BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan FEMI OYEWESO, Abeokuta, JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde his Osun counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, Ooni  of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II,  former president Olusegun Obasanjo and many other prominent Nigerians yesterday mourned the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun.

  Makinde who announced the demise of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, stated that Olubadan Balogun, joined his ancestors late Thursday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan described the monarch as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.

He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.

 He said: “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.’’

 In his condolence message former president Obasanjo described the late Oba Balogun as an impeccable traditional ruler, who left a record of an “enviable qualities of incorruptible leadership” that clearly stood him out.

 Obasanjo, who is currently in Baku, Azerbaijan, attending the 11th Global Baku Forum, said in the statement said he received the news of the passing of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland with “great shock and profound sadness”, adding that his contributions to the political, social and economic life of Ibadan, Oyo State, Western Region and indeed, Nigeria would remain indelible in the hearts and minds of those whom he had interacted with both in politics and in social-economic life.

 He said late Oba Balogun was “a decent and amiable gentleman, he commanded the respect and admiration of his peers and associates. Like most great leaders, he was all things to all men. He was forthright, thorough and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public good. He demonstrated that politics was an avenue not for mindless enrichment but for rendering faithful service”.

 “To his family, he was a tower of strength and a committed provider; to his community of Ibadan, he was an early model in national leadership; to his Yoruba kinsmen, he was a worthy Ambassador of all things noble about them; and to the rest of Nigeria, he was a symbol of a nation’s epic struggle in self-discovery and self actualisation.”

 Governor Adeleke in his statement commiserated with his Oyo state counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan–In–Council, the people of Ibadan and the immediate family of Oba Balogun, who he said used his revered stool to promote unity and progress of the Yoruba race.

Ooni Ogunwusi said Oba Balogun was not just a monarch but was a beacon of wisdom, unity, and progress who had worked meritoriously all his life to gain all achievements he had recorded for himself as business man, politician, public servant and finally as traditional ruler of the biggest city in West Africa.

 Ooni Ogunwusi who doubles as Co-Chairman, National Council Of Traditional Rulers Of Nigeria (NCTRN) prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Ibadan monarch.