The 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan Land, His Imperial Majesty Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, is dead. He was aged 82.
The first-class monarch died at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan a few hours after he was admitted into the tertiary health facility on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has officially announced the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, saying a ‘mighty Iroko has fallen’. Makinde, while confirming the demise of the Oba Balogun in a late Thursday night statement issued by his spokesman, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described the late monarch as a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short time.
The governor expressed his condolences to Oba Balogun’s family, the Olubadan-in-Council, the State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State at large. He prayed to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.
The statement read: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland. “A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors. “In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while. “On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland. “It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”
Born in 1942, Oba Balogun, a Fourth Republic Senator, represented Oyo Central senatorial district between 1999 and 2003. He ascended the throne on March 11, 2022, after the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Oguguniso III. Adetunji, 93, died on January 2, 2022, after reigning from March 4, 2016. With the unique succession system of Olubadan stool, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the current Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan, who is next in line, will be officially announced after the traditional 21 days of mourning, as the next Olubadan of Land.
