January 2.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji reportedly died after a brief illness.
The directive, which was issued by the Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Asiwaju Yekini Abass, popularly called “YK Abass,” was said to have been reached at an emergency meeting of the market leaders council in the state on Sunday.
He said the decision that was made to honour the monarch in recognition of his contribution to the development of Ibadanland made markets in the state to witness patronage.
The Babaloja-General who commisserated the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Ibadan indigenes, Oyo State traditional Council, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), widow of the late monarch, Olori Rasheedat, among others, appealled to the traders and shop owners to comply with the directive.
